By Jolene Yee Xin Yi (23S03A) and Liu Yong Zhe (23S03H, Peer Helper)

Your resident Aunties and Uncles are back with our Ask Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset column, this time as a collaboration between Raffles Press and Peer Helpers’ Programme (PHP)! Ever wanted to rant about that someone you just can’t stand? Overwhelmed with too many feelings? Submit your confessions to https://tinyurl.com/riadvice and we’ll give them our best shot. This column will be published at the end of every month.

I failed my promos 😭

Disappointed David

By Tay Yu Ning (23S06E) and Wang Yujie (23S06H, Peer Helper)
Cover image by Johnathan Lim (23S03M)

“I’m normal-sized and my parents won’t stop fat-shaming me. I know logically that I’m not fat, but yet I can’t drown out their voices purely based on the fact that they’re my parents. Their words are hurtful and make me feel bad about myself even when I know these words shouldn’t matter to me. What can I do to ignore them?”

Adorable Annie

By Johnathan Lim (23S03M) and Sabrina Tong (23S03Q, Peer Helper)

Your resident Aunties and Uncles are back with our Ask Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset column, this time as a collaboration between Raffles Press and Peer Helpers’ Programme (PHP)! Ever wanted to rant about that someone you just can’t stand? Overwhelmed with too many feelings? Submit your confessions to https://tinyurl.com/riadvice and we’ll give them our best shot. This column will be published at the end of every month.

In JC, it feels like friendships have become a lot more shallow and surface-level. As someone who isn’t used to this, every time I try to get closer to someone by becoming vulnerable with them, I feel like I’m being repelled, which has caused me to become quite alienated from my circle in class. How do I manage my expectations in the current social climate?

Friendly Flynn

By Sabrina Tong (23S03Q, Peer Helper) and Yong Zhe (23S03H, Peer Helper)

Cover image by Johnathan Lim (23S03M)

“My parents are divorcing, my boyfriend broke up with me and I failed all of my CTs. How do I remain positive when my whole life has gone downhill?”

Dispirited Danielle

Dear Dispirited Danielle,

It seems as if times have been tough for you lately. The loss of your family, a treasured relationship, and another blow in terms of academics: these are distressing circumstances on their own, and the combined effect of all those events would be a blow to the gut for anyone. Yet, your question illustrates a tenacious spirit that will be important in toughing out these dismal periods. We think that it is admirable that you are looking for ways to remain positive even when your life is, for lack of a better phrase, falling apart at the seams. 

By Tay Yu Ning (23S06E) and Wang Yujie (23S06H, Peer Helper)
Cover image by Johnathan Lim (23S03M)

“Everyone tells me that I have to put myself out there to get experience because I need to join the workforce and choose my career. But I am so overwhelmed that I can’t think of what I want to be anymore…”

Future Forager

Dear Future Forager,

For some, especially those who know very clearly what they want to do in life, thinking about the future can be exciting. Yet for many others, thinking about the future can be very stressful. It is natural and understandable to feel overwhelmed by the future, especially as we inch closer towards adulthood.