The BIS Community is always encouraging students to develop their gifts. The first Fine Arts Festival provided incentive for our student artists to improve their technique and a platform to showcase their talents.
The Fine Arts Festival offered three main divisions: Fine Arts, Literature and Music. On December 2nd, the Fine Arts Department held an assembly where the results of the Writing Competition and Arts Competition were announced, along with the amazing musical performance from our orchestra and music students.
Arts Competition
G7 Art Winners
G8 Art Winners
G9/10 Art Winners
Winner of the People’s Choice Award
Writing Competition
Voice
By: Uta O G9
Beep, beep, beep…
I woke up. I was crying…
“Mrs. Carpenter, please come in.” I heard the nurse calling my mom. My mom held my hand and started walking toward the nurse. She holds my hand wherever we go, her hand was always warm, and it felt strong, but it felt different this time. Her hand was cold. Her hand was shaking. I looked up to see her face. She looked pale.
I was sitting next to her, facing the doctor. I didn’t know what they were exactly talking about, but I heard some familiar words. ‘Adrian’, ‘ears’, ‘1 year later’ and ‘deaf’. As a five-year-old, I slightly understood what they meant.
We arrived home, and my mom called me. “Adrian, come here.” I stood in front of my mom. “Adrian, do you hear your ear ringing?” “It’s ringing right now, It’s really noisy.” She crouched as she said, “As your ringing gets worse, you won’t be able to hear any more.” When I heard those words from her mouth, it felt different from the doctor. Probably because I was sure that I was going to be deaf.
I walked into my room, sat down, hugging a pillow. Tears came out of my eyes before I noticed it. I imagined how the world will be without any sound. The only word that came up to my mind was ‘lonely.’
I won’t be able to have normal conversations. Won’t be able to listen to my mom reading my favorite picture book, but the most loneliest thing for me was that I can never hear someone calling my name. I would be different from others…
I buried my face in the pillow and sniffed.
“Hey you” It was a girl’s voice, probably around the same age as me. “Hey, stop ignoring me. I know you can hear me.” “Me?” I asked. “Yes you. Who else would it be?” I looked around my room to find the girl who was talking but no one was there. I looked out the window, opened my room’s door but no one was in the hallway. “Of course you can’t see me, I’m in you.” “What?”
“Adrian, did you call me?” I heard my mom calling me. “Mom, there’s a girl…” “No!” the girl interrupted. “Don’t tell her that I exist!” “Uhhhhh, nothing mom!” I slammed the door shut and ran onto my bed, hiding myself with my blanket. “Who are you?” I whispered. “Shhhh! You don’t have to speak! I’m in you, I know what you think.” I didn’t get what she meant. “Seems like you don’t understand. Say something in your mind.” So I said ‘Hello’ in my mind. “Hi” she replied it back. I was really surprised that my eyes were about to pop out.
‘You know what I’m thinking?!’
“I can even see what you’re seeing and taste what you’re tasting. We can even swap places like this.”
Then I realized that I was the voice, and the girl was me. ‘I’ll swap it back.’ she said it in my mind, and we swapped back. I was too surprised, I couldn’t say anything.
“So, you’re Aa…di…? I forgot how your mom called you. What’s your name again?” ‘Adrian… what’s yours?’ I said it as I came out of my blanket.
“I don’t have a name.”
‘Oh…’
I saw a picture book beside where I was sitting. It was a story about a royal princess called Valentine, who saved her kingdom. It was my favorite book. ‘Valentine…’ “What?”
‘Your name is Valentine’
“Adrian! Run faster!! You’ll miss the bus!!” ‘I’m trying my best!’ “The bus it about to leave! Run faster!” ‘I can’t. I’m too tired. Swap with me.’ “Ahhh, Fine!”
This year was my last year of high school and it’s been 11 years, not being able to hear anything, but Valentine’s voice.
The schools that I went to are all for students who has ear disability, so we use sign language to communicate.
(Class, please take your seats, we are going to start with our test.) The teacher used sign language and explained it to the class. Maths was not the class that I was good at, but I wasn’t worried about the test at all. Valentine would solve the questions for me, she loves maths.
For some reason, Valentine was always smarter than me, even if she doesn’t physically go to school and because of her, I got all As for maths for the past few years.
After school, I walked towards the school bus. “Adrian, your mom’s here.” Valentine told me. ‘Huh? Where?’ “By the gate.”
I walked to her, and she told me that the doctor has some good news.
