If you were to find a way to show the world the power of your generation, what would you do? Well, the answer for three ambitious Gen-Zs would be to start a podcast. From an idea that was being tossed around during a club meeting in their school library, to the creation of the Unit-E Podcast – George, Flora, and I, students from Beijing City International School (BCIS) are on a journey to create the #1 podcast run by teens.

The aim of Unit-E is as its name suggests: to unite, specifically uniting the voices of youths. The group was founded back in 2011, and it did something extremely different from what the group is doing now – it published magazines. As the current leader of the Unit-E Club, I decided that I wanted to do something new with this group. Unit-E used to be a magazine group, but because there are fewer people reading magazines nowadays, I thought that we could put an emphasis on utilizing online platforms to unite the voices of youths. Namely through an online blog and podcast channel.

The Unit-E Podcast debuted in July, and the idea for the show came to me after I listened to a couple of episodes of Call Her Daddy, a podcast hosted by Alexandra Cooper. The podcast itself was an interview-style one, and even though it is done with A-list celebrities such as Hailey Bieber, Katy Perry, and Simone Biles, the conversations revolve around down-to-earth things like mental health and relationships. I got inspiration from this podcast and decided that I could do something similar with Unit-E. So, I put out an email to all the students in secondary school, advertising Unit-E, and George and Flora joined. I told them what I wanted to do and they were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. From logo design to t-shirt design, recording, video editing, and thumbnail design, we have done this all by ourselves. I still cannot thank them enough for their contributions to this podcast.

George, who is the producer of the podcast, said that when he joined Unit-E, he noticed that a lot of the time, adults are speaking up for teenagers about their issues and the advice that they give is not the most feasible and realistic. “So, I guess it’s a platform in allowing other people of the same age to receive authentic content,” he said. “The podcast is a way for teens to discuss global issues or issues that are close to their heart from their perspective – to show the world what teenager life is really like, and not how adults think they are.” George mentioned how, when in the episode talking about peer pressure in academics, he felt that a lot of the time, teachers try to comfort students by saying that the grade you receive only indicates your own growth and progress, however, when surrounded by people who receive better grades than you, you feel that you are being left behind and not good enough. This almost unexplainable feeling of discouragement and downness is something perhaps only teens can understand and relate to, which is a reason why the podcast is made for teens, by teens.

On a recent episode, student-athlete Shidong Sun made an appearance on the show, talking about his thoughts on balancing school and sports. When asked about why he decided to be on the show, he said: “First off, I really liked the hosts. They really made me feel comfortable and they held the conversation well and brought up some interesting points.” He mentioned how the podcast itself is free and is open to any topic youths believe should be seen by the public more, which is why it is a way for many of our voices to be heard. “The fact that it’s people my age hosting it makes me feel more comfortable as well, making the conversation more realistic and relatable.” Shidong has also shared his journey of learning how to dunk in an article on the Unit-E blog, which is also a way for more youths to share their stories and perspectives with the world.

If you want to submit an article to us, please visit the website for more details.

After thinking about what we can do to the podcast to better align with the mission of Unit-E, we are about to launch a new series to the podcast – Teens Talk International. We are inviting students of different nationalities and backgrounds on the podcast to discuss culture, the importance of its diversity, and how it shapes our everyday lives as students and teenagers. If you or someone you know might be interested in joining, please email unit-epodcast@hotmail.com or WeChat (ID: margaret_yjw).

Unit-E aims to create a future where all youths are able to have their voices heard and valued by the world and create a place where the changemakers and trailblazers of tomorrow unite!

Images: Margaret Yang

Clubs come in all shapes and sizes in order to fit the unique needs of students. They allow young people to expand, nurture, and develop leadership skills or other talents that might be neglected in their normal curriculum. Whether it be athletic, academic, or creative, these clubs offer students the perfect opportunities to connect with others who have the same interests and do so in an atmosphere that is very focused and passion driven.

