TEENGLISH MAGAZINE

Coordinating Teachers RodLiacaurMauProepșan EdTeiIDȘtPIuorTtoeeiledsiitmanfrorNaiaiMsreneaaeaLiaaaelMMggFnTAlooohogecșiltrdahăhueaoeriamilvmnan TPeordooorafrMeoalddovearn Designer Petra Lenghel

Sometimes it feels like we live in a realm where most people are striving to achieve fame and fortune by any means, so it is easy to forget the importance of authenticity and originality. In a world dominated by is what sets them apart from their peers. technology, originality is becoming Whether it is through thoughts, increasingly rare. It is too handy to actions, or contributions to society, just copy and paste, take a screenshot, we should strive to be unique and or simply mimic someone else’s creative. This kind of individuality and work and style. We often get so originality is praised and celebrated caught up in trying to fit in and be in our local academic community like everyone else, with a false hope through Teenglish, our English of belonging to a community, that magazine for and by teenage students we lose sight of our own unique of Gheorghe Sincai High School, Baia qualities, talents, and original ideas. Mare since our first issue in 2013. At Teenglish, we believe that true This year’s edition (the 7th?) was still success comes from being authentic, in the making when ChatGPT invaded original, and standing out from the our world as we knew it. Our editorial crowd. This is especially relevant in team strongly believes in originality, the field of education where creativity in the power of the human mind to and innovation are valued. When conjure amazing images and touch writing an essay or presenting a the readers’ hearts. In the hope that project, the inclusion of original ideas this issue of Teenglish is not going can make a significant difference to be the last truly original one, we in the way your work is evaluated. invite you to discover original works Technology can be a double-edged including: four amazing interviews sword when it comes to originality. with teachers from our college, one On the one hand, it allows us to awesome interview with a graduate of share and collaborate with others our college who is currently working on a global scale, thus enhancing abroad in an unbelievably original and knowledge, ideas and, in turn, creative field, several articles in which creativity. On the other hand, it can students explore their experience of the stifle originality by offering pre-made pandemic, original creations (poems templates and the temptation to take and drawings), an online section where ready-made material from different you can discover your teachers `before sources. To truly embrace innovation they were teachers`. We challenge you in a tech-dominated world, we must to guess who’s who by looking at their use technology as a tool to enhance high school graduation photos. Articles our ideas rather than rely on it about volunteering opportunities as a crutch. We should challenge for high school students and original ourselves to think outside the box, writings which are a result of family take risks, and explore new mediums. tree research round up the issue. When students bring their original The editorial team have done an ideas to the table, they learn amazing job selecting materials, to take risks, build confidence, writing articles, taking and translating independence, and critical thinking interviews, and creating a cool, youthful skills, which ultimately make them look for our magazine. This is a once- more successful in life. Students in-a-lifetime issue. Come and get it! hopefully understand that originality Rodica Muresan

THE INTERVIEW CORNER 8 10 Leonard Mardar, Headmaster 12 Simona Toma, Deputy Headmistress 16 Gavril Ardusătan 20 Adrian Sabău Raluca Farcaș 24 26 THE EVENTS CORNER 30 ‘For Those Who Urge to Volunteer’ by Iulia Maghiari 31 “Balul Bobocilor” by Iris Neagotă 32 33 THE CREATIVITY CORNER 34 ‘My Childhood Dream’ by Emanuela Bușecan 42 ‘I See Black Shadows on the Walls’ by Dariana Hossu ‘Nu Mai Priviți prin Ochii Morților’ by Petra Lenghel ‘The Kiss That Invented Love’ by Adelina Bonta ‘The Monster Inside’ by Tudor Dancu THE TEACHERS’ CORNER A Surprise

THE STUDENTS’ CORNER 46 48 REVIEWS 50 ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ by Cătălina Bogdan 52 ‘The Magus’ by Matei Nașcu 54 ‘WaltWhitman - ‘’Song of Myself’’ Analysis’ by Petra Lenghel ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ by Tudor Dancu 55 ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’ by Iulia Sălăjan 56 57 ARTICLES 58 ‘Why I Like Gypsy Music’ by Dorotea Șandor 61 ‘Extracurricular Activities and Interests’ by Iulia Maghiari 62 ‘The Paradox of Information’ by Teodora Moldovan 63 ‘Volunteering in Highschool’ By Timea Florean ‘The Meaning of Life’ by Valentina Panas 64 ‘Be Patient!’ by Alexia Pop Ancu 65 ‘Smartphones’ by Emanuel Maxim 66 67 FINDING OUR ROOTS - FAMILY STORIES 68 ‘Ancestry’ by Raul Pop-Săvan 69 ‘The Story of Magdalena and Maria’ by Adina Costin 70 ‘Hope is Won’ by Oana Ciuban 71 ‘My Great-Grandmother’ by Mihai Țiudic ‘The Story of Ștefan’ by Emanuela Bușecan 72 ‘My Great-Grandfather’s Story’ by Cristina Șoncodi ‘An Unexpected Meeting’ byAdelheid Maria Reuss ‘The Story of My Great-Grandfather’ by Giovana Augustin THE PANDEMIC YEAR 2020 AND LESSONS WE’VE LEARNED 5 Lessonns We’ve Learned in 2020 by Mara Dod-Marinca, Kristina Felleg, Iulian Onea, Tudor Rus





8 Interview with Geography teacher Mr. Leonard Mardar, the College Headmaster By Teodora Moldovan You’ve been the headmaster of our College what I didn’t like was the lack of communication, since 2018 and you’ve managed some major which hasn’t affected the adults as much as the projects - just to mention the organisation of the youngsters. I am terrified when I see now the College Centenary activities and the structural youngsters in the secondary school without their renovations in progress. sparkling eyes they had before the pandemic, Which is the biggest satisfaction you feel as and I don’t think it’s alright at all. the headmaster of the National College Gheorghe How did you come to be a teacher? Was Șincai? the idea of being a teacher an appealing one for The biggest satisfaction is when I can you since childhood? see the finite product, which is the high percent No, not at all, I didn’t have any aspirations of students passing the Baccalaureate with high of becoming a teacher. The first university I grades and the fact that we can provide high attended was ‘’Automatizari și Calculatoare’’in quality education for the students. Bucharest. But after the Revolution, in 1990, I How do you manage stressful situations? was baffled to discover that everything we had I have an unimaginable capacity of been learning was obsolete, as some university ignoring stressful situations. Genetically, I was teachers from Germany and North America had born with such an ability to ignore them, that told us. We were learning computer programs here I could say that I don’t have any problems. that hadn’t been used globally for quite some How did the pandemic affect you? time, so I realized the utter uselessness of my Professionally speaking, it wasn’t that studies. So, I wanted to transfer to ‘’Electronica’’ difficult. As a geography teacher, it was interesting, thinking that, in this way, my colleagues and because geography could be the most descriptive I could make a change. Thus, I graduated subject. It was great teaching online with all the ‘’Electronica’’, but after a while I wanted to try maps, images and other resources created by oth- something else. I decided to try Geography to er colleagues found on internet. However,

9 the big surprise of my high school geography What message would you like to send to the teacher. Then, I discovered it was something I younger generation and to the students of our really enjoyed studying. College? What does a successful life represent in your view? To be productive, to learn, because now is I would say success is something opposite to the best time to do it and their future greatly what the Romanian Football Team is currently depends on what they do now. I could give you doing…I think a successful person is one who is an example. Every year my son would come to at peace with oneself, even though they don’t have me to help him transfer from intensive-German a yacht in Monte Carlo, or somebody waiting classes to intensive-English classes because for them at Saint-Tropez. I think that, with my German was too difficult, but I never allowed limited resources, I’ve achieved success. I enjoy him. And now he’s extremely happy that he was extremely much travelling to different places and offered a job in Cluj because he knows German. admiring the beauty of nature. I’ve never had I advise all students to start creating their future any pleasure in visiting a church or a museum. now because - I don’t know how much they However, if I go on the peak of a mountain, I will realize it - you can’t turn back time. stay there until sunset.

