Category: News

Introducing Sem’s Japanese Anime Club

By Cosette Zhou ‘21

Anime (アニメ) refers to hand-drawn and computer animation originating from or associated with Japan. Since the 21st century, the wave of Japanese anime has never subsided. Nowadays, most people believe that anime is just an entertainment tool. However, it has a more profound significance. 

Anime finally entered the Wyoming Seminary Upper School campus in 2019. Yuwei (Emily) Chen, a sophomore, has established a new club at Sem called Japanese Anime Club. Because Emily Chen is such an anime enthusiast, she stated during the first club meeting on September 19, 2019, “I establish this club because of interest.” Nonetheless, interest is not the only reason for this club. 

“I feel like I am in a different world when I watch a good anime. I get lost in what I am watching,” said Emily. “I am not the one who usually dabbles in escapism. I love living in the moment, but it is just something about anime that makes it okay to get away mentally.” Many students, having tons of schoolwork and not being mature enough to digest all the pressure, can feel that life at Sem is stressful, but anime enables them to view the world differently. The aesthetic, natural, and fresh style can convey the harmony of heaven, earth, and man. The philosophies behind some anime can touch the depth of the human soul and can inspire students to think about life honestly. After watching an excellent piece of anime, one will feel oneself out of squalor and noise and regain the impetus to move forward. Just as Spirited Away, a popular anime worldwide, says, “No matter how hard the road is ahead, just go in the right direction. No matter how rough it is, it is closer to happiness than standing there.” ​​​​Many people love anime because the plot and the lines are always inspirational. Emily also told The Opinator, “Something that can relieve our minds and encourage us at the same time is exactly what we need.”

The Opinator hopes that Japanese Anime Club will be a successful club at Sem and that it will convey life lessons and Japanese culture to Sem students! 

Members of Sem’s Dance Company perform at a recent assembly in the KCCA.

Wyoming Seminary’s Dance Company

By Sasha Roumyantseva ’23

The Wyoming Seminary dance program is up and running for the 19’-20’ school year! Starting with classics, such as tap, jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, and ballet, the dance company has already begun training for this season. In addition to the classic dance classes, the program offers fun experiences such as aerobic dance, yoga, broadway dance, swing, and more. Whether a student is brand new to the art form or an experienced dancer, the dance program can be perfect for him or her. The student body appears very excited for the start of this season, and it’s not too late for a new student to start! Along with being bundles of fun, doing some classes with the dance program can earn a student some PE credit as well.

Many people say that joining the dance company has led them to have great friends and wonderful experiences. One of the returning seniors and long-time dancer Robert Zaloga ’20 remarks, “The dance company is an incredible art form to be a part of, especially at Sem. We train for many months leading up to the final performance, and it truly brings us together like one big dance family.”

The Opinator encourages all students to not only join Sem’s dance program but continue to support the dancers all year as well.

The team poses for a picture at Kutztown University. (Photo courtesy of Emily Urbanski ‘20)

Science Olympiad: Come One, Come All!

   By Sophia Galante ’22

     Anybody familiar with the Sem atmosphere knows it’s not too hard to figure out that the club and team community around campus is a big one. There are so many inclusive, exciting, and impressive clubs and teams at Sem, and it’s almost overwhelming. However, one of them, Science Olympiad, provides an amazing opportunity for anyone with the recent Science bug or anyone who just wants to try something new! The Science Olympiad captains and crucial members were able to tell The Opinator about the incredible the opportunities the club opens up and about what it takes to be a part of the team.

           Nikolai Stefanov ‘19 is a renowned captain of the team and certainly agrees that the club is one of which to be a part. He talks about being captain and their upcoming role in the State competition: “Being a leader, I’m in charge of organizing everybody and making sure that not only are the events covered but [the students] are covered as well. Also, making sure people are paired in the categories they work well in and with each other.” He also talked about the fact that this is the first time in the team’s history that they are going to the State competition.

      Julia Iskra ‘19 and Emily Urbanski ‘20, two enthusiastic members of the team, were also able to talk about the different sections of science they represent and the club’s hard work, as well. “This year, I’m in Dynamic Plants which is about glaciers, Geologic Mapping, Geology, and a building event where we have to build a cantilever structure, and it has to hold the most weight at the competition,” says Urbanski. Iskra, as well, loves the team and is an avid science student at Sem, who plans to continue her college studies with science by her side: “This year I did Anatomy and Physiology, which I ended up placing 4th overall. I also did Experimental Design and Forensic Science. The team aspect is really great, and when we found out we were going to states, you just couldn’t hear anything else in the gym; we were really excited.”

       All three, of course, have the same ideas and advice for anyone hesitant or thinking about joining. “I honestly wish I had joined earlier because I really enjoy doing a lot of the things we do and doing all the different events and options to participate in,” Julia says. Nikolai and Emily have nothing but positive thoughts on it as well: “If you’re interested in pretty much any field of science, going to competitions and competing, and just testing your knowledge on a certain subject, you should try it because they really have events for any and every field of science you’re interested in, and it provides you with a fun way of learning about them and with them.”

       The team is headed to States to compete and did very well with placing 6th overall at the Regional competition a little over a month ago. Whether a student wants to be a captain or just learn about science in unimaginable ways, Science Olympiad is the perfect opportunity to do so. Its fun, creative, and experimental atmosphere make sure that anybody and everybody can and should consider trying out. You won’t be disappointed. The Opinator wishes the team best of luck at states!