Here are some examples of a couple clubs that are available to students from any school, along with some valuable insight about these clubs from active members. In our process of seeking out these clubs, we also learned about a couple of instances of students building their own groups focused on either a particular interest or a service to the community that wasn’t yet being offered through their school. They explain a bit of the process to help those wanting to get the ball rolling at their own school.

We hope you find this to be a helpful primer for learning about some of the great afterschool activities this city has to offer, and it encourages you to try something new.

UNIT-E

UNIT-E is a student-run trilingual magazine that distributes to over ten different international schools in Beijing including Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), International School of Beijing (ISB), and Dulwich College Beijing (DCB). The students are from various schools in Beijing, and they work as a team to create a bimonthly publication that offers a platform for their peers to showcase their journalism and artwork. Editor of UNIT-E, Melody Chen, tells us more about what you can expect through joining the team.

Melody Chen

What led you to first join UNIT-E?
I joined UNIT-E because I was looking for an opportunity to share my creativity and opinions through writing. Since UNIT-E is distributed to schools all around Beijing, it would have a bigger audience and more writers that I can communicate with than a school magazine.

How has UNIT-E developed your interests or skills?
Writing is one of my biggest interests, and UNIT-E has definitely helped me improve my skills in that area. Especially through editing other writers’ articles and taking notice of the details in their texts, I was able to pay more attention to specific things like grammar, sentence fluency, tone, etc. By correcting their writing, I think it helped me reflect on what I need to improve on in my writing as well.

Has being a part of the magazine helped you meet or interact with any new people?
Definitely. In distribution meetings, I can often find people I didn’t know who were from different schools than me. During the mostly laid-back discussions we had in those meetings, I got to interact with them and get to know them.

What do you enjoy most about UNIT-E?
I like that I get to both help other writers with my feedback and learn from reading their articles. It is always interesting to step away from my own perspective and embrace what someone else has to offer – including subject matters that I’m not familiar with and different writing styles.

How is UNIT-E different from your average school newspaper?
The biggest difference is that it’s on a bigger scale. There are people from plenty of different schools involved in the writing and design processes, and the magazines are distributed so that most of the international school community can read them. Other than having a wider audience, UNIT-E is also not limited to just school happenings that most school newspapers publish. Each issue covers a broad range of topics from reports of current issues to horoscopes and fiction.

For more information, contact 19tinas@wab.edu

InkBeat Arts

Inkbeat Arts is a social enterprise dedicated to creative education. They design and deliver creative arts programming that pushes the limits of students’ creativity, publish the InkBeat Youth Journal, and support a community of young people based on experimentation and the artistic process. We talked with Jennifer Zhou to find out more.

Jennifer Zhou

What is InkBeat Arts?
InkBeat Arts is an organization that aims to foster creative learning in young people. As well as publishing InkBeat Youth Journal which showcases student writing and art, InkBeat also designs creative arts programs and holds workshops on things such as creative reading, self-expression, and visual writing.

How does InkBeat Arts play a role in your life?
I’ve been a student intern for InkBeat for about a year, and can definitely say that it’s a rewarding and unique experience. My tasks as an intern range from the serious and thought-provoking: holding writer interviews, or moderating a panel of student authors, to the fun and unconventional: writing speed poetry at InkBeat’s release party or writing an article about comic books for a superpowers-themed issue.

Tell me about your favorite experience from InkBeat. What made it so remarkable?
At the launch party for InkBeat’s second issue, I moderated a panel of student writers – together we discussed topics ranging from their writing habits and favorite books to their perception of literature and dreams for the future. It was fascinating (and, I won’t lie, a little intimidating) to meet so many insanely talented writers, and I truly enjoyed getting to hear their many candid, quirky, and humorous thoughts in the discussion.

Tell me more about these launch parties. What is typically done at one?
InkBeat’s launch parties are usually fun, dynamic events filled with a variety of activities – piece readings, author Q&As, student panels, and speed poetry stations, just to name a few. InkBeat has introduced me to everyone from amateur authors to professional writers to aspiring photographers to fanatical literature lovers, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know every one of them.

