K S LO ENGLISH

Dear Adeline,

You might be surprised to receive this letter. Well, of course, in an era where holograms are commonly used, it is odd to receive a handwritten letter on paper. Although you might think I am a little bit crazy or delusional, I assure you, this letter expresses my most genuine feelings for you.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you can already guess what I want to tell you. But please, before you answer me, I hope you can read the whole letter.

The first sight of you was dazzling. Even though the scenario in which we met wasn’t that romantic, I was already fascinated by your look. I’ve never had a girlfriend before. You might say my high school life was a little bit boring, but I promise you, you are the first girl to ever catch my attention.

I must say, while writing this letter, I couldn’t stop smiling. Writing this letter reminds me of you smiling at me in the park. Writing this letter reminds me of you wearing that blue dress adorned with diamonds and gems. Writing this letter reminds me of you hugging your cat. Memories flow into my mind like waves crashing onto the shore—I simply cannot stop thinking about you.

Every time I look up at the starry night, I wonder how happy you would be if you could see it too. Or perhaps you are looking at the same stars as I am, amazed by their beauty. Every time I sit by the river, enjoying the sunset, I imagine how romantic it would be if you were by my side, leaning on my shoulder, bathed in its honey-colored light. Every time I sit in Miss Clifton’s garden, I can almost see you there, astonished, feeling the “rainbow” in your hands, your dress dyed by the scent of flowers. I wouldn’t be able to look away from you.

As an early riser, I’ve seen thousands of sunrises and sunsets. The golden sunlight flooding the streets has always stunned me with its magnificence. Yet the more I gazed upon it, the stronger my loneliness became. I’ve seen the blood-orange sun rise upon the horizon, casting red, yellow, and orange hues over clouds as I glanced at the vast blue ocean. It’s a little confusing, but as I take in the beauty of these views, my heart feels blue and calm—like the deep ocean.

Oh, don’t worry about me. I’m not weak enough to let a view make me want to give up on life. I’ve seen thousands of moons hanging in the night sky: harvest moons like gold coins, new moons like baby swans’ feathers. Tell me, as I gaze upon the moon, are you also looking at it? If so, I can feel as though we are together, enjoying this fabulous view.

But looking at these views only makes me lonelier.

My dearest lady, I am now sitting by a very pleasant window. I watch a boy and girl holding hands as they walk down the street. I watch young couples kissing on a bench. I watch older couples enjoying the warmth of the sun as they stroll. Our age has already passed for holding hands as children. Our age has also passed for kissing on a bench. But we aren’t yet old enough to hold hands and enjoy the sun like those older couples. Still, I wish—that someday we will.

For God’s sake, I wish that someday when I wake up, I won’t have to text you, call you, or search for you. I wish that someday when I wake up, the first thing I see is your smile and your beautiful form in a dress. I won’t need to worry about you or miss you because you’ll be right by my side—not thousands of miles away. Do you know how the distance between us is breaking me?

Falling in love with you has made me selfish. I always hope you are by my side, so I can hug you and feel your warmth.

Adeline, you are my dearest person now. I cannot stand a day without you. I need you to appear in my daily life. I need to see you, to hear your voice, to see your smile—it’s what makes my day.

I love that smile that dances across your face. I love those eyes that sparkle with life. I love the way the breeze gently ruffles your hair. I love you. I love everything about you—your strengths, your weaknesses.

I’ve felt the sea breeze on the beach, seen the full moon hanging like a gold coin in my hometown, and stood on the hill overlooking Victoria Harbour. These memories are cherished in my heart. Yet every time I sit and enjoy such scenery, I feel something is missing. Looking back, it is as though I see your silhouette, and I realize that what I’m missing is you.

I’ve done many wonderful things in my life, but I struggle to remember them. I’ve realized that with you, all those moments of excitement are worth it. I would give up all my wonderful memories just to have one moment alone with you. Even if it’s just for a minute, I think it’s worth everything.

Your smiling face, your voice, your bright eyes, your beautiful hair, your incredible heart—all these remain fresh in my mind. You might say, “Others have these qualities too,” and ask why I love you. If you say that, then I have no answer. But I know this: the fact that I love you is the reason I don’t love anyone else.

You are unique. You are you.

I want to settle down with you in a small town in Western Europe, sitting in the reeds to watch the sun slowly sink below the horizon. I want to lie in the grass with you, counting the stars at night.