10 You were nominated as deputy head- mistress for our College in the autumn of this school year. In what way does this position differ from the one of teacher and the one of school inspector? As a school inspector, I was managing the activity of the sport teachers from the schools in our county and of the sports clubs. Also, I was organizing school competitions, different kinds of exams (baccalaureate, national evaluation, finals) and monitoring the activity of the schools within my range of responsibility, and many others. I was working with people from a known field. As a deputy headmistress I’m working with teachers of all kinds of specialisations, with students, parents, with the administrative staff. In both positions, as an inspector and as a deputy headmistress, communication and respect for people are important. Interview with Sport teacher Mrs. Simona Toma, the Deputy By Teodora Moldovan Headmistress The position of inspector has an executive power and role, while the one I currently fill has decisional powers. I’m making all the efforts to face this challenge. As a teacher, working with my students is a great pleasure, as I’ve chosen this profession for the affection towards children, and I love extremely much what I’m doing. If you respect your students, you’ll be respected as well. How do you manage stressful situations? I manage them with a lot of patience, calm and positive attitude. I’m trying to control my emotions and to find the perfect solution to solve the problem. I’ve learned that, in stressful situations, it’s very important to prioritise my tasks and to be productive. How did the pandemic affect you? The pandemic was a new experience for

11 me and I tried to manage it in my own way. My mind knew that something bad was happening and it was impossible for me to make a clear representation of what was going to happen. My sense of security was threatened, and I felt fear amplifying. Being an active person, it was extremely difficult for me to stay indoors all the time, and work online, but I’m glad that everything passed and I hope to never have to live such an experience again. Was the idea of being a teacher appealing to you since childhood or did you have other aspirations related to your future career? I was thinking of becoming a teacher since childhood. I loved my middle school teacher very much and then my coach as well, so it was quite easy to decide what I would do in the future. Besides this, I like children and I find it easy to communicate with them. What does a successful person represent in your view? A successful person is one who excels in a certain domain of activity and who gives it all in his/her domain of expertise. Also, such a person is perseverent, involved, serious and hard-working in order to fulfil his/ her dreams. What message would you like to transmit to the younger generation and to the students of our College? Work hard, learn all your lives and do everything you can so as to succeed in what you want. Don’t forget that nobody can take away from you what you have in your mind (your knowledge and skills). Never discredit your own resources, your thinking, ideas, your own ways of approaching life. Keep in mind that you are unique!

12 Interview with Romanian Language and Literature teacher Mr.Adrian Sabău By Teodora Moldovan You have been a school inspector for Romanian language and literature since September 2021. In what way does this position differ from the one of a teacher? There is indeed an obvious and radical difference, I could say. Especially for a passionate teacher, who has to give up doing what they like in the classroom, there is a great change and also, from another perspective, because the requirements of the job are totally different. The positive side of my activity as an inspector would be that I can manage the things that don’t function as they are supposed to, as I have the means, limited as they are, which can be used in order to fix certain aspects that may be relevant. So, you decided to become an inspector hoping to make a change? Yes. I guess we, Romanians, have a problem: we usually stand on the side-lines and mumble without taking action. At a moment I felt the need to react and to express my discontents by actually doing something in certain respects. Of course, I consider I was quite rational when making this decision and assuming this responsibility. What childhood dreams did you have concerning your future career? Oh, my! I think childhood is the most imaginative period of our lives and so are our childhood dreams. From what I remember…I think I wanted extremely much to become a sportsman, given the fact that, until a certain age, I even had the required qualities. I also remember that, as a small kid, I wanted to become a driver, as I was utterly fascinated by cars and driving. There might have been other dreams as well, but these are the ones which I clearly remember.

Therefore, the idea of becoming a so far is related to my last 13 teacher wasn’t one that appealed generation, the Șincai graduates to you since childhood? of 2019. I had a wonderful background has different Not, indeed. Until I class, specialising in Natural perceptions regarding success. went to university, I hadn’t Sciences - English Bilingual. From my point of view, success thought of it. Even though I There I had the amazing means to have the awareness of had an uncle who was a teacher experience to have everything dignity, of a well-done work, of at the National College ‘’Mihai a headteacher might wish for. respect to my peers and to be Eminescu’’ from Satu Mare, I Two of my students have been spiritually, professionally and had never seriously thought absolutely incredible. The first personally fulfilled. I believe of this. My parents were both one, Andreea Brașoveanu, the that I am a fulfilled man, for nurses and I might have been valedictorian of her generation, which I thank God. I don’t more inclined to work in the is now a university student have any aspirations, but those public health sector, but this at The Medical University in that concern my spiritual and domain wasn’t very appealing Cluj. The other one, Florina material fulfilment equally. at the time. I guess I would have Andercău, who earned excellent How did the pandemic enjoyed doing Kinesiotherapy, results in the Romanian affect you? to combine my sports passion language and literature For me, the pandemic with what my parents were Olympiad at national level, began after a very serious doing. I though of becoming a is currently studying for her treatment I had at one of my teacher only when I attended Master’s degree in Romanian/ eyes. The doctor advised me university and still, I didn’t have English in Timișoara and will to be extremely cautious. in mind to become a Romanian most probably have a PhD in Therefore, when I saw what language and literature teacher. the near future. Their results was happening, I became quite From the beginning, I have represent the most important apprehensive, especially in chosen to attend university in professional achievement for the beginning. After that, as a order to follow my passion for me so far. However, I’m not rational human being, I self- theology. Being aware of the that old, I think this was just regulated somehow, telling incompatibility between my a first peak. At present, I’m myself that us, humans, are rebellious nature and the idea having the experience of being capable of adapting to any of priesthood, I didn’t enrol to an inspector and I think it fits situation, which, in the end, study ‘’Teologie Pastorală’’, but me well. At certain intervals, proved to be true. Thus, I ‘’Teologie Litere’’. Due to some given my rebellious nature, calmed myself in that first year incredible teachers I had met I feel the need to take up of pandemic, except for that during my university years, different activities, to change initial period. In the second with whom I discovered the something. When I come back year then, from March 2021 unequal beauty of literature, to teaching, I will be just as to March 2022, I was very from the 3rd year of university, motivated as before to help my affected, but not scared, mostly I changed my focus of interest students achieve proficiency. because I couldn’t function in from Theology to Philology. Having encountered many my normal rhythm. I didn’t go Ever since, literature has extraordinary colleagues, great to school everyday, and I didn’t remained my greatest passion. teachers from whom I’ve been have a social life which I quite However, I hadn’t abandoned learning a lot, I strongly believe missed, although I’m not very theology as both in my BA and I will be even better prepared to sociable, preferring loneliness, MA, as well as in my PhD, I had begin again the journey towards my lectures, my desk and my transdisciplinary approaches, great achievements, together hiking – which fascinate me. benefitting from both my with my future students. But I’m not unsociable either theological and philological What does a successful and, at some point, I felt de need competences. life represent in your view? to have my social life back. So, Which is the biggest Everything is so relative the second year of the pandemic satisfaction you feel as a teacher? from this point of view. Every was absolutely horrible for me, My biggest satisfaction one of us, based on our cultural I think that was the year when I got old more than in any other year.

14

15 Thus, when we came back to what when we came back to what we call a normal lifestyle, in March 2022, I was extremely happy to return to my old life and see everyone else doing the same. What expectations do you have from the younger generations? Normally, as an individual, I shouldn’t have too many expectations about the future generations, meaning that, having the life experience that I do, I have already noticed a certain circularity in the way the world goes around, therefore I don’t think that everything will be extremely different, which is actually the thing that frightens us, humans. If one studies carefully the history of humankind, it is obvious that there is nothing quite frightening. There is a circularity of events and the world self-regulates. As a teacher, yes, I have to try and foresee things. Something I find extremely complicated but, at the same time, awesome, is that one cannot see and quantify immediately the results. Sometimes I would like to be a builder, an engineer or an architect, to go to the construction site in the morning and at the end of the day to see exactly the results of the day’s work. As a teacher, one cannot do that, one cannot measure the results over a short period of time. Taking into account this aspect, if one doesn’t have a calling for teaching and if one is not able to self-discipline, they are disqualified from this job. Patience, resilience, and long-term effort are required. For me, it usually takes four years to see results, or, sometimes, when I work intensely for the Olympiad, I can see results in a timeframe that can be reduced to half of a school year. This impossibility to measure one’s work can be quite irritating or frustrating, but it can also be the most wonderful challenge. I am in a period of life when my personal and my professional life tend to blend: up until a few years ago, my predictions were based on my students, but now my own son is a 7th grader, so my expectations regarding the future generations are mostly influenced by this experience and the fact that he has a major exam next year. Therefore, yes, I do have expectations and fears, like everyone else, but I believe I can control them quite well and I optimistically look forward to your generation’s accomplishments since I strongly believe in your intellectual and human qualities. I do love you, not the way I love my own son, but I do, and when you love someone, you can only foresee a bright future for them. From the first day when you became my teacher, you kept advising us, my colleagues and I, to read, knowing very well the positive effects that reading certain books can have upon our lives. In what way have the books you’ve read so far influenced your life? The readings were decisive to me. The activity of reading is essential in order to develop mainly as a person but even more as an intellectual. Obviously, there were some of the books that have decisively marked my development. For example, ‘’Jurnalul fericirii’’ by Nicolae Steinhardt was for me a revelatory book. I think every intellectual has such a book at some point. Indeed, it is a big challenge to convince youngsters to read. But I believe that I usually succeed. I realized, at some point, but not at beginning of my career, that this activity can’t be realized by forcing the students. You need to convince them to read by showing them the benefits. If a teacher comes in front of their students and says: ‘’Read! If you don’t ready, you’ll be sanctioned!’’, the chances of success are considerably small. By the way in which the teacher appears in front of the students, by his or her ability to understand the world and to present it, and by discussing and argumenting with them, they can be persuaded to read. It’s the best solution, in my view. Of course, as any other method, it has some disadvantages, meaning that there will always be some students who, unsanctioned, probably aren’t going to read. But I ask myself: if the students are to be sanctioned and they are to be reading just because the teacher forces them, will it be useful? I don’t believe in the idea of constraining somebody in order to read. Reading can be one of the best methods to educate, and education is nearly incompatible with any form of constraint.

