School Life

Opinion, Raffles Reviews, School Life

The Phone Fast Challenge: 9 Years On…
Reading Time: 8 minutes

By Koh Shin Robbie (26A01A)

In 2016, Raffles Press first attempted the Phone Fast Challenge. The rules were simple: for five days, participants were allowed no more than two half-hour periods of smartphone usage daily. During the challenge, they struggled greatly in resisting the temptations of social media, but ultimately pulled through, even engaging in more meaningful conversations and relationships when phones were kept away.

Almost a decade has passed since then, so how would this challenge feel like today? For that, I recruited four friends to join me in this challenge— Wong E Vee (26S02A) and Clara Yen (26A01B), who sought a chance to ‘lock in’, as well as Lee Zhi Ying (26A01A) and Liu Zhishan (26S05B), who sought to resist the temptation of their TikTok pet.

Continue reading “The Phone Fast Challenge: 9 Years On…” →
Features, Go Where?, Humour, Multimedia, Nature Features, Raffles Reviews, Videos

Where To Touch Grass
Reading Time: < 1 minute

By Tok Kai Xue (26A01B)

As the September holidays arrive, many of us are cooped up at home to lock in. But resting your mind is equally important, and what better way to recharge than by reconnecting with nature?

If you’re new to touching grass, watch this video for a list of parks and trails to check out!

Continue reading “Where To Touch Grass” →
CCA Events, Clubs, School Life

Astronite ‘25: Starstruck 
Reading Time: 7 minutes

By Lerraine Neo (26A01A)

There are millions of stars in the sky, yet we rarely ever see even a hundred of them. Few of us dream of strapping down into a spacecraft and exploring the galaxy, and even fewer actually make it there. For the rest, trapped here—on earth, in the city, under the clouds—the most we will ever see of the endless cosmos are fading stars, waning moons, and the dying sun. 

Perhaps that is why we are obsessed with stars. The shiny gold sticker we get for a well-written essay, the lights we string up during festivals, the actors and singers and performers of Hollywood and beyond. We turn to them and we see hope, guidance, the future. 

Obsession cannot power a spaceship. There are some dreams we will never achieve: to run our hands along the night sky, to let the stars singe our fingertips. But at Astronite 2025, you could almost imagine yourself coming close. 

Continue reading “Astronite ‘25: Starstruck “ →
CCA Events, Commentary, School Life, Sports

Team Raffles Games 2025: The Winner Takes It All
Reading Time: 7 minutes

By Christian Adriel Tan (26S07B), Georgia Ong (26S03O), Looi Ee Xin (26S03M)

Special thanks to Kunchur Bharat (26A01B)

Photographs courtesy of Chew Rui-Yan (26S03N), Fang Rui Shan (26S06R), Kylie Chong (26S03E) and Zhu Taiwu (26S06K) from RIAC unless otherwise stated. 

“Did you sign up for TRG?”

The hottest question of the past month. Sign-up links were flying around in every chat, and it seemed like every conversation ended with someone asking, “You going for TRG?”

Some just wanted the house points. Others were dead set on winning medals. But everyone seemed to be caught up in the same excitement. And on game day, the kaleidoscope of colourful house shirts, the cheers echoing down the field, and the collective determination that made even the most casual players look like seasoned athletes all made it feel like nothing else mattered—except giving your house everything you had.

Continue reading “Team Raffles Games 2025: The Winner Takes It All” →
Commentary, Humour, School Life

No Rest for the Press
Reading Time: 10 minutes

By Lerraine Neo (26A01A) and Koh Shin Robbie (26A01A)

Picture this: It’s the June holidays, and despite being on vacation, you’re staying up to finish some work. You glance up at the window, expecting to be greeted by the blinking lights of streetlamps and billboards, only to see… sunlight? 

Oh. It’s probably time to go to sleep. 

Continue reading “No Rest for the Press” →