I want to travel with you to the romantic capital of France, to stand in the magnificent Amiens Cathedral and, in the eyes of God, witness our love.

I want to venture with you to the edge of the world, where snowflakes float from the sky. I want us to stay in a cabin, warmed by a crackling fire, watching the Northern Lights as they stretch across the heavens like ribbons of silk.

Please forgive me if parts of this letter feel disjointed in tone. I assure you, this entire letter can be summarized in just eight letters:

I love you.

Have you noticed me carrying a quill and paper recently? Sometimes I write beside a cottage window. Sometimes I write while lying in bed, only to realize ink has stained the sheets. Sometimes I write while sitting on a bench in the park, chasing the pages as the wind carries them away.

Now, I am sitting beside a rocky beach, using a pebble to weigh down this paper. I should have brought a writing board here—please forgive my poor handwriting.

Apart from the quill and paper, I also brought a book to read on the tram.

The book is called Blue.

It was meant to be a book of philosophy, but I found it isn’t about “To be or not to be.”

Looking at the vast blue sea, I remembered a sentence I once read:

“What I know is that when I met you, my blue fever began. I want you to know that I no longer blame you for it.”

Waves crash upon the shore, the wind tries to blow away my paper, and I wish you were here to enjoy this view with me.

If you were, I wouldn’t have brought paper, a quill, or a book. I would have brought a camera—an old one, the kind that uses film—so I could take photo after photo of you.

I would save all the photos in a book.

As dusk approaches, I would sit by a fireplace with a steaming cup of hot chocolate on the table beside me.

As the fire crackles, I would take some time to admire the photos, smiling and recalling the memories.

When I say “a while,” it could be as short as a quarter of an hour—or much longer, perhaps half an hour or even three-quarters.

I could gaze at a single photo for that long, not because of how picturesque the view is or how well the photo turned out, but because of the memory lying between the ink and the paper.

Memory is what I truly treasure. I try to cherish every moment I spend with you. But time flies when I’m with you.

Before I realize it, your hand has already slipped away from mine, vanishing at the end of the street, becoming nothing more than a small, unrecognizable light.

I can only stand there, watching you walk farther and farther away, powerless to do anything.

Words stick in my throat. My feet are rooted to the ground. My hands are clenched at my sides, unable to send you a message.

I swear, if you turned around and waved at me, I would run to you as fast as I could, like a butterfly drawn to a flower.

To put it in Shakespeare’s words:

I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.
The course of true love never did run smooth.
I would not wish any companion in the world but you.
I know no ways to mince it in love but directly to say, “I love you.”

You know—or maybe you don’t know—that I wish my drawing skills were better. Then I could sketch the view I’m seeing right now, just for you.

I must say, the sea is the most perfect and beautiful thing ever created in this world.

Watching the waves crash onto the shore, more and more thoughts flood into my mind.

Before I met you, I thought no one could ever truly understand me—not my parents, not my friends, not my co-workers.

But you are different. You are the most special person in my life. You’ve sparked the candle of happiness within me.

It’s as if you already knew my language, as if you could understand the deepest meanings behind my words.

Talking to you feels like the most beautiful, most indulgent, most treasured thing in my life.

I find myself looking forward to talking to you every day—whether it’s hearing your voice or reading your texts.

You mean so much to me. You weigh more in my heart than anything else I have.

I need to express how grateful I am to you. You never knew how important your presence in my life was.

But now you do.

Even so, I must leave this place that has brought me so many thoughts. In the blink of an eye, twilight has arrived.

I can already see the moon hanging on a cyan-like curtain of sky. The stars begin to shine, like needles piercing through cloth.

I have to leave all these beautiful things behind and return home.

Will I be lucky enough to receive a “goodnight” wish from you before I sleep?

Please tell me I will. Your words, your voice, and your love mean more to me than anything else.

It’s as though your love is a key. While others who love me might wish to lock me in a cage—a mockingbird forced to sing for their amusement—you set me free.

Or perhaps your love is like a breeze. I cannot see it or smell it, but I can feel it. It’s neither too strong nor too soft. It’s perfectly paced, the perfect balance, allowing me to give myself entirely to you.

To my dearest Adeline, nature has given her best to you. You hold all her gifts in your hands. You’re smart, you’re alluring, and you’re perfect.