16 You have a diverse and impressive CV: you At that moment I realized how wonderful graduated the University of Philosophy majoring in this profession is full of spiritual and moral European Studies, you’ve held public office, being satisfactions. However, the teaching profession politically active and your actual profession is to be remained on hold for a while, because of the a teacher. poor remuneration support offered by the State Why did you choose to be a teacher? at the time. Therefore, I tried other study options, This option wasn’t the initial one or one among them being Journalism, wishing to programmed from adolescence. My choice for become a radio journalist, but, in the 4th year, I the subject of my higher studies was related to found out that I didn’t have the required diction, my passion for Philosophy, which I discovered so I gave up. Then I followed European Studies, at sometimes in the 11th grade, due to a young the rector’s request, Andrei Marga, believing that History teacher who inspired me to see things great opportunities are to come once with the differently from how they were presented in adherence negotiations to the European Union. It textbooks. I chose to study Philosophy just for was great studying this, but it proved to be useless. the pleasure of learning, because I wanted to Because I wanted to escape from the military enrich my general knowledge, so to say, in spite enrolment, I also applied to ‘’Facultatea de Litere’’ of the wishes and expectations of my parents and and ‘’Facultatea de Teatru’’. Eventually, in the community to have a practical job, one related to late 90s, my parents summoned me to finish my life. But of course, during my university studies, studies and to settle into my own life. I came to the question of materializing theory into some Baia Mare where I had no opportunities for work kind of practical activity arose. What was I going in either of my fields, my only option at the time to do with my studies in Philosophy, since no one was to use the pedagogical module and to take my hires philosophers? Thus, my colleagues and I tenureship exams. I started teaching in the sports reflected on taking up the optional module that high school, where, despite a low cultural level, our faculty was providing – one in pedagogy – and my presence was leading to change, and I soon we got to the conclusion that it would be better to enjoyed teaching. I remained in the system until take it, just in case we needed to do something 2000, when I couldn’t elude any more the military practical. Even though I didn’t have motivation to stage and I had to move to Bucharest, the city in study this highly theoretical subject, in a language which I met my wife and started a family. In order that was impossible to relate to, when we started to financially support my family, I quit teaching our teaching practice sessions, I realised the and I entered in the business world in order to impact my classes had upon the young generation make money. The first business was a fiasco, and of the 90s and that was highly rewarding for me. I tried other activities related to my training in

By Teodora Moldovan 17 European Studies. I worked in the government and What did you want to become when you were a managed to become one of the main councillors child? of the Ministry at the time. Because of practical When I was small child, I was fascinated reasons (frequently commuting from Bucharest by mechanics, cars, especially by tractors. I saw in to Baia Mare) I decided to move back home and these machines a brilliant way of using the human work locally, in our county’s administration. intelligence and I wanted to be an ace in manip- I also followed a political doctrine and I was an ulating these monsters. Then I came to Șincai, activist for The Liberal Party. Then I re-entered the somehow forced by my parents, because my initial business world, succeeding to accumulate enough option was the agricultural high school, where I financial resources to become independent from would have had to be away from home and live in the politico-administrative factors. And when a hostel, having more freedom. My Mathematics I saw things deteriorating – the functioning of teacher suggested to my parents that I am capable institutions, the corruption - I came back to school of following the courses of a good theoretical high as a teacher. I do this profession with pleasure, school and to get out of mediocrity. Then, my fa- and I enjoy teaching, without having to worry ther very seriously asked me whether I wanted to from financial reasons as the majority of teachers go on having a somewhat difficult, rural life, like unfortunately do. my family, or was I going to strive for change. Af- Which is the biggest satisfaction you feel ter passing a difficult entrance exam, I started high while doing this profession? school in Gheorghe Sincai. However, at the begin- The biggest satisfaction is when I observe ning, in the the 9th grade, I had quite an inferiority the listeners’ interest for what I’m saying, and also complex because I was coming from a rural area when they come after school hours to continue our and I perceived commuting as an existential bur- discussions, to ask more questions and to search for den. I was enjoying the urban setting nonetheless more information than what can be offered in one and I got over my complex when certain teachers hour per week. Therefore, we continue our projects. noted my abilities for their subjects, especially for There are students with whom I have discussions Geometry and Technical Drawing. I was able to and participate in business competitions or make geometrical representations easily and to Olympiads and this is what gives me enormous draw various complex pieces. Thus, at the teachers’ satisfaction. Also, with some of the students, I advice, I started to see only Architecture as a future continue the dialogues remaining friends for life. career, and I even produced a portfolio for the en- I have many friends from the previous generations trance exam. There was no doubt, I had to become with whom I am hanging out like we would have an architect. But a life event derailed me from this been high school friends. specific route. Incidentally, I went with my dad to Timișoara during the events that led to what we know as the Revolution of December 1989, and there I saw what a teenager shouldn’t and mustn’t see – the way people die when they are shot – which shocked me profoundly. From that moment, I completely changed my field from a realistic do- main to a humanistic one. I started reading a lot of History and asking uncomfortable questions like why certain events take place and why they are rep- resented differently in history. I was lucky enough to meet in the 11th grade, in the Humanities class, a young, recently graduated History teacher, with a very open mind, who suggested that I should first learn how to think and perceive History critically, before learning it dogmatically. In order to do that, I started reading Logics and Philosophy and then I discovered Philosophy which I studied from sheer pleasure, even though my then high school teacher did not inspire me.

18 From your point of view, what does a reaction to defend basic rights and liberties successful life represent? disappointed me and I realised that we are such There are plenty of definitions of success. a mutilated society from the civic perspective, The most popular definition would be the one that I hardly believe in its revitalisation. It seems concerning financial success, since, with the to me extremely sad to see that everyone around money once secured, one can fulfil one’s different swallow so easily every lie and accept them just needs and wishes. From my point of view and because they are incapable to overcome their fear. looking retrospectively, I could say that in my So, the pandemic revealed to me that our society business, political, administrative and school is ailing of lack of knowledge and education and life, success wasn’t a remarkable one, meaning that human behaviour is more likely to be decided a glamorous one. But I can say that, whatever by a repetition of trivial values. That people build domain I activated in, I managed to lay a personal their own destinies outside their own projections mark on my work, to build a certain reputation and following certain trends and fashions so that and even to negotiate my presence or absence eventually, they are utterly unhappy towards the in a place, so as to be an honest one and not to end of their lives because they had no idea how compromise myself since a slide into obscure, to properly live and how to create their destinies immoral areas was, at times, quite tempting. according to a personal stylistic. Therefore, I was independent enough not to have I’ve noticed within my generation a tendency, to make compromises. a wish of leaving Romania after finishing their For me, success also means having a job, an studies, reasoning that in Romania you can’t have a activity that offers you spiritual fulfilment, that bright future, being a wretched country.How could ensures a basic level of happiness, not just money. we reawaken a patriotic feeling within the souls of For example, there were times in business when I today’s youth? was intensely working for money, but didn’t have That’s a hard question, and this subject the job satisfaction. So, I told myself: I’m doing it preoccupies me quite a lot. Somehow, it’s good just to attain financial freedom, but I’m not going that people leave, because any travel means to do it my entire life. I had to return to something an opportunity to approach a new culture, an that offers me gratification and daily pleasure. unfamiliar social environment and to learn from In business I was having only rare moments of being exposed to a new mentality. Maybe this happiness, whereas in my current professional new type of `school of life` can be the source of life, I have such moments on a daily basis. So, restructuring us, as Romanian culture. On the success is when you do what you enjoy the most, other hand, I believe that the direct factors involved find a vocation, a profession that brings you little in the educational decision-making process have daily moments of joy. In the end, when drawing the line, your job shouldn’t become jaded. How did the pandemic affect you? The pandemic infuriated me, and not because we were attacked by the virus, but because society in general was muffled by fear. I was furious by the fact that no one questioned the veracity of the administrative decisions and of the medico-political orders regarding the wearing of masks, the lockdown and so on. There were logical questions without any logical answers and if you dared to question the politico-administrative decisions, you were considered a raged by the conformism of society which wasn’t capable of fighting back in any way. This lack of spirit, of

19 to be aware of the fact that, unless the whole answers to the important questions which will, system is going to be rethought, and changes nevertheless, need to be answered during their made from politicians to parents (parents were lifetime (questions about Happiness, God, Truth). actually the most struck generation by non- The problem is a complicated one and requires education because of the chaos of the 90s), if we efforts from everyone involved, from each aren’t going to invest and to debate this, we’ll be person uttering the word ‘’education’’. And it’s wallowing in mediocrity for many years to come. not easy, it may take an entire generation. I can And we will not give the chance to those who are see in the younger generation a great ability in willing to reshape our identity and our culture, manipulating information and a huge intelligence to do so. We’ll find ourselves in a socio-political, and communicational potential, especially in the systemic crisis which will be deep enough to force digital spectrum. Their success in adapting to the us to find solutions for a national plan. The only digital world might take us to a leading position solution to save souls is by the force of example: in Europe. And this, I believe, is enough reason to role models who will acknowledge the fact that reconsider the quality of our own culture. I mean success is possible in Romania as well, and there we should not take for granted our own history, are plenty of examples. It’s possible to live well language, or tradition, but see them as elements even in Romania, if you learn how to live. For now, of alterity, outlined well enough to prove that we the conformism and the lack of self-responsibility are different but at the same time similar, having over one’s destiny makes the human behaviour something specific that we can be proud of. to be decided by external sources – the social If you were to meet right now the teenager group, peers, trends. You borrow a certain way of you once were, what advice would you give him? being which is not actually yours and you take it Somehow, I look back with nostalgia at the for granted. There would be another solution: to alternative of my initial professional choice, have more Philosophy lessons beginning with the architecture. I think I could have been a person 9th grade, as a distinctive subject from the others, preoccupied by the intellectual and spiritual part in order to have plenty of time to mull over the of life, even from the position of an architect. elements and the complexity of contemporary Therefore, I would advise him to persevere in a urban life. Towards the end of the four high more pragmatic preoccupation, but to not give school years, everyone involved is indulging in up to his desire to know the world, to know this a complacent mood, without taking time to stop humanistic sphere. In other words, to be better and reflect upon life and its meaning or purpose. anchored in reality and, at the same time, to keep Therefore, the young generation graduates up his passion for knowledge. It would have been without having the awareness of looking for a better balance.

