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UPDATE: On September 13th, the trip leaders announced that students would be able to choose their own roommates. Mr. Sinclair began the meeting by saying how “There are two ways to look at this issue.” While he gave a nod of approval towards the student’s mature way to handling the problem, he thought that students were making a big deal out of a small issue. Another student, who wishes to remain anonymous, agreed that they saw little reason on why there was such a big reaction.
As of September 21st, the activity groups were released. Questions arose on whether the list was randomised or not, and there were some unhappy campers, but overall students were happy with the compromise.
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The customary high spirits surrounding the senior China Trips has changed this year.
On August 20th, the trip leaders Mr. Sinclair and Ms. Allan announced a change in the grouping and rooming arrangements for this year’s trips. Prior to this year seniors have enjoyed the privilege to choose their own roommates, and the groups were arranged by the general council. This year, however, the roommates are paired by Mr. Sinclair himself, with no input from the students.
Shocked reactions quickly arose in the room – many were exchanging concerned looks of disbelief with their peers. Some simply thought it was a practical joke. However when it proved to be true and happening, the situation provoked many students to act upon it. After expressing their opinions to newly elected 12th grade GenCo members Tomoka Yamada, Nino Lee, Kelvin Fan, and Sammi Hui, the council decided to create a petition in order to find middle grounds with authoritative figures.
An excerpt from Kelvin Fan’s email to the seniors announces:
“As the voice of Grade 12, seeing the enthusiasm you expressed this afternoon, we have decided to make a final petition to Mr. Sinclair, who is in charge of the rooming list. However, to show our grade’s devotion to exercise our traditional “senior rights”, we will need to come up with a complete list of rooming partners.”
In hopes of fulfilling their wish of choosing their own roommates, all seniors quickly sent in their individual preferred roommate pairings. Several other acts have also been done by members of the 12th grade since the announcement was made. Ayman Mekkaoui and Thomas Sepahi have penned a formal letter vocalising their opinions on the inconvenient arrangements. An excerpt from this letter reads:
“…we are already a community, one well bonded through the experiences we’ve lived together. To strengthen this point, we would like to bring to light the fact that there have been no new students admitted into the Senior Class this year, meaning that there is no one to assimilate into our tight-knit community, which is typically one of the main purposes of China Trips. Being Seniors this is one of last opportunities for us to spend quality time with our friends and make memories before we all go along on our separate paths.
We are sincerely disappointed in this, and would like to encourage you to grant us the privilege of having the choice to decide upon whom we would like to spend this extraordinary experience with.”
StuCo President Helen Liao also stands with her peers on this matter. She states:
“I think it’s safe to say that all of us have grown close to at least one or two other people in our grade. These are the people who were there for us when we weren’t at our best and vice versa. We were all looking forward to spending our last China Trips with our close friends, but of course, that’s not happening this year. Since we’re an international school, we probably won’t have the chance to see them after we graduate because we’re all going to different places for university. So I guess the only way to put it is that, I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to spend much time with those who I’ve grown so close to.”
However, the outlook is grim as Mr. Sinclair is standing firmly on his ground. According to HS principal Mr. Timmerman, who has spoken to both Mr. Sinclair and the senior council, Mr. Sinclair “held very strongly to his beliefs.”
“I’m sorry to say that the probability of having our own roommates are very slim.” Kelvin Fan reveals to the seniors. However, perhaps as a compromise, the preferred roommate pairings that have been sent in will be placed in the same group.
The atmosphere building up towards this year’s senior China Trips is different – instead of bubbly excitement, it has been replaced by frustration and anxious apprehension that students will not be able to spend the much treasured moments with their friends.
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