K S LO ENGLISH

Have you ever been to the University of Oxford, one of the top universities in the world? Last year, I participated in a summer exchange program at the University of Oxford. After the program, I learned many fascinating facts about the university. In this article, I will share five interesting facts about it!

• Christ Church: A filming place of Harry Potter

Are you a fan of Harry Potter? If so, be sure to visit Christ Church at the University of Oxford! Many scenes from Harry Potter were filmed at Christ Church College. For example, Professor McGonagall meets Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the entrance, which is known as the famous entrance scene. This scene was filmed near the staircase inside Christ Church. Inside the college, there is a dining hall called the Tudor Great Dining Hall, which actually served as the Hogwarts Dining Hall in the Harry Potter movies!

• Bridge of Sighs: A city landmark

What comes to mind when we talk about the University of Oxford? Some people might mention the Bridge of Sighs! This skyway connects one part of Hertford College to another and resembles the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy. During my summer exchange program, I resided at Hertford College, which gave me the privilege of exploring the bridge. I was truly amazed by both its exterior and interior designs!

• University of Oxford Botanic Garden: A source of inspiration for Alice in the Wonderland

Have you read Alice in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll? If you have, you will recognize that many of the locations in the book, especially the garden, are inspired by the Botanic Garden at the University of Oxford. As a result, the illustrations of places in the story resemble the views found in the Botanic Garden. The next time you visit the Botanic Garden, you might spot the tree illustrated in Alice in Wonderland!

• History of Science Museum: A museum which has Einstein’s Blackboard

Have you heard of Albert Einstein, who developed the theory of relativity? Albert was an alumnus of the University of Oxford, where he stayed at Christ Church from May 1931 to June 1933. During this time, he gave lectures at the university. In the History of Science Museum, Einstein’s blackboard serves as evidence of his lecture on May 16, 1931. The equations on the blackboard are known as the Friedmann-Einstein universe. If you are interested in physics, be sure to visit this museum!

• Oxford University Museum of Natural History: Cathedral of Science

What comes to mind when you look at this building? Some of you may think of a cathedral in the UK. Indeed, the Oxford University Museum of Natural History resembles the architecture of Victorian Neo-Gothic cathedrals, which is why it is often referred to as the “Cathedral of Science.” Inside the museum, you will find a wide array of natural history specimens. If you are interested in biology and natural history, you will definitely love this place!

If you are planning to travel in the UK, be sure to visit these places. You will definitely gain valuable insights into the uniqueness of the University of Oxford!

As I’m growing up, pressure and difficulties have worsened incredibly. However, they aren’t something bad but indispensable for our growth, since we can learn from them by coping with them. In this article, ways to solve pressure and difficulties will be discussed.

First and foremost, calming down is the first thing to do. From my point of view, pressure is a demon inside our heart that blocks me from solving difficulties. After you overcome the demon, you will gain a different perspective to solve difficulties more easily. For instance, listening to music, having a good sleep, or taking a hot bath are some typical methods to calm down. In addition to these methods, I go shopping, eat my comfort food, and reassure myself by saying, ‘It’s going to be okay.’ After regaining composure, things become easier, and you will find the key to the solution faster.

Difficulties are inevitable, so we must find our own ways to deal with them. Everyone has a different mindset, so everyone has different ways to solve the same problem. Let me make it clearer: some people may try to get help from others, while some independent individuals are capable of dealing with issues by themselves. Thus, it is impossible for me to tell you exactly what to do when you confront a problem. Yet, here are my experiences. When I face academic hurdles, such as getting bad results in examinations, I ask my teacher to analyse my major problems or misunderstandings and ask for solutions. After I get the solution and understand my problems, I put effort into reviewing and understanding them to make sure I won’t repeat the same mistakes. In Form 3, we needed to choose three electives to study in the senior forms. It was quite difficult for me to make this decision because it somewhat determined my future occupation. At that time, I was not totally sure about which career I would like to devote myself to and which electives I was interested in. Therefore, I sought help from my parents, cousins, teachers, and even senior students in my school. After listening to their advice, I found my way and I have never regretted my choice. Seeking help from experienced people is useful beyond a doubt.

