By Leong Jun Wei (23A01D) and Iman Talia Zahiri Han-En (24S03E)
On 6 April, Raffles Guitar Ensemble took part in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival. The Stamford Training Room was filled with palpable anxiety as the members of RJGE gathered for one last practice as an ensemble before boarding the bus to SOTA, their performance venue.
Continue reading “RJGE SYF 2023: A Symphony of Souls”
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”
By Shreya Singh (23S03C) and Cece Cao Chenxi (23A01E)
Our modern world is characterised by a deep, relational hunger. We’ve found ourselves aching for connection, even though developments in technology have allowed us to keep in touch with others on the other side of the globe.
However, with loneliness increasingly seen through rose-tinted glasses after pandemic restrictions prevented face-to-face interactions, it is interesting to explore how the romanticisation of loneliness has affected our day-to-day lives.
Continue reading “Loneliness, Romanticised”
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”
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”