Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Chia Kei Yin (24S03C) and Lee Tse Yee Megan (24S03M, 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/RIAAUU and we’ll give them our best shot. This column will be published at the end of every month.

If my friend is struggling with anxiety and depression and messages me saying they are feeling bad, how should I support them? Is there any way to help them feel better? What if they just send short messages and don’t really elaborate much? 

Concerned Connie

Dear Concerned Connie,

Supporting a loved one with mental illness is not always easy, especially if the person struggling is not comfortable talking about their troubles. We would like to first applaud you for your kindness and compassion!

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Supporting A Friend” →

Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Cao Yuhan (24S03M) and Ezann Lian (24S03H, 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/RIAAUU and we’ll give them our best shot. This column will be published at the end of every month.

“What should I do if my parents’ expectations are causing me great stress? Because they don’t seem to accept me for what I am, but are only concerned with how well I am doing in school.”

Stressed Scarlett

Dear Stressed Scarlett,

Many Rafflesians will likely relate to this situation of “never really being good enough”. No matter how late you stayed up to plan your essay, or how many hours you spent plugging away at the TYS papers, your efforts all seem to sum up to a percentage in  your report book. A lot of the time, the number is not good enough for your parents.

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: The Weight of Expectations” →

Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Iman Talia Zahiri-Han En (24S03E) and Chong Kai Qian (24S03B, 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/RIAAUU and we’ll give them our best shot. This column will be published at the end of every month.

“How do we maintain a positive perspective if we are constantly surrounded by others who have a very negative pattern of thinking?”

Struggling Samuel

Dear Struggling Samuel,

It can be difficult to extract yourself from such a negative environment when everywhere you turn, you seem to be surrounded by people with similar negative mindsets. It is inevitable that we might catch ourselves falling into their thinking patterns as well, so do not blame yourself too much. However, there are always things we can do to protect ourselves from overly negative influences and maintain a positive perspective. 

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Finding Positivity in Negativity” →

Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Faith Wan (23S02B) and Thia Jiayun (24S03P, 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/RIAAUU and we’ll give them our best shot. This column will be published at the end of every month.

How can I recover from study burnout? I am really unmotivated to study now

Burnedout Brendon

Dear Burnedout Brendon,

Amidst the hectic life of a JC student, it’s all too easy to get swept up in the unhealthy cycle of working relentlessly. Think studying til the wee hours of the morning, guzzling down yet another cup of double shot espresso, and forcing yourself to make every moment of your day ‘productive’.

While everyone’s threshold for stress varies, it’s safe to say that such a work ethic is simply unsustainable in the long run. It is precisely this gnawing desire to do more, more, more (and often, the accompanying fear of failure) that triggers the avalanche of a burnout.

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Reigniting The Flame” →

Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Johnathan Lim (23S03M) and Jolene Yee (23S03A)

Cover image by Johnathan Lim (23S03M)

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.

“What is life’s meaning? We are just a speck in this vast universe and whatever we do probably would not make any difference. In the end, our sun would run out of energy and life on Earth would vanish. Why do we even need to go to school if nothing we do ever makes a difference. And we might be living in a simulation, which means even if we make a difference, it is contained in some video game?”

Pensive Poppy

Dear Pensive Poppy,

Imagine: You are birthed, and your cries in the delivery room are studied for their exact pitch, length, and volume. As you traverse your life, the world knows every single thought that ever crosses your mind. Your locker-room crushes will know your self-insert fantasies about them. After your death, every intricate detail about your life is scrutinised. You are studied in textbooks and admired in museums until the end of time. 

Is this what you wanted? 

If yes, then it’s pretty clear – you want to leave as big of a legacy as you can. But chances are, you don’t really fancy the cosmic weight of this life.

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Pensive Pleasures (Evolving from r/im14andthisisdeep)” →