I want to spend every second with you—holding your hand, sitting beside you, watching the wind ruffle your hair. Just being with you, that is all I want every day.

Adeline, you mean too much to me. Love has made me weak, made me timid, made me a man who might be called a minnow.

Yet love has also made me see the world differently. Even though I’m anxious around you, nervous with you, and sometimes stutter in your presence, I still did it.

Writing this letter took so much of my courage. Every single word made me stop and think for a while.

Yet I still deliver this letter to you.

Love has made me timid, but it has also made me brave.

You don’t know how many nights without you have broken my spirit. Lying in bed without you is daunting. Closing my eyes at night has become my greatest fear.

I wish I could wake you during the blue hour, playing your favorite record, only to hear you whine about how early it is.

So, Adeline, if you are reading this and haven’t yet burned the letter, I ask you to come downstairs and look for me.

I’ll be sitting on the bench in the park, the sunlight filtering through the leaves, shining onto the pages of my book.

If you accept my love, please don’t say anything. Just walk slowly to me and lean on my shoulder. I will read to you a sentence that I love the most.

To me, it might not be the most romantic thing we will ever experience in our lives, but that moment will become our most romantic day.

However, heartbreakingly, if you reject me, please gently leave this letter beside me on the bench.

I will continue reading, trembling as I do.

Adeline, you have brought happiness to my life. But I am not satisfied with the relationship we currently share.

All human beings are greedy. I wish to have a greater share of your love.

To my dearest Adeline, I love you, and I will love you for the rest of my life.

Sincerely,

Adonis

The term “trinity”, as defined by the Cambridge Dictionary, refers to the three forms of God’s existence in Christianity; it also refers to a group of three things. Among car enthusiasts, the holy trinity refers to the best three cars produced by three different manufacturers that define an era—cars that humble even the greatest machines and distinguish themselves from countless competitors.

Since the development of internal combustion engines during the Second Industrial Revolution, cars were soon invented and produced worldwide. However, humans are not satisfied to remain stagnant in early achievements; progress does not stop there. Horsepower, acceleration, speed, braking power, handling, weight reduction, aerodynamics, downforce, and luxury have always been our guiding principles. We strive for pinnacle performance and never remain stationary. In this article, I will briefly dive into some features and details of the three most prodigious, aesthetic, expeditious, and state-of-the-art supercars: the McLaren P1, Porsche 918 Spyder, and Ferrari LaFerrari.

Mclaren P1 (2013)

Recognized by its “smiling” design, this supercar is not as friendly as it looks. Designed by McLaren, a British supercar manufacturer that has been participating in Formula 1 for five decades, the P1’s hybrid power system is greatly inspired by Formula 1 technology, while the P1’s chassis and design continue the tradition of its predecessor, the McLaren F1 (1992). The P1 is a limited edition supercar, with only 375 units made. However, the P1 is the most commonly seen car among the holy trinity in Hong Kong. Have you ever seen one? (It’s usually yellow.)

Engine: Hybrid 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8

Horsepower: 903 hp

Torque: 900 N⋅m (664 lb⋅ft)

Weight: 1,395 kg

Drive type: RWD

Engine position: Mid-engine

0-100 km/h: 2.8 s

0-200 km/h: 6.8 s

Top speed: 350 km/h (217 mph)

Special features of the P1: 

1. Hybrid Powertrain and regenerative braking

The P1 stores energy in its battery generated when braking. The single electric motor kicks in to fill the gaps where the petrol engine isn’t performing at its best.

2. Lightweight chassis 

The main body is structured by five main carbon fibre panels, with no lacquer added. Trims are made of military-grade titanium. The front windshield is only 3.5 mm thick (1.5 mm less than normal cars), and no rear windshield is added. The interior features a minimalist design to reduce unnecessary weight.

3. Active aerodynamics

The P1 is smart; it adapts to its environment. The aerodynamic design generates 600 kg of downforce at 257 km/h to increase grip and turning. But at high speeds or when DRS (drag reduction system) is activated manually, the rear wing lowers slightly to reduce drag and make the car faster. The rear diffuser works with the exhaust to generate a ground effect that sucks the car to the ground. 

4. Pirelli-designed tires

Pirelli, a Formula 1 tire partner, provides tires specifically designed for the P1.

