By Clara Chai (22A01D), Jason Sutio (22S06U) and Phang Duncan (22A13B)

Yong Ming Le, Ethan (21S06E)

If Ethan had to describe his journey in Chinese Literacy Drama Cultural Society (CLDCS) and Students’ Council with one word, it would be ‘serendipitous’. 

For one, Council’s in-person initiatives, such as Team Raffles Games and Spirit Week, had to be shifted online due to the Circuit Breaker. He also had little to no opportunities to interact with his fellow councillors. However, when SMMs eased further in Phase 3, he was able to bond more with them.

Three schoolmates shed light on their medical conditions and how their lives are shaped by them.

By Koo ii (21S05A) and Ray Lim (21A13A)
Cover image by Koo ii (21S05A), featuring art installation Only Skin Deep by Loke Sun Yi (21A01B)

“Quite bad ah,” commented the lady at the ice cream counter of a fast-food chain, after asking Loke Sun Yi (21A01B) if she had chickenpox.

The truth was, she didn’t have chickenpox. “I just wanted an ice cream!” recounted Sun Yi. Rather, she has eczema, a condition that causes skin to be itchy, dry and inflamed. 

This was but one of the many chance encounters that Sun Yi has experienced, where strangers comment on her condition. Some even “go the extra mile” to offer advice on how best to treat it. 

While such advice comes with good intentions, Sun Yi shares that it makes her annoyed and embarrassed—especially since it makes it seem as if she hasn’t been trying hard enough to treat it. Little do we know of the efforts put in by our peers to live comfortably with their conditions.