2020-08-30

【Aiden in English】

         Uniqueness. Teachers preach to young children that everyone is unique in their way. Diversity, they call it.

        In truth, every person is unique. Genetics and environmental factors say so. In today’s world, it’s never more important to be exceptional. That’s what my teachers tell me anyway.

        It’s hilarious that being unique

2020-08-23

【Aiden in English】

        Staring out into the clear pool of the American conscience, 1920s America indulged in the idealistic belief of personal success and self-made wealth. In  The Great Gatsby, the author, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, explores the pollution of the American dream, investigating the darkness residing in the depths of fantasy. Through the descriptions of the Green Light, the Valley of Ashes, and the eyes of Dr. TJ Eckleburg,

2020-08-15

【Aiden in English】

        I saw a dead dog in the street. This happened a few weeks ago while practicing for an upcoming license exam. The small, frail body was mutilated, sitting on the yellow stripe between the lanes. Luckily, I went forty miles per hour and whizzed by its miniature frame without a detailed image. It more or less resembled a smear of black and dull pink in my peripheral vision, though my imagination filled in most of the canv

2020-08-08

【Aiden in English】

        Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse is a relatively recent big-screen animated Marvel film that introduces many new characters from numerous dimensions derived from multiple comic book series. From the classic Peter Parker to a slightly more vaccinated Peter Porker, the wide range of loosely based spider (and another animal) heroes band together with the main protagonist and freshly bitten Miles Morales to take on ev

2020-08-01

【Aiden in English】

        I have yet to see a movie about aliens where I felt fully immersed in their world. What I mean by that statement is that with every fictional alien society, I find myself picking holes in logic or viewing the overwhelming laziness in the details.

        For example, in the latest Man of Steel film starring Henry Cavill sporting the newest rendition of an ironically patr

2020-07-25

【Aiden in English】

        I recently wrote a small paragraph as an example for my 2020 summer writing class. It went like this.

        I’ve always had this heavy question weighing down my conscience: Where do our boogers go? As children, we constantly excavated the tunnels, cleansing them of gold and other nuggets of inhaled particles; however, as teenagers, such meticulous cleaning occurs much less. Thi

2020-07-17

【Aiden in English】

        A dandelion sways in the sighing spring breeze— its petals glistening under the pale white moonlight. Among a field of dying weeds, the sunflower sparkles in defiance, glaring at its adjacent life forms. Please, the flower whispers to itself. Leave me alone and let me shine.

        The world is cruel, but the dandelion doesn’t understand that. Yet. It doesn’t know that it too will one da

2020-06-28

【Aiden in English】

        Hello everyone! I hope your summer has treated you well. 

        I am Aiden, the English Writing teacher at Guanghua Chinese School, PA. I’ve been teaching for three years now, and in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, I have decided to open an online and free-of-charge summer writing program for up to Ten Students this summer break of 2020.

       &n

2020-03-13

【Aiden in English】

        What’s in the closet?

        Clothes? Shoes? My favorite leather jacket?

        Or a portal to Jumanji, the jungle and beyond

        A bright verdant forest of elephants and magic.

&n

2020-01-21

【Aiden in English】

        At the start of my first year, I launched a new English writing class at Guanghua Chinese School (GHCS), a local Sunday school. Focused on the fundamentals of English, my class consists of early middle school students who seek help with rudimentary writing skills. As an instructor of young students, I have grasped the basics of handling responsibility and taking control of a situation over the years. Furthermore, I hav

2020-01-13

【Aiden in English】

        A person strolls past a plastic bag fluttering down the street. In one scenario, he ignores the bag; in another, he recycles the trash. Later that day, the local news reported a car crash caused by a plastic bag.

        In general, the individual’s actions did not meaningfully affect the flow of events. Based on his decision, however, the person may experience various emotions, ranging fr

2019-12-25

【Aiden in English】

        Snow drifted in flurries down the dark December morning. Large flakes of ice rolled across the landscape like a scene from a Christmas commercial. The sun extended its bright holiday lights over the horizon, marking the beginning of gifts and cheer. However, my focus was directed toward the growing emptiness inside me.

        “Mama, I thought you said I would get a Christmas pre

2019-12-11

【Aiden in English】

        “Alright, class, settle down. Everyone pretzels legs. Zip those lips and hands-on-hips!” Mrs. Cowler breathed an exasperated sigh. I could almost see gray hairs sprouting from her head like weeds in the school garden.

         “Alright, class, today we will read The Three Little Piggies…” She paused, waiting for a reaction. The class was silent. “… or we can read The Tor

2019-11-30 

【Count Your Blessings】

Johnson Oatman, Jr. (1856—1922)

             When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,

             When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

             Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

             And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

       &nbs

2019-11-09

【Aiden in English】

        Men are driven to a Light. It glistens.

        A man cannot hold the Light. He who does have the Light will be consumed by it. It burns from the inside out. 

        A stranger claims to have held the Light. He is a stranger in a strange land, and his claims are even stranger. Strangeness scares people, but not having the Light scares p

2019-09-03

【Aiden in English】

        Last Sunday morning, I awoke to the loud buzzer of my alarm. I hit the snooze button. Twice.

        I got dressed, washed, and went downstairs. Inhaling a plate of scrambled eggs and some toast, I watched a quick recap of last night’s sporting events. 

        When I opened my computer, I wasted hours browsing the internet and watching mildly humorous or entertaining clips. 

    &n