20 it truly was a living nightmare passion in my second year, I for anyone, let alone a 16-year- decided to go abroad through What was your old. I was extremely close to the Erasmus+ program. It experience like studying at my mom, so it felt like I lost a wasn’t a serious decision, I “Gheorghe Șincai”? huge part of myself along with just wanted to explore, see the I look back at my her. I am very thankful to my world, and discover myself. high school years with a lot family and friends who were My tough situation at home of fondness and nostalgia. there for me that summer. My sometimes made me feel like I studied Natural Science- biggest fear was going back to a bird in a cage, and I really English(bilingual) because I high school, I remember being struggled with development in was passionate about zoology horrified that everyone would my teens.I ended up studying at the time. At the time I wasn’t treat me differently, that people Illustration in Birmingham, 100% sure that I wanted to do would treat me like some sort UK for a semester and then 2D art for a living since I loved a of glass ornament, and that my and 3D Animation in Liege, few different subjects. I was a bonds would change in ways Belgium, in my second one. bit of a nerd, always enjoyed I did not want. Thankfully, I fell in love with traveling, studying, had good grades that never happened, and I with all these cool new places. overall, and did all I could to continued my studies the best I fell in love with Birmingham be a good student. I think my I could, head up and smiling City University, with the class was most famous for our brightly. I still struggle with openness of the course and all extracurricular activities since this event so many years later, its opportunities. Artists are we always organized events always wondering if I could treated differently overseas, for the school to enjoy such have done more. and it was such a breath of as: creating and managing a What about college? fresh air to feel accepted. I Valentine’s Day box for secret After graduating high decided to leave UAD and love messages, interviewing school, I started studying Fine join BCU for good, where I students for different videos, Art at the University of Art and finished my Bachelor’s and visiting our teachers at Design Cluj-Napoca. Moving Master’s degrees. I have been Christmas, decorating the away from home to a completely living in the UK for 4 and a school walls and many more. new place was exciting, I got to half years, I work as a freelance High school was tough, and it meet so many new people from illustrator and own a small was a constant juggle between around Romania, and live on business selling my work. Since the heaps of studying and my own for the very first time. my graduation in 2020, I have homework that we got and There were no rules and I could designed 2 children’s books our free time. We always kept be whoever I wanted to be in and 5 board games, grown my ourselves busy and made the this new and exciting place. I small business, and I plan on most of what we had. enjoyed my stay at UAD, mostly doing much more in the future. What was the most because of all the friends I made How did going to this difficult aspect of high school life along the way. However, I knew high school help you get where for you? that UAD wasn’t what I wanted you are today? High school presented because it heavily focused on I think, for me, me with the most difficult traditional art which wasn’t my choosing Șincai was the best situation I have been through. choice. When I was in 8th In the summer break of 2014, grade, I didn’t know what I between my 10th and 11th wanted to do in life, like most grade, my mom passed away other kids. Studying at Șincai from cancer. At that point she meant I could keep my options had been ill for about 7 years I open, and that regardless of think, so my situation at home what I wanted to do by the end was already pretty difficult. of it, I would get the experience That summer, my world was I needed. When you are turned upside down, and I was surrounded by so many other completely lost. There were days when I couldn’t get out of bed,

21 Interview with Raluca Farcaș By Ștefania Achim you to excel as well. Yes, it was hard at times, old. I was extremely close to and sometimes I still think I should have been more relaxed about grades, but I know that all that hard work I put in then has made me into the diligent person I am today. Do you have any advice for other students who would like to study abroad? Do it! If you think studying abroad sounds exciting, you should go for it! I didn’t know how big the world could be until I started traveling, until I saw that things can be different and that there’s always a new culture and new perspectives to explore. I made friends from around the world including countries like India, Mexico, the USA, and Japan. Universities from other countries have so much to offer, and so many opportunities waiting around the corner. You are young and flexible, with little to no responsibilities. Of course, it’s not easy being away from home or finding your place in a new society, but as long as you make the most of it, I think it’s worth it.





24 For Those Who Urge to Volunteer By Iulia Maghiari Volunteering is an important part of our lives. ”Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” – Heather French Henry. By helping others without the need for money, and by working without getting a salary, you will have the chance not only to discover another perspective on life, but also to see your value appreciated at its fullest. On your road through adolescence, volunteering might be the opportunity to discover who you The Red Cross( Crucea Rosie) The Dogs’ Public Shelter Team for Youth The Red Cross is an organization If you love animals and want As suggested by its name, this mostly preoccupied with to help them live a better life, organization’s primary purpose making people understand you can volunteer at the dogs’ is the youth. Their main the importance of giving first- shelter in Baia Mare. Mostly, activities focus on personal help. They organize accredited what one has to do there is clean development, knowing yourself courses of emergency help, that the hallway, help feed the dogs, as a human being and building usually last up to three months. wash bowls after they have relations with the others. After that, you will receive a been fed, as well as promote Moreover, here you will have the diploma which grants your campaigns of awareness related chance to learn about different capability to assist someone in to diseases and vaccination cultures, as students from all need. However, if the course for animals. Moreover, you over the world came here by does not suit you, they organize can be the voice that offers a Erasmus projects. You’ll get the weekly volunteering meetings, hand (when an animal is up chance to tell others about your usually Fridays from 6pm. It is for adoption) to find them a culture and opinions, and learn a great chance to socialize and home. There is no time limit about theirs. release the weekly accumulated for staying there, so anyone Apart from it, periodically, stress. After 150 hours of with a wish to spend more different activities with children volunteering, you are granted time playing with the little will be organized, from online a diploma, which will prove furry ones can do it without a classes to camps for fun and useful later in college. problem. games. YMCA Baia Mare YMCA is an organization aimed to make teenagers better understand each other as well as the world around them. This organization periodically does activities with children and volunteers. In summer, they even have outdoor camps, with fun games in the forest or somewhere else, for both children and teenagers.

25 The International School of The Centre for Teenagers Interact Baia Mare Transylvania This ONG is dedicated to This organization aims to the youth for both relaxation Interact is a non-governmental combine international culture and study. At a special spot, organization, a branch of the with activities for children. Here several meetings take place international Rotary Club. come different teenagers, from once a week and everyone Its main purpose is to help all over the world, to find out can participate. From board teenagers grow together in a about Romania and to organize games to homework, there is beautiful way while developing activities with kids. The projects something for everyone. The activities that benefit any are designed and developed by a fact that everyone is together citizens of the city. team, so you will learn to work is this organization’s main Some of the activities they’ve by cooperation, despite the characteristic. Occasionally, performed are: sharing language and culture barrier. they organize different events, groceries with the ones in Of course, everyone will receive such as: public speaking, need, the project ”an apple for training before going into discussions on different topics, a cigarette” which promoted action. It provides a wonderful debates etc. a healthy lifestyle, Christmas experience and a greater view Hunt, Blind Date with a book on the world. and many more. If you have reached the age of 14, you can easily sign up there. The Sacro Cuore Foundation The Association of High School SMURD You may have heard about the Students This part of volunteering ad- Sacro Cuore bakery, but did If you are a revolutionary dresses teenagers with a call you know that you can also spirit, who wishes to change for helping others. By signing volunteer in different activities the system and be the voice up to volunteer at SMURD, just by visiting the back of the of the students, then AEM is you will have the chance to same building and talking to the organization for you. The see life-saviors in action, learn the people responsible with organization’s main purpose about ambulances and find out volunteering? is to highlight the possible how to assist in case of need. This organization aims to injustices going on in high- More information regarding help disadvantaged children schools, as well as to inform this organization is on their get a proper education. That students of their rights by website: Voluntari I.S.U Mara- being said, you, as a volunteer, providing answers for questions mures. will not only be a helper, but like: ,,Can a teacher punish also a person to whom they me by writing an absence in will look up to, a role-model. the official registry when I am You will help them with their actually in the classroom?”. homework, play with them and Apart from it, they organize join them in different activities periodical meetings, where the (from Monday to Friday). members of the association get Also, every Friday, there is to know each other, befriend, a meeting organized by a and work together. psychologist, who will help you not only improve your mental health, but also socialise better with others. The meetings are on Friday, at 4pm.