The P1 embodies British engineering. It’s one of the best-performing supercars ever manufactured. While it is an all-rounder—very versatile compared to the other two—it combines horsepower, top speed, and incredible aerodynamic features. Instead of using electronic components against traditional internal combustion engines, the P1 uses them to enhance the impact of the engine. This gives the P1 the benefits of both fast acceleration from electric motors and the lightweight advantage of petrol cars—a win-win scenario.

Porsche 918 Spyder (2013)

Personally, I am a big fan of Porsches, as Germans are renowned for their exacting engineering methods. Let’s start with a brief introduction to the name: 918 Spyder. What does “spyder” mean? Spyder refers to a two-seater car with an open roof, similar to a roadster. The 918 offers a distinctive driving experience because of this unique feature. The 918 is bone-crushingly fast. The idea behind this supercar is to make the most out of electric motors. Unlike normal hybrids, the 918 is equipped with not one, but two electric motors—one on both the front and rear axles. The exhaust is mounted right behind the driver’s seat, spitting flames and making incredibly loud noises. Only 918 units of this beautiful machine have ever been made.

Engine: Hybrid 4.6-liter naturally aspirated V8

Horsepower: 603 hp (engine) + 286 hp (motors)

Torque: 1,280 N⋅m (944 lb⋅ft)

Weight: 1,640 kg

Drive type: RWD (engine) / 4WD (motors)

Engine position: Mid-engine

0-100 km/h: 2.6 s

0-200 km/h: 7.2 s

Top speed: 345 km/h (214 mph)

Special features of the 918: 

1.  The perfect marriage of mechanical and electrical output

The car’s two electric motors provide 800 Nm of torque, allowing for four-wheel drive and optimal traction. The 918 is also a plug-in hybrid, allowing you to charge the battery separately. The battery can power the two motors for about 30 kilometers in electric mode—completely silent, like a flying microwave!

2. PDK (Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe)

The two electric motors help with the 918’s quick acceleration, but the PDK transmission also plays a significant role. The Porsche PDK is a dual-clutch transmission, effectively a two-in-one gearbox. By pre-selecting gears with two sets of gearboxes, it allows smoother and faster gear shifts, improving engine power transmission.

3. A very technological and modern interior 

A high-resolution touchscreen is placed in the center of the cockpit, with navigation and smartphone integration, balancing both performance and practicality. 

The Porsche 918 is the most famous hybrid Porsche ever made. The idea of using electric motors on both axles is brain-twisting—no other car company had thought of this design before, yet it’s incredibly effective. This ingenious design pushes hybrid technology in supercars to its limits, showing that power output is not restricted to the rear wheels. Utilizing all four wheels greatly enhances traction and maximizes power. The design can also be found in Porsche’s WDC-winning cars and the Porsche 919 Evo, the greatest track-performance car ever made. The Porsche engineers knew exactly what they were aiming for.

The Porsche 919 Evo

Ferrari LaFerrari (2013)

LaFerrari, which means the “definitive” Ferrari, might lead you to wonder why Ferrari is so confident that they named this car after their brand. I’ll explain why this supercar truly represents Ferrari by highlighting its unique features.

Ferrari has been a key player in Formula 1 since its inception. How historical? Formula 1 gives Ferrari 10% of its total annual profit due to the team’s long-standing heritage and contribution to the sport—no other Formula 1 team enjoys such a privilege. Like the P1, LaFerrari uses plenty of Formula 1 technology to reflect their brand’s history. Like the other two, LaFerrari is a hybrid but in a different way. The hybrid system in this car is called KERS (kinetic energy recovery system). Electrical energy is collected through regenerative braking, but it can only be used with the engine—unlike the other two cars, which can use electric power independently. Ferrari has stated, “We are not interested in electric cars!” LaFerrari, like other Ferraris, prominently features the iconic Ferrari red, called Rosso Corsa. It has a pointy nose and majestic-looking headlights. In my opinion, headlights are extremely important, as they act like the eyes of the car and give a domineering appearance. In the back of the car, under a glass shield, is a screaming, naturally aspirated V12 engine producing 950 horsepower. No turbo lags or superchargers here—that’s the pure heart of racing. Floor the gas pedal, and you unleash the almighty beast!

