Two faces by Shuxuan Chang

 Two faces

         I was at my friend Ailey’s house because we were going to have a sleepover. “Wow! Are you excited for tonight?” I asked her. She was cleaning her room and said, “Of course. I had to clean my room. Sorry, it’s too messy.”

         After she finished cleaning, we lay on her bed together. We talked about school and what had happened during the past few days. Since we are from different districts, we don’t get many chances to meet each other. Ailey told me she wanted to show me something. She opened her social media app and went to her personal account. She showed me videos she had posted of herself. I was really surprised because in those videos, she didn’t look like herself, and the way she talked was completely different. 

         When she looked at me, she said, “Gabby, it’s nothing surprising. That’s how social media works. A lot of people do the same thing.” I was shocked, but I understood her. I didn’t say anything. When I got back home, I kept thinking about why social media changes people so much. Maybe I’m just not used to it yet, but I think I’ll stay the same.

Is It Actually Good or Just Trending? by Shuxuan Chang

 Is It Actually Good or Just Trending?

        “Hurry up, we’ve got 30 minutes,” my friend told me. I quickly changed clothes and ran out with her. We went to a shopping center with a lot of trending foods I always see on TikTok. People just go, grab something, and post a video saying it’s good.

         My friend and I went in, we saw a lot of food that was on social media before. The line was super long—we waited about 40 minutes. When we finally tried the food, it wasn’t even good. I was so confused—if people don’t even like it, why do so many people still buy it? Maybe it’s just because these foods are popular, people feel like they have to say they’re good, even when they’re not that great. A lot of people just follow what others say or do, and maybe they don’t want to feel left out. 

         Sometimes I do the same thing too. When my friends tell me something is trending or really popular right now, I’ll try it without really thinking much about it. None of the food is good, they just look great, but I was protected. I like it. So I can get into the group don’t feel behind. Now I’m starting to realize that not everything popular is actually good—you kind of just have to try it for yourself.

Emerging Health Technologies and the International Community by Sara Gulati

 Emerging Health Technologies and the International Community

In 1988, Isaac Asimov wrote, “Science in the service of humanity is technology, but lack of

wisdom may make the service harmful.” Thirty-eight years later, his statement has become ever more

prevalent with the proliferation of technology. Technological advancements in the 21st century have

accelerated human progress. And yet, most instruments remain double-edged, yet to be fully explored.

Their ever-evolving nature, which serves as a source of hope for our future and our potential

capabilities, also risks compromising all we know and stand for.

In the medical field, particularly, emerging medical technologies are subject to intense scrutiny.

Healthcare is greatly enabled by technology, which increases convenience for both medical

practitioners and patients. One example is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)

algorithms, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) claims “can process vast amounts of data

quickly, allowing healthcare providers and administrators to quickly implement targeted solutions for

individual patients and entire populations” (Hurd). Despite that, AI raises concerns, especially in how

it uses data. Primarily, medical data provided to train diagnostic models may violate patient-doctor

confidentiality and jeopardize patient privacy, especially if the data is harvested and supplied without

the patient’s knowledge. Additionally, medical data can both “perpetuate bias” and inaccurately

represent ethnic, racial, and cultural minorities; “without socioeconomic considerations based on

patients’ daily lives, treatment could suffer” (Stetler).

Telemedicine is also a field that is widely debated. Specifically, its use of Remote Patient

Monitoring (RPM) systems. RPM systems include heart monitors, glucometers, oxygen monitors, and

many more— all of which deliver key patient metrics to medical staff for processing and monitoring.

RPM systems (“Using Remote Patient Monitoring”). The National Institute of Health conducted a

systematic review on the benefits and challenges of RPM — a primary benefit of using RPM is

obtaining data between inpatient visits, post-diagnosis, that “continuous monitoring allows clinicians

to identify deterioration earlier and provide prompt care” (Serrano et al.). However, RPM systems, like

all technological systems, are also prone to issues such as “data inaccuracy” that often results in

incorrect treatment, alongside patient “disorientation” (Serrano et al.).

A variety of ethical dilemmas arise from these emerging technologies and services. To what

extent should a physician employ technological support? What human oversight is necessary for the

proper use of these technologies? Who should be held accountable for a misdiagnosis? When should a

practitioner refuse to diagnose virtually?