26 “Balul Bobocilor” By Raluca Farcaș Everyone in our high school is well aware of our annual ball called “ Balul bobocilor” but how would we go about explaining what it is to someone unaware of it? “Balul bobocilor” consists of a play-like experience which includes theatrical performances combined with dance moments carried out by pairs of a girl and a boy who underwent an audition to gain their places. The end goal for them? Becoming “Miss boboc”/ ”Mister boboc”. The winners are chosen by last editions winners, by the coordinating actor and coordinating dancer behind the team and depending on the choices made by the organization the president and/or the vice president. Participants can also hope for the “Miss popularitate/ Mister popularite”. This award can be won through 2 rounds of open voting on an instagram page where our students can vote (though I suppose you could get your friends from another school to give a little vote boost since the instagram post is available to everyone ;] ). A lot of work goes behind these balls. making of the plays. There are also other people that help construct this Then, we have juniors experience. First off, we have a hired professional (11th graders) who help actor and a professional dancer help in the in money management, in public relations, the ones that take care of the decor, up to 2 or 3 trainers that manage the Kedra: “The freshmen freshmen, a president that organizes all the prom was one of the juniors and a vice president ready to take the best experiences of my place of the leader whenever the president is whole entire life. Ever not available. That was everything in terms since I was little, I dreamt about becoming of juniors. Lastly, we have coordinating prom queen. I remember watching movies professors that help behind the scenes. back then and seeing other girls win this I think everyone understands by now what title and so I kept telling myself that when the ball is but for an even more in depth I was going to get into highschool, I would look, we managed to get an interview do the same. Time flew by quickly and there from our very own “Miss boboc” of I was: in the 9th grade, at one of the best last year! These are some of the words highschools in the city, with only one thing Kedra Sabău shared full of excitement: in mind: winning the prom.

The first step in achieving my goal was the preselection,27 towards which I felt most nervous, but I managed to get through all the 3 stages and I was selected as a participant in the ball. Afterwards, I started attending the training sessions and my perception of the ball totally changed. I had the luck of meeting some wonderful people who have shown me that the prom was a lot more than just the title that came with it. It was about creating bonds with people you never thought you would, about smiles and laughter, about the joy of being part of a group and lastly, about you. Had I not been a part of this project, perhaps I wouldn’t have been able to discover so much about myself. This whole experience helped me to get to know a lot about handling my emotions and learning to trust myself more. The last week before the big event was the hardest out of all. And I mean both physically, because I was rehearsing all settling in. And, after all, everybody wanted to win. One day before day long, and mentally, because the prom, there was an unexpected event. A small moment of we could all feel the pressure carelessness could’ve changed everything. Because of the tiredness that overcame me and some other issues, my kneecap got out of place. The shock was too much to handle and for a moment I froze, not knowing what to do. My parents came and picked me up and so I went home with my feelings all bottled up and my soul shattered. It became clear to me: there was no way I could possibly win the competition the following day, my dream had been crushed and I needed to accept that. There was a time when I didn’t know what hurt more: my leg, on which I couldn’t step and was really swollen, or my soul. I cried the entire day, even though I had many people supporting me. This was definitely not how I had pictured the last day before prom. Inevitably, I had to be part of this the big day came. I spent the project, to meet so many new whole morning getting my and wonderful people and with the other girls that were hair and make-up done along to make friendships that will competing. I still couldn’t step certainly last for a very long on my foot, but I didn’t even time from now on. I’m lucky want to think about quitting, to have had all these people it was like that word wasn’t also perform the dance that we supporting me while I was even in the dictionary for me. knew we had worked so hard training: my mother without After we arrived at the prom for. Just like magic, when we who I definitely wouldn’t have scene, all the teams started stepped on the stage, I didn’t gotten here, my friends who rehearsing the dances and even feel the pain anymore listened to me constantly and the acting. Only me and my and so we ended up doing gave me advice, but also my partner, with whom I ended up everything we had planned, partner who saw me become a having an amazing friendship, all the way to the end. mess of emotions but still stuck sat there and stared at each Not long after that, by my side, even though I know other, amused by this whole the verdict was reached and how complicated I was. situation. I was very lucky to my dream came true- I was I’m definitely going have him by my side the whole selected prom queen and me to encourage every single time, he was always the one to and my partner had won. freshman to give this experience support me and help me keep It is hard to describe this a try, because it’s something that going. I didn’t want to dance, I experience into words, but it remains in your heart forever could only think about doing was definitely one of the best and even in difficult times, you the acting part, but because of I’ve ever had. I will be forever can remember it as an amazing the adrenaline, we decided to grateful for this opportunity. time you have been through.





30 “My Childhood Dream” By Emanuela Bușecan Education is the key That allows you to break free Among all the mysteries of knowledge Don’t let yourself discouraged. I had always admired the teachers Who were trying to make us, in a way, richer. That seems to be a difficult task, They have to answer questions that we don’t even ask. I’ve been dreaming since I was a kid To become a teacher who can easily suceed In making all the students love school despite dumb rules, In helping them defend themselves, be their own greatest tools. My mother told me it would be hard, But I cannot wait to start; Even if I fail and fall back sometimes, The school bell’s calling me like melodious wind chimes.

31 “I see black shadows on the walls” By Dariana Hossu I see black shadows on the walls In my red sanctuary set to fall, Silhouettes once too familiar Are now just pictures hanging on the walls, With edges burned and faces blurred, A work of art that seems absurd. Who lit them up? Who placed them there? Could’ve been me but I can’t tell. Perhaps the time was playing chess, And I’ve been haunted by regrets. In this cold night when raindrops fall, I’m reminded that I’ve lost it all, I’ve lost the pawns, the king, the queen, Lost track of life and fell between The black and white squares in this scene, And now I wish I saw in green... The room was clean, The game was mean Was I all I could’ve been? Was I enough? Were they too tough? Who were they? Oh right, I forgot... The ones in black, Pinned to the board Of my own kingdom Set to fall.

32 “Nu Mai Priviți prin Ochii Morților” By Petra Lenghel

33 “The Kiss that Invented Love” By Adelina Bonta

34 “The Monster Inside” “Hang on, Adam! Just a little longer…” Evelyn’s raspy voice, heavy with sorrow, cut By Tudor Dancu through the eerie silence permeating the glade, as she was anxiously stirring the boiling, bubbling Until death did. And no spell or cure that Evelyn contents of the cauldron in front of her. Aside had knowledge of had been enough to stop it… from the faint stream of moonshine descending “It doesn’t matter!” she whispered under her from the heavens, the dancing flames beneath it breath. “I’m far more powerful now than I was were the only light keeping the looming shadows then. And you won’t have to suffer for my weakness of the forest at bay, the only hope that she could anymore, Adam!” she muttered bitterly through cling to in her hour of despair. Her gaze wandered her teeth. She had spent months searching for away from the foaming potion, to a rotting corpse the ingredients required for the resurrection spell lying on the ground, just a few feet away. The she was about to perform, and finally, after all the empty sockets glancing back at her were slashing grueling trials she had to face, the hour was at through her soul like a burning knife. It was her hand, for the moon’s round face was now gazing who dug it up from its grave earlier that night and at her from both the heavens and the surface of it was her who had also buried it in that glade in the potion. Which meant that it was finally time the first place, almost a year ago. For that corpse to add the last ingredient. The time for the truth. belonged to her husband, the love of her life, her Evelyn walked slowly to her lover’s corpse. Every best friend, the only person who ever stood by step she made, every moment spent looking at the her side after she was forced to flee her home. lifeless shell that was once her husband filled her She used to be a healer, of such talent and renown with both expectancy and dread. When she laid that people from all the land would travel for days her hand on it, it sent shivers down her spine. Her for her to tend to their wounds and ailments. hand was trembling out of control as she tried and Nevertheless, she had always shown a secret failed to grab what she needed. Eventually, she interest in the dark arts, wondering if the powers closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and ripped of magic could be harnessed in order to cure out one of the dead man’s ribs. The bone of the what her regular remedies could not. When word target. Her whole body was shaking wildly as she spread about her pursuits, her people showed her threw the bone into the cauldron and performed no mercy and they banished her from the village. the ancient chant. She could feel the dark magic All it took was one fateful day and she found coursing through her veins and flowing into the herself taking refuge in a cave, in the depths of the cauldron with every word her tongue rolled. forest, with no village, no home, no family and no She could feel the energy reaching its peak. And friends. Everything that she had ever held dear, that was when the cauldron suddenly exploded. they had ripped away from her. Except for him… She dodged the flying pieces of heated iron, as He tracked her down and he found her secret a twisting pillar of enchanted fire, as tall as the hideaway. Everyday he would venture into the trees, started whipping in the air from the place forest and bring her food from the village. He would tell her stories about the outside world and would watch her experiment with various enchantments, with his eyes full of wonder. He wasn’t like the others. He didn’t fear her. He didn’t see her as the monster everyone thought she was. Eventually, the village discovered the reason behind his frequent strolls through the forest and they deemed him a warlock as well. When he was casted out, he didn’t feel as if something had been taken from him, though. Because that meant they only had each other and that was more than enough for them. They found the glade and they built a cottage there, made a home for themselves, and from that day nothing ever broke them apart.