We will encounter many difficulties and issues in our life. We must overcome them in a composed way. I hope my sharing is useful and that all of you can find your own way to step over the stones on your path.

Life is full of challenges and pressures, whether they come from school, work, or personal situations. Learning how to effectively manage these pressures is crucial not only for our success, but also for maintaining our mental and physical well-being. In this article, I will be sharing some strategies to help us deal with pressure and difficulties.

First and foremost, a Chinese proverb states, “Know yourself and know the enemy, and you can win every battle you fight.” You first have to identify where your pressures come from. You should understand what specifically causes you stress, as it helps you prepare and respond better. Personally, I like to keep a journal to note down situations that make me feel pressured and how I react to them. It has helped me a lot, especially during the times when schoolwork just feels impossible to handle.

Secondly, break down the problems. Large problems can be overwhelming, and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts and tackling them one step at a time can make the situation seem less daunting. Take me as an example—I initially felt overwhelmed by the amount of material I needed to study for my final exams. However, I decided to break down the material into smaller, more focused chunks. I also created a study schedule, dedicating specific times to each subject and topic. By tackling one chapter at a time and taking regular breaks, I ultimately managed to cover all the material without feeling stressed.

Lastly, stay organised. Staying organised is crucial for managing your workload and reducing stress. For me, I use a physical planner to keep track of my assignments, tests, and extracurricular activities. I have also created a weekly study schedule to allocate specific times for each subject, and I include breaks to avoid burnout. These methods have greatly helped me balance my academics and extracurricular commitments without feeling overwhelmed. Moreover, staying organized can also boost your confidence and motivation, making you feel more positive and capable.

In conclusion, to deal with pressure and difficulties, we have to understand our pressures, break down the difficulties, and stay organised. That way, we can gain more energy and motivation for success while maintaining our physical and mental well-being.

As a student majoring in Chinese and History at City University of Hong Kong, I am frequently asked by secondary school students. I usually encounter questions like: How is it different from studying History in our secondary school? Should I put History as my Band A choice? What can I do after graduation? In this article, I will share more about my study life to answer these questions.

• Do I have to memorize a lot of history content in the university?

You don’t have to memorize all the history content! Instead of memorizing all the content, you should be critical! When you are a secondary school student, you are required to memorize all the complicated past events. Thus, you can answer all the questions in exams. However, The university doesn’t have History exams like the HKDSE anymore. When you study History in the university, you don’t have to memorize all the information. Instead, you need to figure out your own research topics and dig into them. For instance, in my university years, I took some courses about Chinese Art History. I was interested in the origin of Chinese writing. Thus, I studied characters appeared in the Neolithic Period. I analyzed how these characters influenced Chinese writings in later dynasties (e.g., Shang and Zhou Dynasties). In short, studying History in the university put more emphasis on doing history research. You are not expected to commit all the historical event details to memory.

• What should I consider before choosing History as my major in the university ?

You need to consider the following two things. First, studying History at the university requires you to write a lot of papers. For instance, in my university years, I had to write at least 4 academic papers (3000 words each). Even though the works sound challenging, you should not be afraid of writing a lot of words. Second, when you deal with these papers, you need to read many academic books which are quite complicated to comprehend. For example, I had to read a large pile of academic books in the university library. By doing so, I could gain more insights into the chosen topics and construct convincing arguments. If you are afraid of reading throughout your university life, please think twice before choosing History. In short, you need to embrace writing and reading a lot before studying History in the university.

• Do I only study History if I choose History as my major in the university?