What’s the most unique or notable thing about this organization?
The way it revels in all things creative – in all ages, in all mediums.

For more information, email info@beijingyouthlit.com

Photos: Courtesy of InkBeat Arts and Unit-E
A complete version of this article appeared on p44-48 of the beijingkids September 2018 Teen Takeover issue.

So, let’s be real here: musicals are not for everyone. They can be tacky, predictable, and honestly, pretty annoying. The music stays in your head for days and the sets never look realistic enough. The characters are archetypical and often lack depth. However, if you’ve ever seen a production, whether at your school or on Broadway, there are elements that are impossible to ignore: the enthusiasm of the performers, the loyalty and dedication of the cast and crew, and the positive attitude of every ensemble member. If there is one thing you cannot deny, it is that musicals take a hell of a lot of work.

Musicals are like bridges: they take ages to build, but once they are finished, they connect everything together. They integrate the essential elements of both visual and performance art to create the pinnacle of entertainment. Musical theatre requires time, dedication, patience, and passion. The musical industry is competitive beyond belief, and while it is common knowledge that all theater divas are out to get each other, musicals require extensive teamwork. The cast of a production can easily range from four to forty, depending on the location and the popularity of the musical. On Broadway, some productions have run for decades due to demand. The longest running production on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera, opened in January of 1988. The Times called it “God’s Gift to Musical Theatre” and it grossed a record 18 million US dollars at the box office on the opening night.

Not only is musical theatre capable of bringing together a multitude of art forms, it brings together people from all walks of life. From tourists to locals, musical theater has an unexplainable feature that all audience members find themselves drawn to. Whether it’s the empathy that one feels for the characters, or the inspiration found from the struggles of a protagonist, musicals make the audience feel strong emotion. This makes theater both a popular attraction and pastime; a survey conducted by Statista in January of 2015 found that 47.31 million people in the United States attended live theater over the course of one year. Furthermore, musical theatre contributes greatly to the economy of the area. In 2015, the ticket sales of Broadway productions in one season grossed 877 million USD and another 216 million USD per season can be attributed to production merchandise and food and beverage costs. In short, the average total revenue of Broadway productions per season is a whopping 1.38 billion US dollars.

All in all, individuals who are unable to appreciate musicals as an art form may just be ignorant of the myriad of social and economic benefits that theater provides. Not only are they capable of building bridges between artists of all fields, but they also strengthen the economic and social atmosphere of a region. 

This article originally appeared in the August/September, 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Ellie Hu, a student at the Western Academy of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo: Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer (Flickr)

Following the massive success of the Scott Pilgrim series and the graphic novel Lost at Sea, Bryan Lee O’Malley is giving fans with another unforgettable masterpiece. Seconds is a charming graphic novel that follows a young female protagonist named Katie, the head chef of a well-known restaurant with high expectations and ambitions to open an eatery of her own. Though she eyes her goals with fierce determination, love complicates things for Katie (just as it does in O’Malley’s other novels) and she struggles with unresolved issues between herself and her ex. One day, Katie crosses paths with a supernatural force that gives her the opportunity to erase a past mistake by simply writing it down in a notebook, eating a mushroom, and falling asleep. For Katie, utilizing this opportunity leads to inexplicably abrupt sequences of mysterious happenings, keeping readers hooked yet confused when following Katie’s quest for perfection. As paranormal as it all seems, Seconds isn’t your typical time traveling, past-altering sci-fi tale; it is one exploring the consequences of striving for flawlessness.