Engine: Hybrid 6.3-liter naturally aspirated V12

Horsepower: 950 hp

Torque: 900 N⋅m (664 lb⋅ft)

Weight: 1,585 kg

Drive type: RWD

Engine position: Mid-engine

0-100 km/h: 2.6 s

0-200 km/h: 6.9 s

Top speed: 350 km/h (217 mph)

Special features of the LaFerrari: 

1. First supercar to use KERS

LaFerrari is the first road-legal supercar to use the KERS system exactly like Formula 1 cars. The key difference between KERS and common hybrid systems is that KERS is built for performance rather than fuel economy, as seen in the Toyota Prius. KERS is designed for short power bursts. Electrical energy is mainly drawn from regenerative braking and stored in a compressed high-power density battery pack, which has a relatively smaller capacity than common hybrids. This allows the LaFerrari to exhibit similar acceleration performance to the 918, even with one less electric motor.

2. Active aerodynamics

The active aerodynamics in the LaFerrari are based on Formula 1 technology. Controlled by 21 ECUs, LaFerrari can manipulate airflow meticulously around its body, such as the movable front spoiler flaps and rear diffuser flaps. These designs—gained from Formula 1 experience—greatly improve downforce, allowing faster cornering speeds. Although Enzo Ferrari once said, “Aerodynamics are for people who can’t build engines,” the LaFerrari integrates a lot of aerodynamic technology. 

3. Weight distribution 

The lower the center of gravity, the more stable the car. The KERS battery is placed at the bottom of the car, allowing the heaviest component to lower the center of gravity and improve stability. The driver’s seat is fixed inside the cockpit, while the pedals and steering wheel are adjustable, allowing for a lower roofline and thus a lower center of gravity.

LaFerrari is a truly unique car. It is the first well-known road-legal vehicle to integrate Formula 1 technology. Unlike supercars that focus solely on powerful engines like the Ferrari 812 Superfast, you will love the entire LaFerrari, not just the engine. Every part brings out the spirit of Formula 1 car design, creating a pure racing machine.

Summary

We all have to admit that the three cars in the holy trinity are among the best ever created. I must emphasize that these cars were produced a decade ago. What was the latest iPhone model in 2013? The iPhone 5s, if I’m not mistaken. Yet you can break the speed limit in under 3 seconds with these cars in most parts of Hong Kong—it’s just mind-blowing. The technology used in the trinity was so advanced that it laid a significant foundation and influenced later supercars. Car manufacturers have been using their most successful and iconic engines, paired with hybrid systems, to create new-generation supercars. It has become a standard configuration for high-performance cars. Examples include follow-up models like the McLaren W1 and the Ferrari SF90, as well as Ferrari’s competitor Lamborghini’s newest 1001-hp Revuelto, in response to the SF90.

Out of the three, I prefer the LaFerrari. While the 918’s dual-motor architecture is innovative, and the rear-top mounted exhaust seems like a jetpack, the sound of LaFerrari’s naturally aspirated V12 is simply enthralling to me. Furthermore, LaFerrari retains its aesthetic lines, which serve as guiding lights in the dark, drawing your attention from the front to the back of the vehicle and allowing you to appreciate the entire piece of artwork. Italian car designs are elegant for a reason. Perhaps that’s why they appear to be naturally aerodynamic. 

However, with the rise of pure electric cars, traditional petrol engines seem to have lost their spotlight compared to multifaceted vehicles like Tesla. Some electric vehicles even surpass the acceleration capabilities of traditional petrol engines, despite weighing over two tons. The “obesity” of electric cars affects the thrill of driving, even though they accelerate quickly. While companies like Porsche believe that combustion engines still have a bright future—they recently invented a new 6-stroke engine—do you think electric cars will dominate the future of supercars or even define the next era of the holy trinity? Which car do you like the most in the holy trinity? Looking forward to seeing your comments down below.

SU7 sets lap record in Nurburgring

A depressing announcement was made this afternoon: the school picnic has been canceled. The school claims that, due to unstable weather and after careful consideration, the picnic would be canceled. All teachers and students are required to return to school for regular classes.

It is such undesirable and frustrating news for all the students and teachers. Complaints and grumbling have spread across various social media platforms about the discontented decision made today.