That’s not all—outside of the diagnosis realm, other bio-engineered devices open up doors to gene

editing and modification. One such example is CRISPR-Cas9, which “makes it possible to correct

errors in the genome and turn on or off genes in cells and organisms quickly, cheaply and with relative

ease”; simply put, CRISPR-Cas9 makes it possible to correct "genetic disorders” (Redman et al.). Are

genetic modifications capable of changing human identity allowed under International law?

“European legislation and acts of international law prohibit genetic modification of human embryos”,

making it illegal to conduct germline editing (Krekora-Zając). However, this line is often blurred with

the legality of somatic gene editing for non-reproductive cells, which assist the development of critical

gene therapies and cures.

To address the ever-evolving nature of medical technologies, alongside international

frameworks like the Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights, there has been

action from independent nation-states and regional bodies. An example of this is the recent use of the

European Union’s Medical Device Conformity Assessments (CE), which are essentially “a review of

the manufacturer’s technical documentation regarding the product’s performance and safety” (Patryn

et al.). The CE is a provision under the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), “the new set of

regulations applying to all medical devices intended for market in the EU” (“MDR FAQ Compliance |

Nelson Labs”). Most EU actors have legislation stipulating compliance with the MDR for any medical

use of Robotics, AI/ML technologies, and wearable technologies.

Nevertheless, there remain gaps in these protocols and legislations. Most standards lack

“subjective limitations” to this advancing technology, or fail to account for relativistic morality

(Krekora-Zając). Medical Technologies”). The MDR creates administrative lags and red tape that

inhibit competition and innovation within the medical field (“EU MDR: Latest Developments,

Challenges, and What You Need to Know - Arrotek | Medical Device Innovation”).

Not only does the International Community need to address the ethics of medical technology,

develop comprehensive checks on health technologies, and encourage technological innovation, but

they also have to bridge the digital divide. Technological disparity and inequality are deeply rooted in

underdeveloped and developing nations. Most actors in the Global South lack both critical medical

infrastructure and investment for medical “Research and Development” (R&D). In accordance with

the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 9, “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure”, and

10, “Reduced Inequalities”, it falls on International Bodies and individual states to foster partnerships

between developed and underdeveloped nations to achieve these ambitious targets (“The 17

Sustainable Development Goals”).

Ultimately, medical technologies remain key to the medical industry, but they are undoubtedly

imperfect. The International community must first and foremost recognize the progression of

technology, ruling out the possibility of rigid bounds and choke-out legislation. From advancing

current oversight to safeguard patients, and capacity building in the Global South. They should aim to

adopt solutions that truly weigh and consider the application of healthcare technologies and their place

in the world.

Works Cited

“EU MDR: Latest Developments, Challenges, and What You Need to Know - Arrotek | Medical

Device Innovation.” Arrotek | Medical Device Innovation, 3 July 2025,

arrotek.com/en/eu-mdr-latest-developments-challenges-and-what-you-need-to-know/.

Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

Harasimowicz, Karolina. Poland Emerging Telemedicine.

www.dpublication.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/003-921.pdf.

Hurd, Becky. “Emerging Healthcare Technology: What’s next in Healthcare? - Nevada State

University.” Nevada State University, 20 June 2025,

nevadastate.edu/son/rn-bsn/emerging-healthcare-technology-whats-next-in-healthcare/.

Krekora-Zając, Dorota. “Civil Liability for Damages Related to Germline and Embryo Editing against

the Legal Admissibility of Gene Editing.” Palgrave Communications, vol. 6, no. 1, Feb. 2020,

pp. 1–8, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-020-0399-2. Accessed 26 July 2020.

“MDR FAQ Compliance | Nelson Labs.” Nelson Labs, 5 Sept. 2025, www.nelsonlabs.com/mdr/faq/.

Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.

Patryn, Rafał, et al. “Safety of Medical Devices in Poland – Analysis of Withdrawn and Suspended

Certificates of Compliance.” Medical Devices: Evidence and Research, vol. Volume 14, July

2021, pp. 239–47, https://doi.org/10.2147/mder.s316473. Accessed 11 Dec. 2021.

