PASSING THE BECHDEL TEST

I was busy thinking about boys… and is that so bad?

Every time we meet, my friends and I can never seem to stop talking about our experiences with boys. Once someone hits us with ‘spill the tea, sis’, it’s the cue for us to start yapping away for the next three hours – and we love it. Be it ghosting a fling or getting played by our Tinder match, we’ll overshare our stories down to the smallest details.

HAVE SOME DECORUM, PLEASE!: THE NEED FOR CONCERT ETIQUETTE

Last year in July, I went to the NCT 127 concert which was quite literally the event of the century for my friend and I. Thanks to the pandemic, it had been 3 years since they last performed in Singapore, and they were greatly missed by local fans. I remember arriving at the concert venue with my friend, brimming with excitement as we were lucky enough to have snagged seats near the stage where we would be able to enjoy the show safely and comfortably without obstruction, unlike in the standing pens. Clutching my lightstick that I bought for a high price, after having paid an even higher amount for the ticket, we counted down to the opening act with bated breath and kept our eyes peeled for the members who appeared as familiar and powerful beats vibrated through the arena, strong enough to feel in our seats. Just as they began dancing to the first song, a fan seated directly in front of me shot up abruptly from her seat. Unable to contain her excitement, she ruined the perfect start to an electrifying concert for me.

SQUID GAME IS NOT A GAME

In 2022, Netflix announced that it will be filming and releasing Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality show based on its namesake. It was recently reported that numerous participants of the show were treated for all sorts of injuries. Participants were allegedly filming in subzero temperatures for extended periods, leading to the medics being called on set multiple times. Much like the drama, players were promised prize money, this one totalling $4.56 million. All this took me back to when Squid Game first came out in 2021. As someone who is not a fan of gore on TV, I was taken aback by the violence portrayed on the show.

BURBERRY IS IN A CRISIS AND DANIEL LEE IS ON HIS WAY

Imagining Burberry without its iconic trench coat or signature beige check seems impossible; yet Daniel Lee’s high-stakes debut at Burberry did exactly that. On the 20th of February at London Fashion Week, the world got to see Lee’s first collection at Burberry as Chief Creative Director after taking over the reins from Ricardo Tisci in September last year. Founded in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, Burberry is most famous for introducing gabardine, a breathable, waterproof and hard wearing fabric that revolutionised rainwear. The brand has undergone different iterations, most recently being the streetwear and monogram-focused Burberry by Tisci. A change in creative directors usually means a brand wishes to change its direction so what went wrong with Tisci’s Burberry and what can we expect from Lee’s Burberry?

HAPPY GALENTINE’S!

It’s the season of love! As February comes to an end, it’s a reflection on how the season of love went.

The highlight of this season is of course, Valentine’s Day. Social Media is flooded with couple pictures, roses, flowers, brownies, cookies, expensive meals, dates and more. Romantic relationships are at the peak and cuffing season is just rounding off. For me, being in a girls’ school for a solid 10 years, it is difficult to think of Valentine’s Day as a day solely for the celebration of romantic relationships.

OWNING MY FEMININITY AS AN ENGINEER

Engineering is an infamously male-dominated profession. When I decided to take it on as my major, I was determined to be unfazed by the numbers. However, when you get to ground zero, and by that, I mean the nitty gritty industrial corners of Tuas in Singapore, being outnumbered in the workplace is intensely overwhelming. I found that I wanted to prove that I deserved to be there, although I made it there just the same as all of my male peers did.

THE BOOKS GEN Z GREW UP ON

Over a casual dinner with some of my friends, conversations about books we’ve read throughout our childhood and teenage years came up. While we enthusiastically recollected about the craze that used to surround some of these series, our older counterparts looked at us as if we were talking in an entirely different language. It was definitely interesting how our generation, Gen Z, all shared this common aspect of our childhood: books.