With each release, Bryan Lee O’Malley tells tales that are progressively more thematically mature and atmospherically psychedelic,but he does not leave behind the quirks of past works that made his novels great. There are numerous references to pop culture and flashbacks to Scott Pilgrim, including guest appearances of characters from previous books. However, the most prominent allusion of them all is the art style; if there is one thing definitely remains consistent throughout O’Malley’s works, it’s the simple cartoony art showcased in each panel. Seconds is not a graphic novel by the artistic standards of Watchmen or V for Vendetta, but it is rather a more understated take on visual storytelling that is reminiscent of the simplistic style of some anime comics. This makes characters and written content all the more memorable and exemplifies O’Malleys skill at doing whole a lot with just a little.

In terms of storytelling, Seconds showcases some of O’Malley’s best work. With a perfect blend of maturity taken from Lost at Sea and the occasional ridiculousness and humor of Scott Pilgrim, Seconds is quirky and does it well. It knows when to be funny and when to be serious, unlike many of the hit-or-miss graphic novels that aim to be simultaneously funny and meaningful.The character development is also interesting and visible throughout, boasting dynamically relatable characters going through the struggles of young-adult life.

Whether you read the book because you enjoyed Scott Pilgrim, appreciate nods to pop culture, or just like graphic novels in general, Seconds will have you coming back for more no matter what.

This article originally appeared in the August/September, 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Alan Ke, a student at the International School of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo: nerdlikeyou.com

At this point in many of our lives, we rarely have time to read for fun. I used to read at least a book a week; last school year, however, I only read one novel that wasn’t for class. Most high school students find it hard to squeeze books into their schedules and this is very understandable; we all have mountains of homework, play sports, participate in clubs, take part in community service, meet with teachers, write college essays, attend competitions, have social lives – you name it, we do it. 

Except we don’t often read for fun (although I must acknowledge that this is a broad generalization, as I’m sure that there are many people who do, by some miracle, find time to read).

Because we are all so busy, whenever we do happen to have a few spare minutes when we can relax, it’s difficult to start a book because you never know when you are actually going to finish it – it could be months from the day you started. This, at least for me, acts as a reading deterrent because picking up a book weeks after you started it and not remembering what it was about is discouraging, to say the least.

However, there is another option for book lovers who simply cannot find time to read: audiobooks! An audiobook is essentially what its name implies – it is an entire book read out loud that you can download onto your device and listen to whenever you want. It’s possible to listen to audiobooks while cooking, brushing your teeth, doing mundane work (copying Chinese characters, anyone?) and more. This makes them a lot more convenient for busy students than reading regular books because you don’t have to wait for free time to read. 

There are also many benefits to listening to a book read aloud. First, if a good narrator reads your audiobook, you can find the content to be much more entertaining than it would be on paper – good narrators read with expression that you do not hear when you are the one reading. Second, having a book read aloud means that you are less likely to miss sections by skimming ahead. If a book is really good, many will sometimes skip a page in eagerness to get ahead and often time send up missing important parts they need to go back and read – audiobooks ensure that you never miss any words or sentences of the story. Last, having someone else read aloud to you improves your pronunciation, as trivial as this may seem. When you are reading by yourself and see a word you don’t know, it is likely that the way you pronounce it in your head will be wrong, especially if it’s a word that sounds different from how it looks. By having a narrator read the book aloud, you will easily learn how to pronounce words you may have been confused by otherwise. This is especially helpful for students enjoying a book in their non-native language. It also helps when you are asked to read aloud in class and you come across words you would otherwise have mispronounced; it saves the embarrassment.  

Reading is important for your own growth. It automatically improves your grammar, vocabulary, and writing skills; but above all, it’s just fun. It’s nice to be able to escape into another world or someone else’s life and share in those adventures. For those of us busy book-lovers who can never find time to read, audiobooks are a great and convenient alternative to consider.

This article originally appeared in the August/September, 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Riena Harker, a student at the International School of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo: Neetalparekh (flickr)

“Is this the Lisa Fremont who never wears the same dress twice?”

“Only because it’s expected of her.”

