Commentary

Commentary

Why We Like Spotify Wrapped
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Betty Ding (25A01B) and Cayla Goh (25A01B) 

Blink, and it’s December. Another year has flown by, carrying with it countless moments and memories. But since 2016, one thing has remained constant: the anticipation of a present about your past, packaged nicely with vibrant colour and bold font – It’s Spotify Wrapped. Whether you’ve been looking forward to this all year or you’re apprehensive about that one song ruining your Wrapped, it’s time to face the music.

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Commentary, Humour, Opinion, School Life

The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Cayla Goh (25A01B), Meryl Lim (25S05A)

Maybe if I were someone else, I’d be happier. 

Maybe if I had taken another subject combination, I wouldn’t be so miserable. Maybe if I had made more friends, maybe if I had studied harder for Promos, maybe if I had tried out for that leadership position years ago, I would be better off now. 

Maybe, just maybe, I shouldn’t have come to RI at all.

Not really. 

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Commentary, Humour, School Life

Good Hard Launches are Not That Hard
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Betty Ding (25A01B)

Like every other year, this year’s Valentine’s Day has been utterly disappointing. The predictable Instagram stories clog your feed: endless flower pictures, the oh-so-suspenseful soft launches (which, according to some, should qualify as an art form), or even those that clearly feature someone new – the rare “hard launches”. The ones that scream “Hey, me and someone are #together now.” Tame, lame, and all the same. Surely there is room for more passion, more energy, more footwork?

Love was in the air, and it’s time to pull out the air purifier to gain clarity and reflect – what makes a show stopping hard launch? We at Raffles Press have come up with some comprehensive, and (debatably) feasible solutions for you to really wow that special someone. You’ll have to wait till next year though, but it’s okay: just enough time to gather supplies.

Without further ado, here’s how you can make your bombastic love declaration bigger, bolder, and better:

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Commentary, Opinion

How to Concert 101: A Guide to Amp-le Fun at Your Next Show!
Reading Time: 8 minutes

By Chen Ying (25A01C), Qiu Bixin (25A01B) and Keng Yi, Nicole (25S03S)

Everyone seems to be making a stop in Singapore nowadays, from Taylor Swift to the Pope. With every new enticing artist announcing their global tour, thousands flock to venues around Singapore; concert-going is now no longer just a hobby, but a way of life.

For the uninitiated, such uncharted waters may be terrifying. Barriers to entry, such as knowing what to bring, where to queue, or even how to navigate the cruel social experiment that is Ticketmaster may seem too daunting to overcome.

If these struggles sound familiar, this is the guide for you. We’ll cover everything: from preparations, to maximising your concert experience, to etiquette tips to shield you from the wrath of angry Singaporean Tiktokers.

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Commentary, School Life

Between Language and Logic: Linguistics Olympiad
Reading Time: 3 minutes

by Isaac Chan (25A01B)

When I tell people I compete in Linguistics Olympiads, I usually get a polite, confused smile.

“Linguistics Olympiad? What’s that?”

Nobody has heard of Linguistics Olympiads, not even most English Language and Linguistics (ELL) students I’ve met. Compare this with the Science Olympiads, which are reasonably major events on the academic calendar, whereas the Singapore Linguistics Olympiad (SLO) is hardly known.

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