WORKING ON RESTING

After going through multiple health scares with my family last year, I began 2023 with a new focus: health and wellness. It was a natural step to take when I deeply internalised how easily our dreams are dashed before our fragile bodies. However, I found myself stumped when faced with the question of what my life would be from now. Previously to me, taking care of myself meant sleeping 8 hours a day, or practising my skincare routine. Well, those were things I already did religiously – so what was I missing? Why was I still so tired? How would I progress to reclaim my life and my body? To fill up this blank canvas I was presented with, I had to do some work. So if you’ve reached a standstill in your life just like me, what I’m about to share with you might be useful.

EVERYTHING IS NOT AS IT SEEMS: THE DARK TRUTH ABOUT BUYING SKINCARE ONLINE

One of my favourite skincare products is the Calendula Deep Cleansing Face Wash from Kiehl’s. The only problem is that it costs a whopping $52 for 230ml. As much as I would like a skincare product to work on my skin because I paid so much money for it, an effective but pricey product does not bode well for my wallet.

GROWING PAINS ON CHINESE NEW YEAR

Over the Chinese New Year weekend, I’ve had to face my fair share of slightly intrusive and personal questions from my relatives, such as “what are you doing now?” or “what do you plan to do?”. First and foremost, I love them and I appreciate their concern. However, after listening to them rattle on about my cousins, as young as they are, attending enrichment classes for each subject, alongside training in Taekwondo, Dance, Soccer… I felt inadequate about my past, and insecure about my future. Suddenly, getting into university didn’t sound all that impressive, even though it was something I had taken years to achieve.

CELEBRATING THE FESTIVE SEASON AFTER LOSING A LOST ONE

For the longest time, festive holidays meant joyous family traditions like house visiting and enjoying scrumptious meals with my loved ones. I always look forward to big family gatherings and the feeling of being surrounded with such positive energy; even if things aren’t going well for me, the anticipation of a new chapter truly recharged me.

A GUIDE TO MAKING FRIENDS AS A POSTGRADUATE STUDENT ABROAD

It’s May of 2021, I receive my admission letter to pursue a postgraduate degree at NTU. It’s a dream come true, and the things that then come to mind are flight bookings, hall, course registration, monthly budgeting and so on. I ask people around me for my checklist of sorts, and people tell me how to get my documents in order, and how to get money in order, but I am not once warned about the impending social doom I am about to face. Why do I liken this to calamity and something disastrous? Well, as an introvert, social interactions do not come easy to me, but at the same time, I do enjoy conversation and investing myself in the relationships around me, and soon I would be losing all that, or at least, having to start from scratch. Fast forward to December 2021 and I’m finally in Singapore, with more or less everything ticked off my “moving abroad” checklist. I wanted to hear sounds of celebration, something to ceremoniously mark the start of a new chapter in my life, but all I hear are crickets.

PAIN PAIN GO AWAY: DEALING WITH PERIOD CRAMPS

With the exception of the lucky few, I’m sure that most of us women have experienced the varying levels of pain from cramps that strike us when Aunt Flo is in town; I myself am no exception. Since the obvious choice—painkillers for cramps—doesn’t work on me, I’ve been subjected to this unavoidable, debilitating pain on many, many occasions. If you’re feeling frustrated and helpless at this recurring pain, fear not as I’m here to share with you my survival tips to dealing with period cramps effectively. You’ll be back on your feet in no time!

A SERIES OF LOST THINGS: OUR VOICE

A long time ago, before protests were defined as two or more people standing in demonstration for or against any organisation or government, nearly 900 students from Chinese middle schools clashed with government bodies on mandatory conscription. This was in 1954, the peak of Singapore’s political heat and activism. This was the first major student protest that sparked off other iconic demonstrations like the Hock Lee Bus Riots. However, in 1974 to 1975, a series of university-led protests resulted in a crackdown by the government on such public assemblies, and so began the death of student activism.