Fashion and film are factories of dreams — fashion in film is the ultimate fantasy. From the runway to the streets, from cinephiles to couture devotees , there’s no doubt that style on the silver screen has captured the imagination of thousands. So with not a little nostalgia for the look of Hollywood’s golden age, here’s a list of the six greatest classic films with iconic and memorable fashion. It’s a lead-in to old era movies that’s by no means complete, but still offers just a glimpse into a seemingly untouchable dream world.

Shanghai Express, 1932
Marlene Dietrich is a magnetic presence as femme fatale Shanghai Lily in this elaborate drama acclaimed for its black glamour. Following the story of two women aboard a hijacked train, the film may seem outdated and confusing at times — but it’s unmissable, if only for its stunning chiaroscuro cinematography and costumes. Black velvet swathed in feathers, half-veils, draped crystal beads, and embroidered kimonos make for a visual masterwork that can’t be touched.

The Big Sleep, 1946
Film noir at its finest, this hard-bitten, dark-hearted thriller doesn’t disappoint in its skein of desire and crime, to say the least. Old Hollywood icons Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall surpass themselves in chemistry, caustic wit, and to die for wardrobes, big-city style. With Bacall’s boyish houndstooth suit, padded shoulders, and dirty-blonde curls complemented flawlessly by Bogart’s smart black-tie, it’s no wonder it’s been hailed as one of the best movies of its decade and a must-watch for film buffs and fashionistas alike.

Roman Holiday, 1953
Light and careless circle skirts, cotton blouses, and chic silk scarves complete Audrey Hepburn’s escapade outfit, worlds away from her life and dress as pent-up Princess Ann. Rome is for romantics, and when the rebellious royal runs away to explore the city on her own, she stumbles into the arms of a charming American expat, played by Gregory Peck. It’s the perfect late summer love story, a romantic comedy for any age, and a vintage fashion feast.

Rear Window, 1954
It had to be murder. When a wheelchair-bound photographer begins spying on his neighbors to pass the time, he doesn’t expect to witness a sinister crime— but this is Hitchcock. One of the famed director’s best films, the slow-burn mystery thriller has been hailed as both a haunting study in suspense and a visually perfect masterpiece. Just watch for screen siren Grace Kelly’s spellbinding performance as James Stewart’s icy socialite girlfriend. Every piece of clothing is symbolic — from pleated silk organza dress to chiffon shoulder straps, eau de nil suit to white pearls — and utterly unforgettable.

Sabrina, 1954
Parisienne dress, a fairytale romance, and La Vie en Rose— Audrey Hepburn’s Sabrina Fair is the stuff of dreams. She’s the chauffeur’s daughter, magically transformed from shy ingénue to society swan, and the forbidden love of two vying aristocratic sons. She has a wardrobe designed by Givenchy, complete with a black satin cocktail dress, off-the-shoulders white organdy gown, and pleated chiffon turban hat. And she never, never ceases to look at the world through rose-colored glasses. As she famously declares, in one of the film’s most exquisite scenes, “The moon is reaching for me.”

Breathless, 1960
French New Wave cinema was defined by its infectious spirit of youth, and nowhere is that clearer than in this neo-noir love story. Set in the streets of Paris, the classic film depicts the doomed affair of a young criminal on the run and his unwitting girlfriend, played by gamine Jean Seberg. It’s worth watching for the drama alone, but art-lovers will be drawn to its bold design and beatnik style. Seberg’s understated look — pixie cut and black eyeliner paired with sailor stripes, cigarette pants, and Trilby hat — is effortlessly and enviably chic. 

Honorable Mentions: La Dolce Vita, 1960; The Seven Year Itch, 1955; Funny Face, 1957;Morocco, 1930; and more!

This article originally appeared in the August/September, 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Chelsea Liu, a student at the International School of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photos: Wichita orpheum, Mindreels, retronique.nl, rueducine.com, nsmbl.com

Over the last three years, online retail has dramatically grown in sophistication, accessibility and magnitude. As our market gradually deviates towards vast online transactions that consume our daily lives, it is evident that numerous conventional retailers and local stores have been shutting their doors. Most people now carry a virtual shop in their pockets in the form of mobile phones or tablet devices. With so many purchasing options literally in the palm of everyone’s hand, it is clear that e-commerce has drastically altered our perception of retail and shopping.