where the cauldron stood. Evelyn squinted at the 35 blinding light and managed to make out a human- he had been dead for almost a year. But it became resembling silhouette floating above the ground. clear to him that to his wife this was no laughing As the fire started to die down, and the light matter. He had truly been gone from this world, began to dim, she started to distinguish some of despite having no recollection of it, and his wife the silhouettes features. The man’s feet were now managed to revive him. As he was trying to process resting on the earth and he opened his eyes as if he this, the air between the two grew very tense. He just woke up from a deep sleep. Evelyn could not would sit in a chair, zoning out, in utter silence for believe her eyes. She did it! After all this time…He hours. Deep in her heart, Evelyn felt betrayed. All was actually there! the time she spent trying to bring him back, the “Adam!” she cried out with tears streaming down only thing that kept her going was the thought that her cheeks, as she dashed towards him and flinged once reunited they would escape all their troubles her arms around his neck, wrapping the bewildered and live happily ever after. But the world wasn’t man in a tight embrace. a fairytale. And despite her disappointment, she “Evelyn!” he answered, his voice full of confusion, had to admit that she could only imagine what the as he wrapped his arms around the woman’s waist. shock of finding out that you missed out on a whole “W-What happened? Is everything alright?” he year of your life can do to a person. She knew that stuttered as he felt her tears running down his neck. Adam needed time to come to terms with this. But “I’m better than alright!” the woman sobbed. “Now there was something else about this situation that that you’re here again!” was making her blood boil, even though she hated “W-What do you mean, Evelyn? Have I ever been to admit it. Adam never had and would never gone?” know the soul-crushing grief that she had felt. The “You… don’t remember?” she uttered, taken aback. raw pain of thinking she had lost him forever and He shook his head, a puzzled look on his face. would never see him again, chipped at her heart Evelyn was trying to get her head around what every day like a black void consuming her bit by bit, must have happened to him. It appeared that he for almost a year. A year that she would be forever lacked any knowledge of the year he had spent scarred by, but that he was completely untouched among the dead. He had the right to know though. by. The times when her mind got frozen amongst But it was going to be an awkward talk for both of such thoughts, were the times when she knew that them. she had to escape them, that he was aching the “Let’s get inside,” she said. “We have a lot to discuss.” same as her, although for different reasons. Healing The days that followed went by in a blur. At first, would take time for them both, but neither of them Adam thought she was joking when she told him had to face their inner demons alone anymore. As days went by, their lives started getting back on track again. They would eagerly chat like they used to, as he was chopping down wood, or fixing up the fence and she was tending to her garden or brewing elixirs. She truly had missed this, their long talks about everything and nothing at the same time, the sound of his voice and his goofy grin whenever he got excited about something, the sound of his laughter when he found something amusing. She missed hearing another voice aside from her own, she missed being able to laugh again herself, she missed the comforting words he would whisper in her ear when something was troubling her, she missed the warmth of his breath, the softness of his lips pressing against her own, she missed waking up in the middle of the night and hearing him breathing steadily next to her. She missed everything about sharing her life with him. Every night she would go to bed overwhelmed

36 could not avoid listening to their conversation: by the feeling of gratitude for all the joys that she “Have you heard any news about Lilith?” thought she would never have again. The first “The blacksmith’s daughter? No, siree! It’s like she nights after their reunion, she would be so afraid vanished from the face of the earth!” that he would vanish before the break of dawn, “Rumor has it that she had a lover whom she ran but now, she could peacefully drift away into the away with!” mocked the first one, elbowing his realm of dreams knowing that he was by her side, companion. and that he would still be there in the morning. “Nah, she was as ugly as a toad, no man would have One night, however, she did wake up to find taken her! I’m telling you, she must have been lured herself all alone. Her heart skipped a beat and away by a fiend of sorts. This forest is crawling with her eyes started scanning the chamber, but her sorcerers!” husband wasn’t to be found. There was nothing That was when Evelyn started to back away slowly, but the light of the full moon streaming through and once she made sure she was outside of the the window and an unnerving silence dominating men’s reach she rushed home. For a while, she the room. Her entire body grew tense as she heard also wondered what could have happened to the the sound of steps approaching. Her heart was young girl the men were talking about. She very racing faster and faster the closer the steps got. All much doubted that there was magic involved, of the sudden the door swung open and someone though. Despite what that man said, she was the casually walked in humming some sort of tune. only sorceress in that forest and not a single twig “Adam? Is that you?” she asked. moved there without her knowing. The man froze in place for a brief moment, but he Little did she know that what she overheard was the recovered quickly. beginning of the end of her newfound happiness… “Yeah! It’s me” he replied reassuringly with his One night, she woke up in a cold sweat, gasping familiar, comforting voice. “I didn’t mean to startle for air. It took her a few moments to register that you. I just thought I heard something outside.” what her eyes had just witnessed had merely been He cuddled up next to her and all of her worries a dream. Except it hadn’t been. For the nightmare dissolved as she started to feel drowsy again. that made her blood run cold in her veins was In the morning, when she got out of bed, she something that had really happened. Something couldn’t remember anything about their previous that she hoped she would never have to relive. She exchange. A few days later, Evelyn went out into didn’t dare to close her eyes again, for she feared the forest to pick mushrooms. She rarely did so, that she would have to see it again. The image that because mushrooms only grew around the edge still haunted her, no matter how much she tried of the forest, close to where people lived and she to convince herself it was all behind her now. His dreaded the thought of running into the same people who drove her away from her village so many years ago. The only other place where they grew was by the riverside, but she swore to herself to never return to that terrible place. Never again. As she was starting to head home with her basket full of mushrooms, away from the civilization she was so apprehensive about, she heard a couple of voices getting louder and louder. There were people coming her way. The voices belonged to two lumberjacks whom she narrowly avoided by hiding behind some nearby bushes. She used to know them. They used to seek her aid whenever they got ill, but they turned on her the moment word got out about her being a magic user, and were part of the lynch mob that chased her into the woods. Seeing them again filled her with such a rage that she could hardly fight against the urge to turn them into a couple of trees like the ones they were cutting. However, given her position she

pale and lifeless body, floating weightlessly on the 37 surface of the river that mercilessly took his life. the dead silence, when she called out Adam’s Every memory she had about the flood that had name. The night was cold and her whole body taken him away from her was a blur. But this image was shaking uncontrollably, and each step she was as clear and sharp as the pain that scorched took, each of her calls left unanswered, filled her her soul every time she was forced to remember with hopelessness and dread. Suddenly, her ears that day. Her breathing still heavy, she reached for picked up on another sound in the stillness of the his hand for comfort. She needed to feel that he night. It was some sort of song, muffled in the was still by her side. But her hand grasped nothing distance. It was barely distinguishable, but she but void. He was missing. She jumped from the had a strange feeling that she had heard this song bed in alarm, her eyes scanning the room only to not long ago, on a night very similar. find no trace of him. As she moved in the direction that the song “Adam?” she called out. came from, she could hear the tune clearer and But the only answer she received was a deafening, clearer. It was hauntingly beautiful and alluring, heavy silence. She rushed outside, her heart impossible to escape, like the silky web of a spider pounding in her chest. The glade was covered in a wrapping around its victim. The louder she could dense fog glowing under the full moon’s pearly eye. hear it, the heavier her eyelids and the emptier There was no sign of him anywhere in the glade her mind became. She felt as if she was walking in either. Only moonlit, misty emptiness. As her eyes a dream. Despite that, there was something that began to adjust to the dim light, she started to prevented Evelyn from giving in to the song fully. make out the obscured edge of the forest through The closer she got to the source of the tune, the the fog. The late-autumn wind was whispering in more it dawned on her that she couldn’t let herself her ears as if it was calling her, drawing her to the fall under its spell. For the song must have been expecting shadows. For a few moments, Evelyn an enchantment of sorts, a siren song meant to stood frozen in the doorway, her eyes scrutinizing for how every step she took following the tune the mist, waiting for her husband to emerge made it more difficult for her to stay awake? She from it any second. But he didn’t. With a heavy willed herself to stay alert. She could feel she was sigh, she decided to heed the call of the woods. heading into danger. She grabbed her boots, lit a torch and she let the As she was getting closer to the edge of the forest looming darkness of the forest consume her. As there were less trees and shrubs to conceal her. She she was hesitantly making her way through the put out her torch, so its light would not reveal her gnarly trees, Evelyn’s trembling voice was the to any potential danger. She had never come this only sound that would occasionally cut through close to the village ever since her banishment. But she knew she could not turn away and go home. She could feel a strange magic filling the air and she needed to find Adam as soon as possible. She could also tell that the elusive singer was close. Suddenly she hid behind the thick trunk of a tree. She had seen something. Just outside the forest stood a mysterious figure, its sweet voice filling the air. The strange figure seemed human but its voice definitely wasn’t. It had something ethereal, otherworldly to it. Evelyn squinted at the singer, trying to make out who they were but it was futile. It was dark, it was foggy and on top of that, they were facing away from her, towards the village, as if they were waiting. Shortly, the figure was joined by another. For a brief moment, a moonbeam fell on the newcomer’s face, revealing to Evelyn that it belonged to a woman. She was coming from the direction of the village, dressed in nothing but a nightgown and seeming completely unaware of her surroundings,