We walked into the hospital and went into my doctor’s office and sat down. The doctor opened his computer and started to type what he wants to say. It’s been like this since I became
deaf. He showed me his computer. It said, “Hi Adrian, I have some good news for you today.” Then he typed “Recently, medical science has developed, and you will be able to hear again. You just have to take a surgery.” My mom started to talk to the doctor. I couldn’t understand what they were talking about, but I could sense that my mom was very happy. I haven’t seen her being this happy for a while and it naturally made me smile.
‘Valentine, you heard it? I’ll be able to hear again!’ “That’s awesome! You’ll promise you’ll take the surgery?” ‘What promise? That way we can both hear!’ “Ok”
She seemed very unusual. ‘Valentine, what are you hiding?’ “Nothing” ‘Liar, you’re definitely hiding something. Now tell me.’ She sighed, “I hope this won’t change your mind. When you’ll be able to hear, I’ll disappear.” ‘Wait, what are you talking about? I won’t hear you anymore?’
Before she replied, my mom tapped on my shoulder and asked (You’ll take the surgery right? Sign in this form.) I saw papers on the doctor’s desk, but I refused. (I don’t want to take it.) My mom’s expression suddenly changed. “Adrian! You promised to take the surgery!” Valentine yelled at me, but I ignored her. I typed “I won’t take the surgery” on my phone and was about to show the doctor. But suddenly, Valentine forcefully swapped with me, threw my phone, grabbed a pen and wrote the first 2 letters of my name on the form but I pulled her back. “Adrian please, take the surgery.” Valentine begged. I looked around. My mom was covering her face with her hands and the doctor didn’t know what was happening. My breath went high, and I didn’t know what to do. So, I said “Let me think about it.” The doctor looked even confused, probably because he didn’t hear me speak for years.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I never imagined that Valentine would disappear, and I realized that she was so important in my life.
“Adrian, remember the story of a royal princess saving her kingdom? Your favorite one? She was brave and desirable, and I wanted to be just like her. Supporting you to be confident in yourself. So now that there’s finally a chance for you to hear again, I don’t want you to miss this opportunity because of me. If I don’t convince you, I’ll regret on myself, and I think we won’t be able to talk to each other like we used to. I don’t want that to happen. So please take the surgery.” This was the last thing I heard Valentine said before I fell asleep.
I woke up the next day and went downstairs. My mom was already awake, she was in the kitchen. I tapped on her shoulder and said (I’ll take the surgery.)
The surgery was going to be at the end of the school year. Until then, I promised myself to have a good time with Valentine.
Letting her wear a dress for the first time. Although it didn’t look good with my face. Having a math test without her help and got a F. The only F I ever got for maths.
Time passed and it was the day for my surgery.
I was in the hospital. Lying on the bed in the surgery room, waiting for the nurse to give me anesthesia. I had my last conversation with Valentine.
‘Valentine, I often think that children are much older than adults think. Remember the first day I went to an ear disabled primary school? Even though I never went to a normal primary school, I knew that I was going live a life different from others and honestly, I was scared to be different.’
“I remember that I had to swap with you to move your legs.”
The nurse puts the mask on me and started to transport anesthesia to me. That moment, I felt that Valentine would disappear any minute. I had to thank her.
‘Valentine, when you appeared, you really saved my life. I was so scared to be deaf, scared to be alone. Everything you’ve done for me make me confident. Thank you.’ I was welling up and I fell asleep.
I was in a world where nothing existed and everywhere was white. I didn’t know where I was. Then I saw a shadow of a girl, walking towards me. As she came closer, I knew that she was Valentine. She was a teenage blonde girl with beautiful green eyes. This was the first time I ever saw her, and I couldn’t stop my tears from coming out.
“Adrian, thank you for letting me in your life, Even, though I disappear, I’ll be a part of you for the rest of your life.”
‘If you weren’t here, I probably lived a different life, didn’t know what to do. You’ve done so much for me, but I never got to do anything for you. I’m so sorry. I’m worried that I won’t be able to success on my life without you, but I’ll really try my best. I didn’t realize that you were so important in my life until I decided to take the surgery. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, youre my best friend. I’ll never forget you.”
Valentine smiled, then faded out.
Beep, beep, beep…
I woke up, I was crying…
“Valentine…”
Someone creeped over. It was my mom. “Adrian? How are you feeling?” Her voice sounded just the same as before.
More tears came out of my eyes. I can hear.
I was standing in front of the gate. A big gate. It was my first day of collage. A normal collage where everyone can hear. It was hard for me to take a step in. Then someone pushed my back. My legs moved. “You can do it Adrian.” I heard Valentine. I looked back, no one was there but I felt like she was standing behind me. I smiled and walked into the gate.
Music Performance