The mood of the students was greatly affected when the trip was canceled due to a typhoon. Initially, we were looking forward to this trip and couldn’t wait to relax at this event. Classes were filled with discussions and laughter all week. When the cancellation was announced, some classes fell silent. I even heard a resounding scream from the floor, though I’m not sure if it came from 5C or 5D. Without a doubt, they must be filled with disappointment.

Indignation is especially high among Form 6 students. As we all know, this year would be their last chance to participate in group activities during their secondary school life. It’s such a pity that there is no follow-up story for now. Whether the picnic will be postponed to a later date or canceled entirely remains a mystery.

What about other students? Two weeks ago, they were told there would be a school picnic on 18/11, but the announcement of the cancellation dropped like a time bomb. The bad news really dampened everyone’s spirits. Some had already packed their bags and bought snacks in advance. Their expectations for the trip had reached a peak, and now they face sudden changes and feel extremely disappointed. Some of my classmates suggested that it would be great to have a party in every class rather than return to regular lessons. Originally, students were full of anticipation and excitement for the trip. Everyone discussed the upcoming adventure in class, fantasizing about exploring new places and participating in activities with their classmates and teachers. This was not only an opportunity to enjoy group activities but also a time for friendship, with everyone looking forward to creating good memories together.

Needless to say, students are despondent about the result. Some described it as groundless worry, like jumping at shadows or abandoning ship too soon. For me, it felt like a balloon suddenly popped—my excitement vanished in an instant. It was as if the rug had been yanked out from under me, leaving only emptiness where joy once stood. Anticipation turned to hollow disappointment, like a mirage fading just as I approached.

But from the school’s perspective, the decision to cancel is understandable. The uncertainty of the weather may have affected the students’ safety, preventing them from fully enjoying the day. We understand that this decision was made to protect every student.

Though we regret the current situation, we trust that the school will fully consider everyone’s feelings and will try to find a new date to make up for the trip.

I’m looking forward to the new picnic day, hoping that when it comes, we can once again enjoy a moment of laughter and joy and share an unforgettable journey together.

‘What is your MBTI?’ ‘Oh… mine is ENFP…’ I automatically answer this question from a new person I just met. It surprises me how natural it has become for me to say my MBTI out loud. But is MBTI really that significant in describing who we are?

Introduction

MBTI, fully named the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, is a self-reported questionnaire that makes pseudoscientific (偽科學) claims to categorise people into sixteen ‘personality types’.

People are grouped by defining eight letters within four opposing categories. The four categories are:

• Extraversion vs Introversion

Extraverts tend to gain energy by communicating with other people and sharing their thoughts. Introverts prefer to gain energy by spending time alone and being more thoughtful before speaking.

• Sensing vs Intuition

‘Sensing’ people like to live in a more practical and realistic way; they work better with actual proof or examples. On the other hand, ‘intuition’ people (represented by ‘N’ in MBTI) like to imagine more and live in a more creative way.

• Thinking vs Feeling

‘Thinking’ people are more rational, focusing on facts rather than emotions. ‘Feeling’ people are more emotional; they seek attention and help for the community or others, and are often easily affected by others.

• Judging vs Perceiving

Judging refers to people who like to plan everything before starting. They prefer a structured schedule over random situations. Perceiving refers to people who enjoy spontaneity and remain flexible with everything.

Once you know which four letters suit you, a type (out of 16) will be presented to show you your personality.

Link to the MBTI test: https://www.16personalities.com

Problems

It seems that MBTI can help others and ourselves understand who we are, right? Through it, we believe we can find our dreams more easily and enhance ourselves. However, the problems with MBTI don’t lie in its usage, but in the personality it defines.

First, MBTI limits our thinking. With a known personality type, we tend to trust it and follow the advice to improve ourselves. But do we really 100% lean toward just one side of the personality? MBTI can only show how a person is during a recent period; it doesn’t fully reflect everything about our lives. We wouldn’t expect a test to tell us how to earn money, right?

Moreover, we frame ourselves with the simple letters provided by the test. In my surroundings, many people use ‘being an I person’ as an excuse not to communicate with others. Although everyone seems to accept this reasoning, does it really apply to all of us? No, of course not! We can’t define ourselves as purely 100% extroverted or introverted because we change throughout our lives for various reasons. It’s unreasonable to use MBTI as a shield to block difficulties from our view, let alone from reality!

