CCA Events, Commentary, Notes from the Underground, School Life

RSS Mental Health Strand 2021
Reading Time: 7 minutes

By Elizabeth Paulyn Gostelow (21A01B) and Max Chwa (21A01B)

One thing’s clear: everyone needs a breather from JC life.  

The pandemic’s impact extends far beyond the physical realm. How many more online classes, cancelled CCA sessions and shortened MEP curriculums can one student take? The lack of social interaction in our schedules has undoubtedly had detrimental effects on our mental health. Avenues for relieving stress—from movie watch parties at the Shaw Foundation Library to visiting My Rest Space (MRS)—have been closed off, leaving Rafflesians with a sense of choicelessness and entrapment.   

But enough of bemoaning such downers. The Raffles Science Symposium’s Mental Health Strand is here to help students grapple with these issues!

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Clubs, Commentary, What We Do

Pressing Ahead 2021: Hindsight—Reporting in Crisis
Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Edna Lim (22S03F), Mei Feifei (22A13A), and Shermaine Lim (22S03N)

“Can I have an Aburi Chicken Don please?”
“My hit rate with aunties is quite high.”
“Mr Patrick Wong, you are not allowed to participate in the game.”

Where do a chicken don, aunties and Mr Patrick Wong (Raffles Press’s beloved teacher in-charge) come together? Raffles Press’s annual inter-JC conference, Pressing Ahead, of course! 

Continue reading “Pressing Ahead 2021: Hindsight—Reporting in Crisis” →
Arts, Commentary

RJCO SYF 2021: The Seven Colours of Harmony Movement II
Reading Time: 3 minutes

By Andrea Ng (22S06B) and Mandy Wong (22S03C)

Imagine this: you are standing in a vast field, cool air rippling through your hair. Ahead of you are towering mountains that seem to go on and on, their contours highlighted by faint sunlight. The wind picks up speed gradually, accompanied by the rustle of grass stalks as they collide against one another, leaving you with an unparalleled feeling of freedom and excitement.

While we are unable to head to such scenic places right now, we can certainly picture them in our minds with the help of music—and RJCO helps us do just that. On 29 April, Chinese Orchestra headed down to SCO Concert Hall for their SYF showcase, where they performed a piece on an online broadcast. The piece in question was 七彩之和 II.《黄·山之歌》(The Seven Colours of Harmony Movement II “Yellow · Song of the Mountains”). Inspired by the Korean diaspora in China, the piece reflects distinctive elements of traditional Korean music, notably through its free and unrestrained tunes. 

Continue reading “RJCO SYF 2021: The Seven Colours of Harmony Movement II” →
Commentary, Op-Eds, School Life, Student Issues

To Students’ Council, With Love
Reading Time: 7 minutes

By Faith Ho (22A01A), Mei Feifei (22A13A), and Sophie Goh (22S07B)

Dear RI Students’ Council, 

To be honest, your elections are a little strange.

Every April, Rafflesians’ Instagram feeds are suddenly flooded with red/green/blue/yellow/purple-themed accounts masquerading under tags—some combination of letters and numbers indecipherable to any non-Rafflesian. We start getting bombarded with buzzwords like “servant leadership”, “voice” and “change”, colourful canteen boards (which really deserve more attention), and the unspoken cry of VOTE ME. Online challenges and speeches blow past like a whirlwind, and before we know it, we’re about to witness the investiture of RI’s 41st Students’ Council.

So we come to the question: how effective exactly is Council campaigning? 

Continue reading “To Students’ Council, With Love” →
Arts, Commentary

Raffles Guitar Ensemble: SYF 2021
Reading Time: 2 minutes

By Chung Thong En (22S06N) and Sophie Goh (22S07B)

In other years, it would have been a performance to a buzzing audience comprising classmates, teachers and journalists. On the 28th of April 2021, it was a much emptier, but no less daunting SOTA concert hall that Raffles Institution Guitar Ensemble (RJGE) faced for their biennial Singapore Youth Festival (SYF). 

Continue reading “Raffles Guitar Ensemble: SYF 2021” →