Before the upsurge of e-commerce, all shopping had always been done conventionally through the stores themselves. Nowadays, with companies like China’s e-commerce powerhouse Alibaba spearheading this revolution, it is evident that online shopping will only continue to grow. As more and more people diverge from traditional shopping towards websites such as Taobao or Amazon, the already enormous-commerce market expands. This expansion creates a positive reinforcement loop, generating more and more revenue and attracting more and more consumers –and how could they resist? The allure of having purchases delivered to your doorstop without any physical effort is effective and efficient.

While the e-commerce industry has provided us with virtuous increases in convenience, criticism of the market is widespread; many condemn the lack of personal touch and finesse, while others point out the frequent absence of quality control. However, while these disadvantages may be evident, the bigger problem that e-commerce generates is the demise of small, intimate boutiques and personalized shops. In Beijing in particular, we are witnessing small, family owned businesses close their doors for good due to lack of revenue. This raises distressing questions regarding the direction of online retail: will our future will be consumed and engulfed by the big cooperate name brands of e-commerce? Will small and intimate stores cease to exist?

However, e-commerce prevails is in its cost effectiveness, which is not only beneficial for consumers, but also for businesses. Products in online retail websites are often cheaper than their store-bought counterparts, as firms forgo the cost of running a physical shop. Furthermore, e-commerce businesses lack traditional limitations of shelf size or store capacity; therefore, everything businesses intend sell can now be listed and presented to the consumer.

In the years to come, e-commerce will most likely be the most popular means of retail; but for e-commerce to flourish even further, it must begin to emphasize personalized consumer products. It is essential not to neglect the power of a direct relationship with the consumer, as doing so will fill the void left by the eventual absence of intimate boutiques.

There are countless advantages and disadvantages when it comes to online retail, but the undeniable fact is that the e-commerce revolution is in full swing and is indisputably changing the way we live. The convenience of e-commerce has cemented its place within our lives, and almost every one of us is engaged in the market in some way or another. So sit back and relax until your next package arrives – I’m sure it will be worth the wait.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Matthew Ding, a student at Dulwich College Beijing. 

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo: bfishadow (flickr)

With a few exceptions, writing – whether in the form of essays, written tasks, reflective statements, or text-type-journals – is every student’s nightmare because it is time-consuming and requires concerted academic thought. However, when you have the opportunity to write by yourself,  for yourself, it becomes a completely different experience.

Some people keep journals or diaries where they document the events of their daily lives, recording significant events or memories they want to keep. As many IB psychology students may know, memory is fallible and we end up forgetting many important things because we simply do not have enough brain capacity to maintain every memory. You are not going to remember the specific details of the amazing school trip you went on freshman year after you graduate; only through writing your experiences can you truly preserve them.

Writing can also be used as an outlet for stress or overwhelming emotions. Instead of keeping all your thoughts jumbled up and trapped inside your head, you can release them on paper. Writing about your stress helps you focus, so instead of trying to handle a million thoughts at once you can go through them all one at a time, giving you a chance to compose yourself and lay out your game plan. When you feel overwhelmingly sad or angry, writing allows you to express yourself and put your thoughts into words. Recording emotions helps you to understand exactly what you are feeling and why, which can aid in the process of self-reflection and healing.

Furthermore, keeping a journal can actually increase your own personal happiness. Writing about goals can motivate you, increasing the likelihood of those dreams being realized. Moreover, when you write about people, things, or events that have made you happy, you learn to be a more grateful person. Gratitude is important because it spreads positivity, allowing you to achieve more mental and physical well being. Writing helps you to “count your blessings” and develop a more positive outlook on life. 