Thirdly, MBTI affects our impressions of others. Through MBTI, we can work with others by knowing their type at first sight. Indeed, this can reduce the time needed to understand and adjust to each other. However, isn’t it the same as forming fixed first impressions based on MBTI?

We often say it’s not recommended to fix our impressions of others because they can change over time. But with MBTI, aren’t we repeating this exact process?

For example, Korean youths today often discuss their MBTI types. Even idols share their MBTI types with fans to help them feel more connected. While this is harmless for simply understanding or marketing purposes, the problem arises later. If an idol behaves in a way that doesn’t align with the MBTI type they presented, some fans may criticise them for being ‘out of character’ or ‘abnormal’. 

In the end, we wrongly interpret the purpose of MBTI and turn it into a restrictive label, which is totally unacceptable. We deprive everyone of the chance to change due to time, experience, or environment with just eight simple letters. But the essence of being human is that we learn and evolve. Through differences, we collaborate, adapt, and grow. MBTI, however, limits our perceptions, causing us to box in the behaviour of others and ourselves. I’ve heard classmates explain why they can’t engage in normal conversations with strangers, saying, ‘My MBTI is INTJ, so it’s hard for me to talk emotionally,’ or ‘I’m an F person, so I react in a more rude way.’ Since when did we use MBTI as a justification for our poor behaviour? It’s inevitable that we must face reality. If we only use MBTI to escape, we’ll never progress.

Claims and Suggestions

Even though MBTI leads to many problems, it remains a useful tool for self-reflection. The purpose of this article is to highlight the overuse of MBTI to handle problems. It’s suggested that we should only use it as a starting point for understanding ourselves and others.

If we can take it less seriously and instead choose to explore ourselves more freely, wouldn’t it be better to use a test as just one tool among many?

So, are you ready to put down your phone and face reality?

K-pop, J-pop, conventional pop music in the US, and Chinese music—which type of music would you prefer? Doubtless to say, everyone has a different answer in their mind. Various types of music contain their own unique attributes that attract different people’s tastes. In this article, let’s dive into the world of music!

1. K-pop Culture is Everywhere Right Now!

“Light it up like dynamite!” A lyric from the most famous K-pop group in the world—BTS. They paved the way for the global fame of K-pop culture. You may have heard of many K-pop groups such as Blackpink, NewJeans, and Aespa nowadays. Including the US, the biggest music market in the world, many people are now obsessed with K-pop culture. Catchy beats, mesmerizing lyrics, and cool dance performances are capturing the attention of millions. When you hear a K-pop song on the street, you may want to dance immediately! The fusion of American music and Korean culture showcases Koreans’ innovation and passion for making music. The truth is, they’ve succeeded. K-pop signifies a new era in the history of music and confirms that the evolution of music will continue well into the future!

2. Chinese Music Brings Strong Emotional Feelings

Unlike K-pop, Chinese music, including Mandarin and Cantonese songs, focuses on producing meaningful lyrics. Ask any Chinese music producer, and they will tell you how whole-heartedly they dedicate themselves to creating sophisticated and emotional lyrics that draw listeners into the world of the song. MC Cheung, a well-known singer in Hong Kong, consistently delivers strong emotional messages in his songs. Listeners of Chinese music often prefer songs with meaningful lyrics and soothing melodies that create a sense of resonance. That’s why these audiences prefer Chinese songs more.

3. Western Music is Still Popular

Due to historical reasons, some countries in the US and Europe started producing pop music earlier. They emphasized both melody and lyrics, just like other types of music. However, Western music seems to be leading the global music scene. Lady Gaga, an American pop singer, created numerous global hits such as “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance” about 10 years ago. Whether in the US or Asia, you could hear these songs everywhere in the 2010s. Nowadays, the queen of Western music seems to have changed. Taylor Swift has taken the throne in recent years. Songs like “Cruel Summer,” “Look What You Made Me Do,” and “Love Story” are quintessential examples of her musical legacy, especially her album Reputation, which dominated the music world in 2017. On platforms like Billboard, Apple Music, and Spotify, you can easily find these Western songs dominating the charts. The data shows the massive influence of Western music around the world.