Redman, Melody, et al. “What Is CRISPR/Cas9?” Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education &

Practice Edition, vol. 101, no. 4, Apr. 2016, pp. 213–15,

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2016-310459.

Serrano, Luiza Palmieri, et al. “Benefits and Challenges of Remote Patient Monitoring as Perceived by

Health Care Practitioners: A Systematic Review.” The Permanente Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, The

Permanente Press, Sept. 2023, pp. 1–12, https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/23.022.

Stetler, Carrie. “AI Algorithms Used in Healthcare Can Perpetuate Bias.” Rutgers.edu, 14 Nov. 2024,

www.newark.rutgers.edu/news/ai-algorithms-used-healthcare-can-perpetuate-bias.

“The 17 Sustainable Development Goals.” United Nations, 2015, sdgs.un.org/goals.

“Using Remote Patient Monitoring.” Telehealth.hhs.gov, 2024,

telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-and-remote-patient-monitoring/u

sing-remote-patient.

A Shirt Isn't the Problem by Shuxuan Chang

 A Shirt Isn't the Problem

        “Hey, Belly, do you like my outfit today?” I asked before class started. She said: “ Yeah, but I think maybe you can try this shirt next time, maybe it is better for you.” We ended up talking about it for the rest of the day, because I don’t agree with her opinion.

           After school, I was doing my homework. I couldn't help but think of that incident. I kept wondering why Belly thought that way. Did I explain myself badly? Or did she just see things differently from me? Then I realized something kind of embarrassing. Whenever I disagree with someone, my first reaction is often to convince them that I'm right. I don't really know why. Maybe part of me just thinks my idea makes more sense. Well it’s kind of weird, I know, right?Then I started noticing that the people around me do the same thing too,but when I thought about it more. 

         I noticed that other people do the exact same thing. Belly was trying to convince me that her choice looked better, and I was trying to convince her that mine did. Maybe neither of us was really listening. Honestly, the funny thing is that we were arguing over a shirt. A shirt. Not a life-changing decision, not a huge problem—just a shirt.

Maybe this style suits me by Shuxuan Chang

 Maybe this style suits me

       On my walk today, I kept noticing how good some people’s outfits looked. It made me wonder if I could pull off that kind of style too. And then I realized… Why do I think that other people’s styles fit me better?

      When I’m just scrolling on my phone, I see influencers showing products or outfits, and everything looks perfect. When I buy the same things, and when I try them, it’s usually just okay. Not bad, just not what I imagined. I told my friend about that. My friend said: “Maybe you can try a different style, not just follow other people’s style. Everyone is special.” I was thinking, well she was talking, and I thought maybe she is right, because so many styles are going to be popular, I can’t try every style. Maybe I need my own style, just for me. After that, I usually wear my own clothes, but sometimes I still want to try, maybe because it’s new.

      And sometimes I don’t even like the thing that much, but I still want it, just so I don’t feel left out. It’s kind of tiring when I think about it. Everything changes so fast, and I’m always trying to catch up.

Long Course VS Short Course by Vera Soukhanovskii

 Long Course VS Short Course by Vera Soukhanovskii

Have you ever noticed that pools used in high school swimming competitions seem much smaller than those used at the Olympics, or other professional and advanced meets? This is because they are different types of pools: short course pools and long course pools. The main difference between these two types of pools is their length, with SCY (Short Course Yards) being 25 yards, and LCM (Long Course Meters) pools measuring 50 meters long. Most often, high school and college meets and competitions use SCY, while LCM is primarily used during international competitions. 

Of the two, SCY is considered to be faster due to each race having more walls and turn opportunities. These push-offs from the walls generate bursts of speed and allow swimmers to use their underwater kicks before resurfacing and becoming prone to water resistance. Up to 60% of a SCY race can be spent underwater, while LCM only offers up to 30% of underwater swimming. This is important as turns help swimmers maintain constant speed and momentum, and the time spent underwater is usually faster than above water swimming. Long course, on the other hand, requires more strategic pacing and better endurance, as the wall to wall distance is much longer. LCM swimmers focus more on stroke efficiency, and also need to work on their breathing due to more time spent above water. SCY times are also faster because yards are shorter than meters. For example, 100 meters is equivalent to 109 yards, and along with speed lost due to less walls, long course times are always a few seconds slower than their short course event equivalents. 