Last, writing in your own time will ultimately result in improved communication skills. As they say, “practice makes perfect” – and by practicing writing, you will become less likely to have those it’s-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue moments, as you will become more accustomed to forming your thoughts out in words. Additionally, writing by hand will help you achieve all of this and improve your handwriting. 

The best of writing reveals itself when it’s for you. If no one else has to read it and judge you, grade you, or make fun of you for it, writing can truly be for your own benefit.Whether you choose to express yourself in prose, poetry, or pastiche, writing allows you to communicate emotion, release stress, and record memories. So get started!

his article originally appeared in the May/June 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Riena Harker, a student at the International School of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo: mrsdkrebs (flickr)

As a new season rolls in, fashion once again dominates the headlines with news of innovative styles and fresh trends. For years, from the runway to the streets, fashion has been a popular medium for classy self-expression, and this summer will be different. Here’s what fashionistas need to look out for in the upcoming season, laid out in twelve up-and-coming trends.

1. Pale Palette
This season designers have painted the fashion scene in subtle hues. Military green, head-to-toe white, and light pastels are in vogue – think cotton candy pink, lime green, and lavender. And for the rebels, there’s always electric yellow – a favorite for warm weather.

2. Gingham Patterns
Seemingly made right out of your picnic tablecloth, gingham patterns are dominating the runway. Coupled with soft hues and minimalistic en plein air themes, ginghams adorn blazers, shirtdresses, and pants on catwalks across the world.

3. Retro Style
Prepare to be hit bya wave of nostalgia with bold styles straight from the ‘70s. Retro and thrift-shopped bell-bottoms and long bohemian maxis with distinctive color arrangements and deluxe denim create an unforgettable hippie look.

4. Fringes and Frills
Fringes, tassels, feathers, and ruffles entered the fashion world with flair.These delicate details breathe life into stiff materials, enhancing movement in rich fabrics. Without these lively add-ons, your summer dress may as well be last year’s.

5. Androgynous Design
Fighting for equal rights in a world of men, women announced their freedom from gender constraints with sartorial panache. Androgynous couture including polo shirts, militaristic jackets, khaki or army fabric shorts, and tight white tank tops is a must-have for both sexes this upcoming season.

6. Asian Elements
With Eastern fashion popularizing in the past decade, its influence on Western trends has been growing – but no trends have had as much impact as this year’s Japanese craze. Kimono imitations with wide obi belts, traditional Japanese patterns, robe-like dresses, and blue and white color schemes showcase the trademark style of Japan.

7. Waist Definers
Crop tops and waist belts that flatter the wearer are all the rage now. Tie-waisted tops with lady-like skirts have become increasingly popular and petite cutouts near the waist also add a bold, contemporary touch.

8. Unconventional Skirts
Pencils and minis will be making a comeback this year, but not in the way you’d think. In the spirit of street style, layer a skirt atop a maxi, dress, or even pants; the symmetrical hems will invigorate your wardrobe.

9. Languid Elegance
Light, draping coats and gauzy dresses dipped in minimal hues have never been more aesthetic. While tight-fitting blazers and sleek skirts have their own appeal, they can never compare to the flutter of chiffon, reminiscent of a summer breeze.

10. Sporty Chic
Hints of sportswear are slowly but surely coming to light in couture, with many avant-garde designers adopting this unique form of athletic inspired fashion. Consider adding racing stripes, drawstrings, and thick zippers to your closet.

11. Floral Motifs
To no one’s surprise, floral prints, 3D blossom appliques, and flowery lace are in full bloom this season. This universally loved print has been a favorite for decades, ranging from sensuously opulent to minimalistic and bold and flourishing from the runways to the streets.

12. Classic Accessories
We all know an outfit isn’t complete without the finishing touches of statement accessories, and you’ll be glad to hear a few timeless trinkets are making their comeback. A few must-haves this summer include classic oversized sunglasses, gladiator sandals, hoop earrings, and chunky pendants.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Angela Liu, a student at the International School of Beijing.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photos: Swong95765 & Korea.net (Flickr)