4. Is This True for My Music Tastes?

There are still many other types of music that haven’t been mentioned. Whether you like K-pop, Chinese songs, Western music, or something else, there is no right answer to which songs you should prefer. As I mentioned before, every type of music has its own unique charm, and different people have different preferences. Having an open mind and an appreciative ear are qualities every listener should have. You may love the dance beats of K-pop, appreciate the wonderful lyrics of Chinese songs, or enjoy the melodies of Western music. When you travel through the fantastic, innovative, and beautiful world of music, you shouldn’t have any prejudice. With a passion for exploring music, you will fully immerse yourself in these treasures.

The sea of music is waiting for you—why hesitate? Just click into a music platform and enjoy the fantastic melodies, lyrics, and rhythms!

Situation and Introduction

‘Everyone, please remember to do your SolidMemory today! It counts towards your exam mark!’

As our English teacher reminds us, I glance at my iPad, looking at the app with dots traveling in a cloud, thinking about which five precious English words I should add to SolidMemory today.

Many of our schoolmates have complained that using SolidMemory is not helpful. Some even wrote an article discussing the disadvantages of SolidMemory and how it isn’t appropriate for it to be connected with an award (you can read the article written by 5A Ho Yui Ni Esther, titled ‘SolidMemory‘).

But today, I am not here to provide complaints or advice on whether SolidMemory is a good tool or not. Instead, I want to discuss whether forcing students to use SolidMemory for our exams really helps improve our English learning.

Before starting, let me introduce SolidMemory. It is an app that relies on AI to help students enhance their English vocabulary through memorization. All students are basically required to input five words each day, with an exercise as the minimum requirement. 

Advantages

From the perspective of teachers and the app’s founders, they encourage us to use it. Why? First, learning sometimes starts with forcing. There are always subjects that don’t get our attention, but are essential to study. For example, the twelve prescribed articles for Chinese (十二篇指定文章). Our teachers often suggest memorizing all of them to ensure we fully grasp their meaning. So why not apply the same logic to SolidMemory? Its AI system allows students to learn through spaced repetition. Through this, we can force ourselves to learn five new words a day. SolidMemory helps us take the first step toward enjoying English vocabulary. The AI reviews our previous exercises and tailors new ones to help us review words we are less familiar with, ultimately improving our vocabulary.

However, as with anything, forcing students to use SolidMemory to improve their English may have unintended consequences.

Disadvantages

From the students’ perspective, we might encounter some direct problems with SolidMemory. First, memorizing words does not always connect to actual usage. Even though SolidMemory provides example sentences, the app focuses on whether students can memorize words rather than whether they understand how to use them. This could lead to confusion when students try to use new words in writing but misunderstand their meaning. Do we want this to happen? Of course not! This is why forcing students to use SolidMemory may not improve our English but instead create confusion about word usage.

Moreover, by making SolidMemory mandatory, the founders inevitably included rankings in the app to encourage students to use it. The temptation of climbing higher on the leaderboard is hard to resist, right? But do students who aim for the top position really learn English, or are they just rushing to meet a target that has nothing to do with improving their English skills?

The ranking system in SolidMemory may create a vicious cycle where students compete for recognition rather than for meaningful learning, leading to the issues mentioned above. We must ask ourselves: is it worth it? Compare this to another popular learning app, Duolingo, which creates a fun and encouraging environment for people to learn languages without ranking them. Would this be a better solution for us?

Reasons for Different Opinions

SolidMemory will always be a subject of debate. While teachers and founders can insist on the benefits of AI, some students will continue to point out the one-sided nature of the app. Why is there such a difference? It mainly stems from our differences in learning styles. We all have our preferences for studying various subjects, and English is no exception. Our learning habits may vary due to factors like environment, peers, and mood.

Conclusion 

There is no definite solution in this situation. We can always choose our preferred learning materials or AI tools. While forcing us to use SolidMemory might lead us to take the first step in learning English, SolidMemory may not be your ideal tool. But it could still be a building block toward developing an interest in English. It would be better if the founders focused on fostering students’ interest in more advanced English. There is no definitive answer to whether SolidMemory is good or bad; what remains is whether we are willing to learn more and explore English for ourselves. Before we complain about being forced to use it, why not pause, put more effort into our studies, and find a more suitable way for us to learn English with SolidMemory? SolidMemory may not be perfect—neither the AI nor the system, and neither are we. But we can learn to be better, just as SolidMemory evolves with us.

I snap back to the app with the dots moving on the screen, deciding to add more words to SolidMemory.

Have you done your SolidMemory today?