38 in its body was visible through its decaying skin almost as if she was sleepwalking, except her eyes stretched thin over its skeleton. The beast lunged were wide open. The mysterious figure’s song towards Evelyn, who barely managed to dodge suddenly ceased. The woman stopped in front the clawed fingers trying to seize her. It suddenly of them and blinked in surprise as she regained dawned on her how blind she had been to all the her consciousness. She started to turn her head signs. The missing girl that she overheard the frantically, confused by her whereabouts. That’s lumberjacks talking about, Adam’s previous when the silhouette in front of her started to midnight outing, the full moon and the magic change. Its back hunched and its limbs started to that she felt in the air - they were all connected. grow longer and thinner. Its bones were popping The feeling of dread made her stomach squirm and cracking and its flesh was crawling under as realization hit her. It all began the night she its skin as the whole body was shifting into a performed the ritual. The night she brought different shape. Finally, two antlers erupted from Adam back from the dead. The being that she was the creature’s skull, completing its transformation up against was a ghoul, an undead creature of the as it released an inhuman, blood-curdling cry. Underworld that fed on the souls of the living. And The woman tried to scream, but before a single she was the one who had turned Adam into it, by cry of horror could leave her mouth, the creature disrupting his eternal rest. She did so under the brutally grabbed her, shoved its spindly arm down light of a full moon, so every time the full moon her throat, and ripped her soul out of her body. As showed its face, the magic keeping Adam’s soul the beast feasted on the woman’s spirit, her lifeless anchored in the world of the living compelled him body crumbled into a pile of dust at the feet of the to transform into that abomination. She thought monster. Evelyn watched everything from only a she could deceive death, but instead she brought few feet away, her body frozen in place, her teeth a fate much worse upon the man she loved and clenching fiercely to prevent any scream from everyone who fell prey to his inner monster. The leaving her throat and giving away her location. blood of the two girls whose souls he consumed Her nails were digging desperately into the tree was on her hands. And now she was about to bark and her legs were unwilling to run away from face the same fate. The ghoul lunged towards her what she had just witnessed. She watched as the again, and this time its claws managed to scar her creature reverted to its human form and lingered cheek before she could dodge them. Her heart there, at the edge of the woods. Evelyn figured was running at a frenzied pace, and each breath that if the beast would head into the woods it she took was heavier than the last one as she felt would only take a few steps for it to find her. the end of her line closer and closer. The monster She mustered her courage and forced herself to lunged a third time and, this time, its fingers tiptoe into the concealing darkness of the woods. But before she could take even a few steps away from the monster, a twig snapped under her foot, alerting the fiendish foe to her presence. The human figure turned abruptly towards her and a beam of moonlight flashed across his face. Evelyn’s knees almost collapsed when she met the hostile eyes of the one facing her. “A-Adam…?” she uttered in disbelief. “Evelyn?” the man replied, his expression softening for a moment. But before another word could be said, a bright light flooded Adam’s eyes, covering his irises, as he shedded his human form and the monster emerged from inside him before Evelyn’s eyes with another inhuman shriek. While the beast had been facing away from her, Evelyn could only make out a shadowy silhouette, but now she could see it in all its gruesome glory. The creature was two times as tall as Adam, its back hunched as if it was struggling to walk on two legs and every bone

wrapped around her forearm like a vise. The 39 creature lifted her above the ground so they’re eyes forever. How could she move forward from here? would be at the same level. The ghoul’s eyes were What could there possibly be left for her out there? two pools of icy blue light, devoid of any emotion As she gave in to her despair, she started to feel a or sign that there was anything human beneath faint light and a soothing warmth comforting her them. The coldness of its blank stare, its putrid face. The sun must be rising, she thought. But it breath smelling of a thousand decaying corpses wasn’t. As she raised her head, her eyes met two made Evelyn’s skin crawl and her eyes grow smiling, ethereal figures, who seemed to be made wide with panic. Her free hand clenched tighter of golden, heavenly light. Evelyn recognised one around her torch as her only salvation became of them as the woman whom the ghoul lured clear to her. Her eyes gazed into the ghoul’s as she away earlier that night. The other one belonged tried for one last time to find in them anything to a younger girl, Lilith, Evelyn remembered, the reminiscent of her beloved Adam that she could first victim of the ghoul, whom she heard the cling to, but, alas, she couldn’t. She closed her lumberjacks talk about in the forest. eyes and whispered the words of an enchantment “Thank you, miss!” both spirits echoed one and in the blink of an eye the torch in her hand another, their voices soft and distorted as if was reignited. She took advantage of the beast’s they were coming from another plain of reality. grasp loosening around her other forearm and “Thanks to your bravery our souls are now free she lunged wildly at it with the flaming torch in to pass into the afterlife, instead of wandering the her hand, setting the monster ablaze. The ghoul earth inside the belly of the beast. Now we can let out a final nightmarish scream, flames licking rest in peace, and we owe that to you.” its skeletal body, as it burned faster than a match. And with that both figures faded into nothing. Before Evelyn knew it, the wretched spawn of the As Evelyn was trying to get her head around Underworld was reduced to a pile of ashes just like this mystical encounter, a third luminous figure its victim. Still, its final outcry seemed to linger in emerged from the darkness of the woods, this one the air, turning Evelyn’s soul inside out as she was brighter than the previous two. Evelyn burst into still holding her breath. She fell to her knees due tears of sorrow mixed with joy as she saw Adam to exhaustion, and tears began to stream down flashing her a kind smile. She dashed towards her face, her whole body shaking brutally. He was him, trying to wrap her arms around him only for gone. He was actually gone. The past couple of them to pass through his incorporeal form. His months had been nothing but a lie. All this time smile didn’t fade however. she thought she could cheat death itself, but all “Adam! Adam, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to do this that her efforts did was doom two innocent souls to you! I didn’t mean for any of this to–“ “Shhh! There’s no need for you to apologize.” he whispered gently to her, trying to caress her cheek with his ethereal hand. “You saved me, Evelyn! And I am so thankful to have spent my life together with you.” “Adam, please! Don’t go! How can I move forward without you?” she cried out burning tears streaking down her face. “As long as you live…” he began, trying to wipe the tears from her face “...there’s always a way forward. Promise me you’ll find it. Please!” “I-I promise!” Then they stood there, at the edge of the forest gazing into each other’s eyes, and for a few moments the line between life and death seemed to vanish. Then, Adam started to fade away slowly and his smiling face became one with the sun rising in the east. Evelyn stood there for a while, her eyes lost in the distance. The taunting wind blowing through her hair seemed to ask her: “Where are you going to head now?” “Forward…”







43





46 REVIEWS “The Fault In Our Stars” by John Green Book Review By Cătălina Bogdan The book was written by John Green who is an her wish Augustus offered to use his wish and American author and YouTube content creator. get them both to Amsterdam so they could meet He was born in 1997 and won numerous awards Van Houten and find out the ending of the book. for his books. Aside from this book he published They were about to cancel the trip because of the seven other novels and some short stories. “The cancer complications that Hazel went trough, but Fault In Our Stars” was published in 2012 and they got Maria’s approval, who was the doctor, based on it John Boone directed a movie in 2014. and still went. The story is about a sixteen year old girl named When Hazel, Augustus and Hazel’s mom were in Hazel Grace Lancaster with thyroid cancer that Amsterdam Hazel and Gus went on a date to a has spread to her lungs, everything starts when hotel named Oranjee, their date was paid by Peter she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen year old Van Houten. The next day they went to Peter Van boy, who lost his leg because of his osteosarcoma. Houten’s house where they were surprised to find They meet at a Support Group for kids with cancer, a drunk old man who was really mean and didn’t he was friends with Isaac and that is why he went answer any of their questions. They left really to the Support Group, Isaac who was about to disappointed, but Lidewij went after them and lose his other eye because of cancer. That day apologized. The three of them went and visited after Support Group they went to Augustus home the Anne Frank House where they first kiss and watched a movie and after that they decided and became a couple, before that they weren’t a to read each others favorite books. Augustus couple because Hazel was afraid that she was a recommends “The Price Of Dawn” and Hazel’s “grenade” and will just upset him. In their last day favorite was “An Imperial Affliction”. After they in Amsterdam Gus confessed to her that he “lit both read each others favorite book they started up like a Christmas tree” and his cancer was back talking again and Gus reveals to Hazel that he has everywhere. tracked down Peter Van Houten, who is the author After they came back from Amsterdam you could of “An Imperial Affliction”, and wrote his assistant see on Gus that he was slowly dying and they all Lidewij, and she wrote back. They started writing knew it. In the end he died and Gus’s mom called back and forth until Peter Van Houten invited her in the middle of the night to tell her. She was them to Amsterdam. Because Hazel already used announced that his funeral was in five days, even