Another thing to keep in mind when training for the different pool types is stroke rate, and also considering fatigue and tiredness. Stroke rate is how quickly swimmers take strokes, but the faster your stroke rate is, the earlier fatigue begins to set in. Long course swimming is more tiring since swimmers have to maintain a faster stroke rate for longer periods of time due to less recovery time on walls. Therefore, maintaining a higher stroke rate in LCM races is a lot more difficult than a SCY sprint. 

SCY pools are primarily found in the US. This is due to the US never changing to the metric system, so they use yards to measure distance instead of meters. The NCAA, or the National Collegiate Athletic Association, is a student athletics program in schools in the US. They host the largest SCY meet every year for the fastest high school and college students to compete in a 25 yard pool. Most meets in other countries are usually measured in LCM. 

My personal experience with SCY and LCM is a little different. For my swim team, we split the year up into two main seasons, each dedicated for the two different pool measurements. From September to March, we train in SCY yards pools and all of our meets are in 25 yard pools. During practices, we focus more on our turns, faster movements and the shorter sprint races. From April to July, our main priority is endurance and efficient swimming during our LCM season. Additionally, our practices are very different, as we also prioritize exercising outside of the pool more to build our endurance. We cycle through these seasons yearly, and spend a lot of time getting to know the differences between SCY and LCM pools. 

Works Cited

Biskaduros, Paige Walters. “How to Race Short Course vs Long Course in Swimming.” How to Race Short Course vs Long Course in Swimming, MySwimPro, 3 June 2024, blog.myswimpro.com/2024/06/03/how-to-race-short-course-vs-long-course-in-swimming/.

“Reddit - Please Wait for Verification.” Reddit.com, 2026, www.reddit.com/r/Swimming/comments/vkrbos/why_do_they_swim_yards_in_ncaa/. Accessed 29 May 2026.

Tseng, Megan. “Long Course vs. Short Course: A Look at Some Differences.” Swimming World News, 3 Nov. 2021, www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/long-course-vs-short-course-a-look-at-some-differences/.

The Four Swimming Strokes by Vera Soukhanovskii

 The Four Swimming Strokes by Vera Soukhanovskii

The earliest records of people swimming comes from Egyptian tomb art from 2000 BC. These drawings, along with others from different countries and cultures, depict people swimming doggie paddle and early forms of breaststroke. Official swim races are thought to have begun as early as 36 BC in Japan, with people doing their best to get across water as fast as possible. Soon, different strokes began to develop, along with rules and regulations to ensure fair advantages for everyone. In this article, we will be discussing some of the origins of the four main strokes and the events highlighted in swim races today, along with some of the unique rules that were added later on.

As mentioned earlier, people began swimming for fun many years ago, but the first official stroke was breaststroke. A book written in 1696 recognized breaststroke as the first official stroke, and became most commonly used in both competitions and leisurely swimming. In 1904, men raced breaststroke at the Olympics for the first time, but the stroke looked a little different Today, breaststroke is done in two primary movements: a pull and a kick, with a glide in between cycles. To pull, swimmers perform a sweeping motion with both arms simultaneously, raising their chest and head above the water to breathe. After shooting their hands forward and lowering back into the water, they then kick their legs outwards, similar to a frog. The main difference between this and breaststroke of the past is the head positioning. Before a new rule in 1987, swimmers had to keep their head above water at all times. This was removed after realizing that it’s easier to hold a streamline and therefore go faster with your head in line with the rest of your body. Today, the most common distances for breaststroke at competitions are the 100 and 200 meters, along with an occasional 50 meter sprint. Swimmers today also focus more on the explosive movement between stroke cycles to prioritize swift movement through the water, unlike the relaxing strokes done years ago. For me personally, breaststroke was one of the first strokes that I mastered when learning how to swim. I especially enjoyed doing the frog-like kick, as it is both powerful and fun. 