MULTI-SENSORY HORROR: A REVIEW OF CHERITA HANTU…KEMBALI (GHOST STORIES…RETURN)

As I found a place to sit in a dimly lit theatre, the creepy doll heads adorned on bannisters locked eyes with me. ImmediatelyI knew that nothing could have prepared me for the hair-raising multi-sensory storytelling session I was about to witness. On the 6th of January 2023, I watched Cherita Hantu…Kembali (Ghost Stories…Return), a collaboration between Hafidz Abdul Rahman and The Arts House for Textures, an annual Singapore literature festival. Cherita Hantu…Kembali (Cherita), is the second instalment of real horror stories curated by Hafidz written for the stage.

A SERIES OF LOST THINGS: OUR INTELLECT

Recently, on our local Tiktok FYP, there has been an interview circulating of professor who has taught in both international and local universities. In the interview she shared about her teaching experiences. She made the following statement which caught the attention of many people.

“When I gave students a problem, unlike in other cultures where they would ask me about the problem itself, the challenge, the purpose of it and all that, in Singapore, the first question is how many words teacher.”

MILEY CYRUS IS HERE AND SHE IS COMING FOR BLOOD: A REVIEW OF ”FLOWERS”

Smilers (fans of Miley Cyrus) rejoice because Mother has arrived! After almost 3 years since her last album, Plastic Hearts, Miley Cyrus has announced that her long awaited 8th studio album Endless Summer Vacation is slated to release on March 10. Kicking off her new era is the release of the album’s lead single “Flowers”, a post breakup self-empowerment anthem that you will be playing on repeat. But “Flowers” is not all roses. The lyrics of the song and easter eggs in the music video all take a dig at her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. While this is not her first time shading him, to add insult to injury, the single was released on January 13, the same day as Liam Hemsworth’s birthday. Miley Cyrus is coming for revenge in “Flowers” and I am right behind her. Keep on reading for the juicy clapbacks at Liam as I dissect the song!

WHAT DOES HOME MEAN TO YOU?

I find myself often saying “I want to go home”. Over the years, its meaning has become more complex. More complex than just simply being at home.

Why do I want to go home when I am already at home? Being at home has become more like a state of mind, beyond a physical concept. It’s a very vivid and misconstrued concept to me. It’s been very messy from the start, mainly since I was a child who moved around a lot. I moved to Singapore almost 10 years ago from India, so the distinction should have been apparent in where I consider home. Yet, home is everywhere and nowhere.

LIVING 2003 IN 2023: IS IT THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS?

As someone who grew up in the 2000’s, I’ve been thrilled by its nostalgic return in fashion, music, and more. The Y2K aesthetic emerged in the late 1990s to the early 2010s, and it’s illuminating to see how the trends have endured. Ask anyone about the 2000s a few years ago, and they might call the era tacky at best… or outrageous at worst. No one expected Jennifer Garner’s turquoise dress in 13 Going on 30 to make a comeback. Yet, with remixes of old school hits like Fergie’s “Glamorous” to ‘thrift flipping’ on Tiktok, we are also being reintroduced to the 2000s in the 2020s. It’s tempting to dismiss its revitalisation to the 20 year trend cycle, a phenomenon used to predict the movement of trends. However, I believe that Y2K offers us an intimate look at our progress as a society since the 2000s. For better or worse, its resurrection suggests that we have more in common than we think.

IS PRODUCTIVITY A SCAM?

The word productive is defined as ‘resulting in or providing a large amount or supply of something’ and the word productivity indicates the state of being productive. While one could just write off these definitions, I thought about how we would typically use these words: we can use them to describe the yield of the land, how good the output of a machine is, or how much work we humans do. And it seems odd that the word is applicable in all situations. Particularly, it seems unfair that we would use the same word to describe the sort of yield a human and machine produce. The use of the word in both instances perpetuates the idea that a human should provide something just as much or just as accurate as a machine.

IS BEING LOW MAINTENANCE AN EXCUSE FOR LOW EFFORT?