Not really. Actually, History is a broad topic. In the university, apart from Imperial History (i.e., the History you studied in secondary school), you will also have courses (e.g. Archaeology, Western Cultural Heritage and Cultural Exchange). For example, I studied World Archaeology and Chinese Art History in the university. Apart from that, I also studied some courses which touched on Arts and Visual culture and arts performance development. As you can see, History in the university touches on different things. If you are interested in these fields, you can choose to study History in the university!

In conclusion, studying history at university differs from learning in secondary school. Although you don’t need to memorize much, you must read and write extensively! However, if you are interested in history-related fields, you will be passionate about reading and writing all the academic papers!

I had just sat on a bench in the park when I heard the sound of clothes rustling.

I looked beside me and saw a familiar figure.

“Skadi? Why are you here?”

“I can’t be here?”

“Of course you can…”

“By the way, do you know what day it is?”

I turned and looked at Skadi, her long white hair cascading down her back.

Her red-gem-like eyes studied me closely, afraid to miss even the tiniest expression on my face.

I smirked and said, “Today is your birthday. Of course, I remember.”

“Then?”

She leaned closer, and the faint sea-like smell of her hair rushed into my nose. Her stern yet somewhat cute-looking face took up most of my vision, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

The inclinations of a teenage girl are hard to hide.

Hold up—I don’t think she is still a teen.

Whatever, never mind.

However, I gave a resigned smile and showed my hand. There was only a foreign translated novel and nothing else.

“I’m sorry, Skadi. It’s not that I don’t want to bring you a gift, but…”

“You fought with your family again?”

“Yes… They seem not to understand that what I meant by being tired isn’t about being physically tired; it can’t be recovered from sleep. It’s mentally.”

“I just scrolled on my phone for a bit. Ah… you called it Terminal, right? Then I fought with my mom.”

“Do you need a hug? You said nothing can’t be cured by a hug!”

“With pleasure…”

She opened her arms and gently hugged me, rubbing her chin lightly on my forehead.

“Do you wish me to sing a song? Take it as helping you relieve your stress.”

“Thanks… It’s even your birthday…”

Before I had finished the sentence, Skadi’s ethereal voice echoed in my ears. It was comforting, like the bells in a church.

A while later, the song slowly faded, and silence returned everywhere.

Skadi opened her eyes.

“Ah… It’s tempting to rush towards your family and knock them down with a bang and finish them with a snap. Then you won’t be sad anymore.”

Hearing her comfort me like this, I inevitably said with an imperceptible smile, “Then you will have to deal with so many things.”

“Also, my parents are doing this in good faith, to make me study. Not to mention, my parents aren’t the Seaborn nor those sea monsters. If you deal with them, then the police will have to deal with you.”

“Then I will hide with you in Iberia, in a town where there’s no people, and live a happy life together.”

I struggled out of her arms. My gaze met Skadi’s eyes, filled with unwillingness to let go. I smiled and patted her head gently, then said, “Alright, Miss Abyss Hunter, let’s talk about something more practical.”

“I’ll get back to my place and bring your present down. Let’s celebrate your birthday then, alright?”

Skadi nodded and stood up faster than me.

She opened her arms, spinning in place, just like an ancient western countries’ wooden puppet—cute and dopey.

“I adorned myself just to come and see you!”

She couldn’t hide the excitement deep in her heart; she was hoping to hear words of praise.

“You’re beautiful.”

Hearing this, the smile on Skadi’s face immediately faded. She pouted, arms akimbo, and said with slight disgruntlement, “All you have left in your brain is the sentence ‘You’re beautiful’?”

Hearing what she said, I checked her outfit closely: a red, long-sleeved sweater, which had multiple pink fish patterns embellished in the center. Besides, she wore a short pencil skirt padded with wool. Just like her sweater, yet this time embellished with buttons in the center. She also wore thigh-length over-the-knee socks and a pair of ankle-length boots. Probably because of the cold weather, she wore a red coat.

“Then…”
I cleared my throat and said, “You’re like the most garish and beautiful rose in the garden; many people have stopped because of you but are afraid to ruin you by picking you.”

