School Life

Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset, Commentary

Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Reducing Excessive Stress
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Pan Haotian (24A01B) and Darren Wong (24S03C, 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 stress is making it hard for me to eat and sleep? I don’t know how to reduce the stress because it is how I feel and it is hard to change.

Stressed-Out Sebastian

Dear Stressed-Out Sebastian,

“Stress” may be the 1740th most common word in the English language (thank you, Google), but it’s likely the most common word in any Rafflesian’s vocabulary. For many of us, stress is no longer an exception in an otherwise peaceful school term: it’s the new normal. Yet we need to remember that just because something is common doesn’t mean that it’s normal, and behind the commonplace complaint of stress hides entirely unordinary symptoms. 

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Reducing Excessive Stress” →
Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset, Commentary, School Life

Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Dealing with Competitiveness and Academic Insecurity
Reading Time: 7 minutes

By Low Jing Kai (24S03H) and Wang Xinxuan (24S06L, 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.

In an environment which is described as a pressure cooker and competitiveness is so ingrained in our culture, how do you stay healthy when there is such a strong feeling of “I might lose out”?

Distressed Darren

Dear Distressed Darren, 

Feeling that we are not doing enough, especially when we feel our peers are performing better than us, is a feeling shared by nearly every student. This feeling can motivate us to work harder and reach greater heights, yet, it can also lead us to become overcome with self-despair and lead to unnecessary stress. This is why we need to know how we can manage this feeling of inadequacy and not let it get the better of us.

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Dealing with Competitiveness and Academic Insecurity” →
Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset, School Life

Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Gaslighting myself—does it really work?
Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Syaura Nashwa (24S03R) and Rachel Toh (24S03I, 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.

“Is it possible to suppress negative thoughts? Does it work?”

Solemn Samantha

Dear Solemn Samantha,

I’ve seen many just like you. Amidst those frolicking, you’re in a place no one can reach—your mind. It’s hard to block out those voices which bring you down. Harder yet, to suppress them. You wonder why you can’t be as carefree as your friends.

Continue reading “Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset: Gaslighting myself—does it really work?” →
Commentary, Multimedia, School Life, Videos

An Ode to Waffles…
Reading Time: < 1 minute

By Arissa Binte Kamaruzaman (24A01A), Camillia Anum Mohamad Ashraff (24S03B), Cao Yuhan (24S03M), Chandrasekaran Shreya (24S06A), Cheah Zong Heng (24S06P), Chia Kei Yin (24S03C), Dang Tran Minh Phuong (Annie) (24A01A)

Being a Rafflesian may be a vastly different adventure for different people, but the spark of joy when a classmate asks “Anyone wants something from Chill?”, the anticipation of biting into a freshly-baked waffle, and the glee in comparing waffle flavours with friends are central parts of the RI experience. Raffles Press dives into stories behind the waffle-making process and what waffles truly mean to Rafflesians.

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CCA Events, Sports

Clinching the Gold: Tennis Girls’ NSG 2023
Reading Time: 2 minutes

By Iman Talia (24S03E), Syaura Nashwa (24S03R), Vera Heng (24S03R)

On 11 May 2023, the back and forth of the tennis ball reverberated around the courts. As the sound punctuated the still air, the spectators held their breath: who would get the next point, Hwa Chong or Raffles?

It wasn’t an easy fight. Every time a point was scored, the audience erupted into raucous cheers. Eagle-eyed supporters craned their necks, not wanting to miss a single rally. Even with the racket created by a nearby grass cutter, the spectators’ cheers were strong, loud and unyielding. The intense atmosphere was clearly evident, with both sides determined to win.

Continue reading “Clinching the Gold: Tennis Girls’ NSG 2023” →