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Tuesday, April 13, 2021
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    Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

    Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

    New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

    New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

    New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

    New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

    Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

    Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

    Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

    Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

    Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

    Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

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    Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

    TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

    TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

    IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

    IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

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    Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

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      Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

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      Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

      Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

      Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

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        YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

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        Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

        National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

        National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

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        Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

        Upper School faculty attend Nonbinary and Transgender Student Workshop

        New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

        New upper school student group encourages valuable discourse on identity and diversity

        New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

        New schoolwide faculty committee strives to create a more inclusive TAS community

        Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

        Taipei American School Film Club’s Year-Long project

        Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

        Uncovering Harvard professor’s distorted narrative of Comfort Women

        Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

        Dr. Dodge takes on the role of interim head of school

        Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

        Athletes adjusting to constant IASAS changes

        TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

        TAS delegates attend the 2020 IASAS MUN conference online

        IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

        IASAS Film offers new online 48-hour-film competition due to COVID-19

      • Sports
      • Opinion
        • All
        • Editorial
        • Letters
        • The Gabfest
        Conversations in these isolated times

        Conversations in these isolated times

        Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

        Dear TAS boys, be careful with the curls you get

        Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

        Deeper connotations beyond seemingly casual greetings

        Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

        Style Exploitations: Why unsustainable fashion still exists

        Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

        Let’s stop shopping at SHEIN, the fashion company that sells affordable clothing but is problematic

        What I wish I knew before applying to college

        What I wish I knew before applying to college

        Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

        Why “test optional” policies should continue on post-pandemic

        Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

        Passport strength amidst the COVID-19 pandemic shines light on dual citizenship

        Exclusive library study rooms further toxic academic culture at TAS

        Trending Tags

        • Features
          Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

          Hanlin Tang (‘04): Former Blue & Gold Editor-In-Chief is now a principal scientist at Intel Corporation.

          Black History Month needs to be talked about more at TAS

          Darryl Loke (‘17) wins Emmy award for his college film, “Strays”

          Darryl Loke (‘17) wins Emmy award for his college film, “Strays”

          College application advice from 2021 Seniors

          College application advice from 2021 Seniors

          Classes more people should know about

          Classes more people should know about

          Lower school students launch gardening initiative

          Lower school students launch gardening initiative

          Juggling in-person and online classes

          Juggling in-person and online classes

          Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

          Chinese New Year traveling has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus

          Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

          Annabelle W. (‘22) participates in triathlon relay in Taiwan and places fourth in her division

          Trending Tags

          • Verdict
            • All
            • Food
            • Movies
            • The B&G Book Corner
            • TV

            niko and… :An underrated Japanese home goods store

            YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

            YEN sets an unmatched bar for Cantonese food

            Ideal cafes for studying

            Ideal cafes for studying

            Neighbors Cafe lives up to its name

            Neighbors Cafe lives up to its name

            REVIEW | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

            REVIEW | “Raya and the Last Dragon”

            TikTok’s Three Ingredient Creme Brûlée: Is it Worth it?

            TikTok’s Three Ingredient Creme Brûlée: Is it Worth it?

            A trip to the Cat Cafe

            A trip to the Cat Cafe

            Attemping to make the Korean Minimalistic Cake

            Attemping to make the Korean Minimalistic Cake

            Spend your Sunday afternoons studying at Windows Cafe

            Spend your Sunday afternoons studying at Windows Cafe

            Eco-friendly brands that reduce climate impact

            Eco-friendly brands that reduce climate impact

            Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

            Diamonds and Dior lead to deeper conversations in Netflix’s “Bling Empire”

            National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

            National Taichung Theater: the best architectural phenomenon that showcases musicals

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          Headline: Dhirpal Shah (‘20) takes a gap year to pursue a professional soccer career

          by The Blue & Gold
          12/25/2020
          in Features
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          Headline: Dhirpal Shah (‘20) takes a gap year to pursue a professional soccer career

          Dhirpal Shah (‘20) trains with his team members four to five times a week, playing weekly games semi-regularly. [PHOTO COURTESY OF DHIRPAL SHAH]

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          By: Nicole C. (’21)

          Like many other students from the Class of 2020, Dhirpal Shah (‘20) decided to take a gap year during these unprecedented times. He wanted to take this year off of school to pursue a professional career in soccer. 

          The COVID-19 pandemic, however, was not the only reason as to why he decided to take this gap year; in reality, Dhirpal had always been planning to do so after graduating high school. “I had actually begun to plan on [a] gap year during the end of 2019,” he said. “And because football (soccer) did not relate too heavily to the pandemic at the time, I would have considered [a] gap year regardless [of the circumstances].” 

          His parents were fortunately very supportive of his decision and were relieved that he would be staying in Taiwan for longer, where the pandemic has been successfully controlled. Dhirpal was also optimistic about taking a gap year. “I am confident that I will look back and acknowledge that this was one of the best decisions of my teenage years,” he said. “Football is great and all, but the chance to stay near my family and appreciate this country for what it has done for me is truly a blessing.” 

          Since the beginning of his gap year, Dhirpal has been dedicating around three hours of his day to soccer, training with his team members four to five times a week and playing weekly games semi-regularly. He also spends an additional three hours in the weight room, and sometimes travels across the island to play soccer matches with his team. 

          After his season ends, he plans on taking some time off to “sit back and relax,” and even travel abroad to India or European countries, where soccer clubs have already expressed interest in signing him as a player. However, this will only be possible if vaccines are widely available and the COVID-19 situation improves. If that is not the case, he is happy staying in Taiwan and taking time to pursue his other passions such as reading and yoga.

          Dhirpal really enjoys the flexibility that he now has. “The best thing about taking a gap year is the freedom to pursue the things you love to a greater extent than in high school or even college,” he said. “Although there are moments of anxiety when I worry about what the next few months will look like, [having] a good plan about what you want to spend your time doing, [reminds you that] there really is nothing to worry about.”

          Dhirpal does not know whether he wants to go to university in the fall of 2021 or push it back even more as he is still at a “crossroads of trying to pursue professional football and attending university.” However, he is definitely excited about reuniting with people of his age if he does decide to go back to school in the fall. “[Since] I am playing with a professional men’s team here [in Taiwan], I am training with some people twice my age, and it’s fair to say that there is a bit of a generation[al] gap between us,” he said. “I miss the reassuring feeling of people around you that understand what you are feeling and going through.”

          For current seniors, Dhirpal recommends taking a gap year. “Even if COVID-19 magically disappears as you graduate, do not throw the thought of a gap year away so easily. Many teachers I consulted in highschool encouraged me to take it because they believed that it would help in innumerable ways. If you have a plan, or even a passion, a gap year may be the best decision of your life,” he said.

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          The Blue & Gold strives to represent the school as whole, showcasing hidden personalities and covering events and issues that affect the school and community.

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