Freestyle, also known as the front crawl, is the fastest, the most efficient, and also the most commonly used stroke. Technically, freestyle events allow swimmers to use any stroke they chose, but nearly all competitors swim the front crawl due to its efficient speed. This stroke combines alternating arm movements, similar to a windmill, and a fast flutter kick, where swimmers rapidly kick their legs up and down to propel themselves forward in the water. Unlike breaststroke, freestyle allows swimmers to constantly move forward without slowing down during the glide. According to historians, early forms of freestyle were used by Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Australians, and then were adopted by Europeans with slightly modified technique. The modern technique was introduced and popularized by an Australian swimmer named Richmond Cavill in the 1900s, which allowed for greater speeds to be achieved when swimming this stroke. Freestyle has also been included in every modern Olympics and covers a variety of different distances. Sprinters, swimming the 50 meter and 100 meters, focus on fast, explosive, and constant speed, and keep each movement as quick and powerful as possible, along with a powerful kick to propel them forward. Distancers, on the other hand, swim events ranging from the 200 meter to the 1500 meters, and prioritise endurance, pacing, and efficient strokes. 

There is only one stroke that is not swum on your stomach, and that is backstroke. Hence the name, it is done entirely on the swimmers back. Like freestyle, swimming backstroke utilizes alternating arm movements and a flutter kick, but swimmers face upward instead of downward. To prevent crashing into walls, swimmers rely on flags that are strung above the pool five meters before each wall. Before competitions, they usually do a few practice turns in which they count the number of strokes it takes for them to reach the wall to enable safe and quick turns. Backstroke technique has also changed throughout the years. Over time, people found that rotating their bodies side to side while slightly bending their arms underwater made their strokes feel stronger and more efficient. Backstroke starts are also unique to the stroke, as swimmers do not dive into the water. Instead, they start already in the water and push off the wall backward, while arching their backs. To gain speed after the start and turns, backstrokes use powerful dolphin kicks on their backs to propel themselves forward underwater. Today, the most common distances swam in competitions are the 100 meter and 200 meter races, along with an occasional 50 meter sprint. 

The most physically challenging and demanding stroke is considered to be butterfly. Butterfly was developed initially as a breaststroke variation in the 1930s, when swimmers tried experimenting with recovering their arms over the water instead of under. At first, this new movement was paired with the already familiar breaststroke kick, but eventually the dolphin kick was developed to form the butterfly stroke swimmers use today. Dolphin kicking uses up and down hip movements, similar to the movements of a dolphin. In 1956, butterfly officially became an Olympic event, with the most common distances being the 100 meter and 200 meter races. The stroke requires swimmers to move both arms out of the water at the same time, while also propelling forward with the dolphin kick. Butterfly is also known for their powerful rhythmic movements, as body coordination is necessary to keep a steady tempo. Butterfly is also considered to be one of the most visually impressive strokes due to its unique movements. For many swimmers, this stroke is both physically and mentally challenging as well, as longer distances have a large aspect of pushing through extreme exhaustion. 

Some swimming races also allow swimmers to perform a combination of all four strokes, or a medley. The IM, or an Individual Medley, swimmers swim equal parts butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, in that order. These events highlight versatility of athletes, along with endurance due to the requirement of being efficient in all components of the race. Swimmers have to master multiple techniques in order to excel in this event. Medal relay races, on the other hand, have one swimmer per event, with a slightly different order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle. 

Swimming has greatly evolved. From its ancient origins to the highly technical events today, each of the four strokes has its own history, unique movements, and special rules. Efficiency, endurance, speed, power, and body positioning all shape these swimming strokes and demonstrate the different techniques. As swimming continues to evolve, new strategies and rule changes may further transport this sport for future athletes.  

Works Cited

Holmes, Taylor, and Taylor Holmes. “The History of Swimming Strokes - MySwimPro.” MySwimPro, 30 May 2023, blog.myswimpro.com/2023/05/30/the-history-of-swimming-strokes/?amp=1. Accessed 29 May 2026.

“Swimming 101: The Four Strokes.” NBC Olympics, 2021, www.google.com/url?q=www.nbcolympics.com/news/swimming-101-four-strokes&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjPl5bjtNqUAxW8WUEAHXY9NSQQFnoECEYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw12kzVgkVKOLBGeL5f0TpFp. Accessed 29 May 2026.

Zeng, Daniel . “Comparing and Contrasting: The Four Main Swimming Strokes.” Swimming World News, 26 Jan. 2021, www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/comparing-and-contrasting-the-four-main-swimming-strokes/.