Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset, School Life

Aunt Agony & Uncle Upset: Minimising the Snowball Effect
Reading Time: 4 minutes

By Faith Wan (23S02B) and Justin Cheong (23A01C, Peer Helper)

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. 

How do you catch up if the work has already started snowballing and you have a 3 day cca? how do i be less behind on lectures :(

Stressed Scholar

Dear Stressed Scholar, 

We get it. 

Continue reading “Aunt Agony & Uncle Upset: Minimising the Snowball Effect” →
Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset, School Life

Aunt Agony & Uncle Upset: Boyfriend Blues
Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Nor Akmal (23S03A) and Sabrina Tong (23S03Q, Peer Helper) 

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. 

i kind of want a boyfriend; why so hard to find bf 😩

Lonely Lass

Dear Lonely Lass,

At our age, it’s easy to get swept up in the flurry of young love, especially when your best friend shares pictures of their lovey-dovey dates on their Instagram story. Media’s influence is undeniable, so it’s important to assess the value of a relationship before getting into one.

We’re not saying that you shouldn’t get into a relationship, just that you might want to reconsider why you want one. Is there someone you have your heart set on already, or do you merely like the idea of being in a relationship?

Continue reading “Aunt Agony & Uncle Upset: Boyfriend Blues” →
Aunt Agony and Uncle Upset, School Life

Aunt Agony & Uncle Upset: A Guide to Sharpening your Social Skills  
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Jolene Yee Xin Yi (23S03A) and Aaron Goh Wei Ming (23S06H, Peer Helper) 

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. 

I am a generally really quiet person and my social skills went into the negative 1000s while I was studying for O levels last year (I JAE-ed into Raffles Institution), however I’m much more sociable online. My main question is how can I improve my IRL social skills when I’m super shy?

Troubled Tabby 

Dear Troubled Tabby,  

We would first like to offer some reassurance─most of us have been there at some point in time, and it is perfectly understandable that your social skills have deteriorated after studying for a stressful national exam and missing out on social interactions.

We certainly empathise with your struggles of opening up to strangers─after all, approaching and striking up a conversation with an unfamiliar face for the very first time can be absolutely nerve-wracking. 

Continue reading “Aunt Agony & Uncle Upset: A Guide to Sharpening your Social Skills  “ →
Commentary, Music Reviews, Opinion, Raffles Reviews

Dreaming with Sumi Jo: A Night at the Opera
Reading Time: 5 minutes

By Lara Tan (22A01B) and Noh Sangeun (23S06Q)

What does a night at the opera bring to mind? 

Hundreds of people sitting stone-faced in a cavernous concert hall, silently immersing themselves in the music of ages long past? A stuffy, esoteric pursuit of cultural enlightenment for only the initiated? An overall solemn, purely intellectual affair with little room for fun? 

As it turns out, that isn’t all there is to it. 

We went down to the Esplanade last month, looking to spend a night at the opera with this lovely lady.

Continue reading “Dreaming with Sumi Jo: A Night at the Opera” →