She showed a pleased smile after hearing this and held out her hand to me. Her thought was obvious.

I took her hand, and she gently pulled me, seeming impatient.

We walked towards my place.

“By the way, how did you know I was feeling down today?”

“I saw you walking out in a rush, eyes stuck onto the ground, not caring about anything.”

“So, I decided to follow you.”

“Really? No wonder I had the feeling someone was watching me.”

“At least it’s not those perishing Seaborn!”

I smiled and told her to wait there, then I went upstairs to fetch the present I had prepared.

Even though it was unavoidable to be nagged by my mom, clearly, she wasn’t angry at all.

I took a birthday gift box and hid it behind me, but I forgot how big the box was.

“It’s all exposed!”

Skadi grinned and pointed at the gift box behind me. That’s when I realized that I was too skinny.
No, wait! It’s definitely because the gift box was too big!

None of my business, after all.

Skadi and I walked to a bench and sat down. There weren’t a lot of gifts in the box; however, all carried my full love.
Mostly because the gifts were too big.

Right after she opened the box, a warm light shone on her cheeks. The first thing that caught her eye was a grey rabbit doll.

It was wearing a black mantle with a shimmering cape. It also wore a black hat decorated with a white diamond pattern.

Its red eyes were looking at Skadi—very cute.

“It’s you in your work outfit, Skadi!”

The doll also wore a sapphire-blue scarf. Skadi took out the doll slowly, allowing it to lie quietly on her lap.

Skadi carefully pulled the scarf off the doll, feeling its tender touch between her fingers.

“I knitted this scarf for quite some time. How is it?”

Skadi didn’t reply; she noticed there was a letter.

Skadi opened the envelope and saw a handwritten letter.

To Skadi, who is the cutest in the world:

We have already met for a year! I appreciate you for being with me all these days. I understand there are many exaggerated ways to celebrate birthdays, such as filling the trunk of a luxurious vehicle with white roses, booking an entire restaurant, presenting the whole night view to the girl, and buying extravagant jewellery for the girl.

Please forgive me—I’m still a student; if I could, I wouldn’t mind using those kinds of ways to show how much I love you. Disappointingly, I don’t have that kind of money nor ability.

I can only use weak words again and again to tell you ‘I love you.’ These gifts may be cheap, but I’ve spent a very, very long time preparing them.

After all, no one like me would prepare a birthday half a year in advance.

Skadi, I really love you—really. Yet, the feeling is ambiguous and vague, and at least my literary level can’t afford me to express this kind of feeling. However, my love for you is real. If you look me in the eyes closely, you will see that.

I love you.

There is also a bracelet in the box. I’ve carefully picked the gem in the jewellery store. It’s not expensive; please keep it.

Happy birthday, Skadi.

Love you the most on Dr.

After Skadi had read everything, she was stunned for a moment, then put everything back into the box.

Just when I thought she wasn’t happy about the gifts, Skadi jumped into my arms, her voice trembling slightly.

“I’m happy with this. Thank you! I love you.”

After saying that, she gently left a kiss on my face.

“I love you too, Skadi. Happy birthday.”

Written on 7th March, 2025

Recently, Chinese actor Wang Xing, who was trafficked to KK land, aroused much social concern in China. Wang Xing realised that the working offer in Thailand was a scam until he was shaved in the car. Not only was he entrapped in this tremendous forgery, but he was also caught in widespread attention worldwide. In this article, the reasons why the criminal business can be so thriving, as well as methods to raise people’s awareness, will be shed light on.