47 though she felt overwhelmed by going there she also the positive character, the one that always still did it for Gus’s parents. saw the good part in everything, until his last few After she found out from Isaac that Gus was writ- days when he started to hate himself, like when ing something for her she started searching for he was at the gas station and he called Hazel and it. She wrote Lidwij to see if she could go to Van when she came he started crying and saying he Houten’s house to search through his mail. She hates himself. did as told and found the pages he wrote and sent Isaac was probably the most sentimental one out them to Hazel. of the three of them, an example is when he was Hazel was a really brave girl, who knew her fate more sad about losing his girlfriend then his sight. and accepted it, that is probably what amazed But I admire that he could make jokes about it me the most, the fact that she did not fear death, and had a positive outlook on losing his sight. she did not fear what will happen to her, the only Peter Van Houten impressed me with the way he thing she feared was destroying her family with spoke sometimes, you could see that he wasn’t her death, she feared that she was a “grenade’ for dumb, but I think that the fact that he lost his everyone and she will explode soon and hurt ev- daughter at such a young age really got to him. eryone, that’s why she didn’t want to get to close I don’t think he was a bad men, he was just hurt with Augustus. The fact that she felt pain all her and didn’t know how to get over it so he started live but she was still fighting it’s amazing, it’s drinking, he showed that he cared even tho he amazing that she didn’t give up and didn’t want said he didn’t when he came to Gus’s funeral her mom to lose her daughter, that after one of In the end I really liked this book and I think the her loved ones died and she lived a life with ter- fact that I liked it made it so much easier for me minal cancer she was still the strongest one in the to read it and so much faster, because when you book. really like something you want more and more of Augustus was the interesting character in the it and that was the case for me. I think this book book, he had all these metaphors, like the ciga- gave me a new perspective on life, it taught me to rette, the thing that could kill him, in his mouth give my life all I have, because nothing is stopping but he never lit it so it wouldn’t give it power to me, it made me decide to get control over my life kill him, that’s what made him interesting. He was and stop letting the fear decide for me. You never know what life has prepared for you. That’s why you need to give it all you have and be prepared for anything, like in the book when at first everyone was expecting Hazel to die but in the end Gus did. I really recommend this book, I’m proud to say that it is one of my favorite books.

48 “The Magus” by John Fowles Book Review By Matei Nașcu John Fowles (1926-2005) was an internationally renowned English novelist. Spending time teach- ing English on a Greek island (Spetses) gave life to one of his most prized novels, “The Magus”. Through his allusive metaphors and descriptive paragraphs he presents psychological elements and problems, combining aspects of sociology and philosophy, with an emphasis on love and earthy pleasure. “The Magus” (literally meaning sorcerer, a description fitting for the “gamemaster”, Mr. Conchis), is a highly regarded novel by the English author which shows his passion for aforementioned fields of life studies at their best. It encompasses natural, spiritual and religious themes to describe the story of Nicholas Urfe’s descent into madness. The story recounts the experiences of Nicholas Urfe, an Oxford graduate who is given the chance to teach English on the Greek island of Phraxos (hereby the author’s inspiration from his life). Before his lessons start, he falls in love with a woman named Alison who we later found out is the driving force behind all of his actions. Even though he leaves without her, as she went on to become an air hostess, she heavily influences his actions through their exchange of letters. Arriving on the island, Nicholas is stunned by the never-before seen beauty of the nature there. After a few weeks, depressive thoughts take over his body and he nearly kills himself because of the realization that he was never P.S. The main rea- going to be a successful or talented poet. His depression is slowly son for choosing this cured by the discovery of an old mansion, inhabited by a peculiar book was the movie man named Maurice Conchis. Mr. Conchis is an eccentric and rich “The Game”. Nobody man who makes Nicholas curious and intrigued by his collection of who has read the book art pieces, musical instruments and libraries full of everything but and with whom I talk- novels, as he considers that novelists take too much time to relate ed has ever made the little to no truths about life. Maurice introduces Nicholas to a variety connection between of concepts, both psychological and spiritual, and tells him he is the two, but they are “chosen”, which the protagonist finds hard to believe. Even though strikingly similar, so they talk for hours in the weekends, he still finds out close to nothing when I mentioned the about the old man. He is asked not to ask questions whatsoever and film they all agreed. You should definitely to comply to his demands. check it out! During one of the stories, Nicholas learns about a woman Conchis once loved named Lily,

49 who died in 1916, who he sees around the island the following week. Thinking that he lost his mind, the hero begins to assess the situation and concludes on one theory: everybody involved in Maurice’s stories is an actor. As more depictions of mythological scenes and as Conchis’ stories turn to life, Nicholas can no longer distinguish what is real from what is not, reality from fiction. More sinister episodes such as Lily confirming to be an actress named Julie, Nicholas getting abused by actors who reenact the German attack on the village and him seeing the ghost of a dead killer take further toll on the protagonist’s mind. Mr. Conchis is not pleased with how he “ruined” one of the performances, ordering Nicholas to leave the island the next day. As a parting gift, Maurice explains what has been happening on the island is the concept of “metatheatre”, theatre which happens around the spectator and whose story is molded by him. An ultimatum is then given by the mansion’s owner, stating that Nicholas is not deserving of freedom. Soon island and seeing all the afterwards, the hero finds was evil in Nicholas’ life. tragedies that happened to himself trapped in a basement Side characters are close to him (Alison dying during from which he escapes, only to unimportant, as they are the climax of the “show” and find Julie giving a completely used just to entangle the him losing his job) he finds different explanation: the atmosphere in more mystery. Alison outside his house. She whole experience was a social Finally, it is time to give my confesses that she was part of experiment as Maurice Conchis perspective on this piece of the experiment. Nicholas falls has been dead for 4 years now literature. I loved this book, into a state of deep meditation, and that the man pretending every last part of it. I, as seen where he discovers that all he to be him was a professor in in my previous reviews, am had done was for her and he psychiatry. After leaving the not a fan of description and only explored Mr. Conchis’ showing off writing skills “theatre” to distract himself through walls of text that from yearning for her. He also brings no dynamic value realizes that the experiment (Yes, I loved the paragraph was tailored for him only and about novels being long but that he has finally escaped it pointless, as they present and is back into the real world. an insignificant amount of The book ends with him talking to Alison, the fate of the two truths compared to the hours remaining in the hands of the readers’ interpretation. invested in reading it) does The characters are highly complex, each of the main characters not personally impress me. representing different social and psychological traits. Nicholas Urfe Still, I did not feel, even for a is the “misunderstood genius”, the aspiring poet that could never moment, disconnected from become a real poet, an English teacher who is given a chance to the story, even during those see more than what is “real”. Alison, his lover, is a woman of many parts. They were carefully qualities and even more flaws, a sexually obsessed “femme fatale” written so that the action that who falls in love with Nicholas. Maurice Conchis is a wealthy, comes afterwards is worth the cultured, mysterious man who intrigues the protagonist and plans wait. I would not recommend the “metatheatre”, with Lily/Julie/Vanessa being his main actress this book to any one of my and helper, who seduces Nicholas and makes his days even worse friends, though, as I want to than they already were, her role being the embodiment of all that keep it my cultural secret.

50 Walt Whitman - “Song of Myself” Analysis By Petra Lenghel In my opinion, “Song of Myself ” acts just like tarot cards. The reader understands and feels the journey of the writer in relation to the past experiences they have gone through as an individual. Those past experience shape their beliefs and, therefore, the way in which they have lived their lives ever since. Tarot cards are not magical nor do they have the power to talk to us. They are just guides to use in order to understand the unconscious. The reader and their subconscious mind hold all the Walt Whitman was the man which cover the topics of abilities. As he was growing into who „revolutionized American nature, humanity, people and a man with impeccable writing poetry”. Born on May 31st 1819 the connection between those, skills, he was also growing into Long Island, New York, in a the world and the spiritual side a man with strong beliefs which modest family, along with 7 of the „Self ”. Throughout his he was not afraid to brutally talk siblings. Whitman was forced whole life he kept editing the about. Whitman is known for to drop any type of formal collection which now has over opening up the conversations education at the age of 11 in 300 poems inside its pages, about controversial topics he order to help his family support creating 7 different editions of truly believed in such as slavery their printing industry. He the book. The initial edition which is a very common theme never gave up on reading and was self-published and had touched upon in his work, doing research however, and no name written on its cover. women’s rights, immigration, at the age of 17 he became a Sadly, Whitman was one of sexuality, death, religion and teacher which he continued for the many talented souls who God. Not many had the courage 5 years. did not receive the praise they to bring up such topics at the What is most shocking about actually deserved during their time, but Walt was known his work is that he was self- lifetime. Just like Van Gogh for his strong character and taught. Yet he had such a and other genius, tormented overall boldness. In his works profound understanding not minds of artists who totally „Children of Adam” and only of the world around revolutionized what once was „Calamus” he follows the topic him and the universe but also their practice, Walt Whitman of heterosexuality and the love about the vast world of poetry. never lived to see the evolution between 2 men. From 1848 to 1855 he worked he had put in motion. Only after Whitman decided that with a on what was soon to become his death and after America new vision and understanding the masterpiece we know and finally took a step back and of the world he needed to also love today „Leaves of Grass” a was able to understand the create a new verse form, thus collection of 12 poems, each ideologies he spoke about, the Free Verse was born. It is a slightly related to each other, was he ever recognized for his form of poetry which is open,