The primary reason why more and more unsuspecting victims are entrapped in this scam operation is the attractive and superficial packaging of the scam, which seduces poor and greedy people to jump into this alluring opportunity. Imagine there’s a well-paid, easy-to-handle, low educational requirement working offer in front of you. If you need money urgently, I guess most people cannot resist the temptation of this appealing offer or giving it serious consideration. Furthermore, it is not common for us to see people being entrapped in a cybercrime solely out of the desire for money. A piece of news from Hong Kong a year ago is living proof—a young man was lured into this online scam without knowing it at first, as he thought it was a perfect job for fresh graduates. Fortunately, he was later rescued by his concerned family. Besides, there is also a Chinese influencer who was forged by her best friends, claiming that a famous company in Thailand provides copious resources such as advertisements on social media platforms, as well as a decent and quiet working environment for live broadcast on TikTok. Appealing to her best friends’ opinions and the tempting offer, she went to Thailand and still has not been found until now. In KK land, females with appealing appearances are forced to be horns or suffer from sexual assaults rather than taking part in the cybercrime, which is devastating to these girls in terms of insulting their bodies and mental health simultaneously. As we can see, people who are or were part of this cybercrime are not capable of taking the potential dangers and risks under in-depth consideration.

With more and more unsuspecting victims falling prey to unscrupulous scams, it is high time that the governments in different countries and people around the world put in efforts to combat the problem.

From my perspective, propaganda and surveillance should be conducted by governments. With the prevalent use of social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, governments can utilise advertisements and the popularity of content creators to spread the common jargons of scammers and their manoeuvers to draw people’s attention, thereby inculcating awareness among people of all ages to ignore suspicious and unsourced messages from unknown people and to check the validity of job offers. When it comes to raising awareness among the elderly, advertisements should be posted on televisions, TV programs, as well as posters on the streets. On top of this, phone numbers should be regularly checked. If the IP site of phone numbers is located in Southeast Asia and they keep sending messages to random people, broadcast messages should be blocked and not allowed to be used thereafter. What’s more, the key to cracking down on this gargantuan criminal business lies in the action of the Thailand government, which may destroy their business by violence and spare no pains to find out the big boss behind this institution.

As a mother of two kids, I will educate my children about the dangers of scams and how to avoid them smartly—like how people in KK land are humiliated once they cannot meet the requirements of their boss—and to neglect messages and FaceTime calls with strangers, in order to protect my beloved parents.

To wrap up, the cybercrime in Thailand is still worsening and poses many dangers to tourists and citizens in Thailand. As laymen, we should always be aware of phoney messages and work offers to avoid falling prey to the painful trap of scams. It is believed that if governments really paid heed to this global issue, the problem can be solved as soon as possible.

In recent years, the discussion of “racism” and the “LGBTQ+ community” has become a popular topic in many countries. It is a trending topic on social media, and many people have different opinions about it. The younger generation pays close attention to and supports the ideas of “anti-racism” and the “LGBTQ+ community,” but these concepts have slowly become twisted. Many young teenagers misunderstand these ideas, which has also created resentment and disagreement between these topics. In this article, we will discuss the original concepts of “anti-racism” and the “LGBTQ+ community,” as well as my point of view on these two popular topics.

The Concept of “Anti-Racism”
Racism was a serious issue in earlier years. As we all know, people from different countries have different skin colors, such as black, yellow, tan, and white. In those earlier years, the problem of racism was prevalent around the world. The victims of racism were often Black people, as they were losing freedoms and rights. Countries were enacting laws to control the rights of Black individuals. For example, Black people and people of other skin colors had to separate themselves in public spaces. There were Black-only spaces and spaces for other skin colors in almost every public area during that time.

Nowadays, the younger generation has developed a strong awareness of anti-racism. Teenagers on the internet point out that Black people deserve better and fair rights, just as people of other skin colors also deserve fair rights. They have initiated multiple actions to fight against racism, which are intended to protect people of different skin colors. As a part of the younger generation, I have slowly realised that the concept of “anti-racism” is becoming unfriendly and has created many misunderstandings. Is the action of “anti-racism” becoming unacceptable and harmful towards people who are not Black? We will explore this further below.

The Misunderstanding of “Anti-Racism”
People misunderstand that the victims of racism include not only Black people but also individuals of other skin colors. To raise awareness of “anti-racism,” internet users are agreeing that video game developers and movie directors should change their fictional characters’ skin colors to Black. Is this action a positive way to promote awareness of “anti-racism”? As the trend of “making fictional characters” has gone viral all over the internet, more people seem to be disagreeing with the concept of “anti-racism.” People are pointing out that they feel offended and disrespected when they are persuaded to change their skin colors to Black. From my point of view, the majority of internet users are fighting against the action of “anti-racism.” We can see that this action is no longer positive but rather negative.

What’s even more concerning is that people on the internet are being resentful and disrespectful toward white people. Historically, white people have treated Black people in the worst ways. Some teenagers believe that white people should bear the responsibilities and consequences of treating Black people badly in the past. In my opinion, our education has improved in recent years. The system of slavery no longer exists in our society, which means the majority of the world has a high awareness of being respectful to all cultures and skin colors. The current generation of white people may not be as disrespectful as past generations, and they should not bear the responsibility for the historical system of slavery.

The Conclusion of “Anti-Racism”
To summarise, the original purpose of “anti-racism” was to take positive action. Many teenagers on the internet misunderstand the original concept, which leads to additional issues surrounding the topic of “anti-racism.” Everyone deserves equal treatment in our society, regardless of skin color. The main purpose of this topic is that we should be respectful to everyone in the world.

The Concept of the “LGBTQ+ Community”
In recent years, people around the world have developed different mindsets about their sexuality. With the increasing popularity of social media, individuals are sharing information about the “LGBTQ+ Community” through posts and videos. People are adopting more open-minded attitudes and feeling less embarrassed to share their sexuality. The concept of “LGBTQ+” includes bisexual, lesbian, transgender individuals, and more. Some countries are enacting laws that allow people to marry partners of the same gender, providing more rights and freedoms for those who wish to build a family with someone of the same gender.

While it may seem that the “LGBTQ+” community is positive, many people still complain about it. They argue that individuals in this community can be disrespectful and disrupt their usual lives. We will explore this issue further below.

The Issues that are Brought by the “LGBTQ+ Community”
As I mentioned, many people are complaining that the “LGBTQ+ Community” is interfering with their lives. Everyone has their opinions, and we should feel free and comfortable expressing our points of view. However, some individuals in the community seem to be forcing others to support their sexuality and gender.

What’s more, transgender individuals may identify as any gender or object they desire. What problems could arise if a male identifies as female? Does that mean he can use the female restroom simply because he has the right to do so? From my perspective, this is a concerning issue worldwide. People are feeling insecure in such situations. The original purpose of “LGBTQ+” is to allow individuals more freedom to be themselves and to become whatever they wish. Unfortunately, some individuals misuse this opportunity to harass others, which undermines the positive purpose of the movement.

The Summarisation of the “LGBTQ+ Community”
People in this community should not be aggressive toward those who do not support the concept, as everyone has their own opinions. On the other hand, the “LGBTQ+ Community” brings many rights and freedoms to individuals who want to become whoever they are comfortable being. People can build relationships and families with their partners without worrying about the consequences of the laws. However, this does not mean they can misuse these rights to commit illegal acts.

From my perspective, both individuals in the “LGBTQ+ Community” and those who are not part of it should be respectful of each other’s opinions. I believe that if people learn to understand and respect each other’s viewpoints, there will be more supporters of the “LGBTQ+ Community” in the future.

The Final Conclusion of “Anti-Racism” and the “LGBTQ+ Community”
We have explored the concepts of “anti-racism” and the “LGBTQ+ community,” gaining insight into the positive and negative impacts of both topics. We can see that both communities bring rights and freedoms but also create various problems in society.

To conclude, people need to learn to be respectful toward others. I believe that this could decrease the number of arguments on the internet and foster more peace on both sides of disagreements and agreements.