You lose friends as you get older, that’s just part and parcel of life. As we venture into uncharted waters and navigate through adult life, our priorities shift drastically. It’s only normal that we can’t spend as much time with our friends as before when we are busy achieving our goals and putting ourselves first.

A SERIES OF LOST THINGS: OUR FLORA AND FAUNA

Singapore has lost about 35% of its plant species in the last 200 years. With economic development and pragmatism at the forefront of our national goals, nature has become the greatest sacrifice to build our metropolitan city.

Out of 2035 plant species in Singapore, only 233 can be found globally, with the rest existing primarily in our region. Unfortunately, due to vast deforestation activities making way for high rises, Singapore has lost about 99.5%of its original vegetation. For a city-state that brands itself onto being green and showcasing trees lined up along each gravel road, Singapore only has approximately 0.3% of its primary forest left. How ironic is this?

A SERIES OF LOST THINGS: OUR BRICKS AND MEMORIES

Looking at Singapore’s history through a timelapse, you would realise how quick and vast the landscape has changed. From a forested island, to small villages and kampongs, to ports and shophouses, and finally to a HDB-filled metropolitan city, Singapore’s architecture has gone through widespread and constant redevelopment. It makes you wonder about the history and memories lost as the rubble falls and new bricks are built upon ashes.

LET’S HOP TO IT: HARE-RAISING FASHION COLLECTIONS FOR THE YEAR OF THE RABBIT 2023

2023 is the year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac calendar, a repeating cycle of 12 animals with each year representing a different animal. The rabbit is believed to symbolise purity, agility and optimism in Chinese culture but it is also a cruel reminder that I turn 24 this year. As with each Lunar New Year, brands ring it inr with products inspired by the corresponding zodiac animal. Being born in the year of the rabbit, the symbol of the rabbit holds a special place in my heart and I am on the hunt for a fashionable keepsake to remember the year by.

THE CONSCIENCE OF SILICON VALLEY

Ever heard this saying: “If you’re not paying for the product, then you are the product”?

In the age of the fourth industrial revolution, not hopping on the social media bandwagon seems impossible or you’re bracing yourself to be labeled a hermit. As the majority, have you ever wondered about its effects on you? For starters, look around. People are glued to their devices, like a moth to a flame. Is this behavior a conscious choice, or one that’s been rewired as our autopilot to cope with boredom, loneliness, stress etc? Furthermore, are users aware that their behaviors are being programmed and profited off by these platforms?

CAN A.I. GENERATE THE PERFECT ARTICLE?

If you have watched the films The Matrix (1999), A Space Odyssey (1968) and I, Robot (2004), you would see that for a period in time, in the mid 1900s to early 2000s, philosophers, scientists and the public have all seriously confronted the possibility of artificial intelligence (A.I.) becoming sentient and taking over the world. As chilling as that sounds, A.I. has indeed already begun their take-over one job at a time. With 1.7 million jobs being lost to technology since 2000 in the manufacturing industry alone, is A.I. after your job next? Inspired by Priya Krishna’s ‘Can A.I. Generate the Perfect Thanksgiving?’ I am going to explore if A.I. can replace writers and maybe become the newest member at Her Campus Nanyang Tech.

MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY THROUGH THE YEARS: WHY I’VE GROWN TO LOVE AND HATE CHRISTMAS

As a child, a nuclear family Christmas in Dubai with two working parents meant a lot of cozy holiday privileges like holiday getaways, shopping sprees, parties, eating at fancy restaurants, visiting mega-malls, sitting on Santa’s lap and more. These activities just seemed to imbibe the holiday spirit and ambience and immersed me in the joy of the holiday. In the eyes of little me, Christmas simply brought the city to life.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?: MY 20 SECONDS OF EMBARRASSING BRAVERY

‘Can I ask you a question?’ has been my version of a shield I have taken out, in protection against a constant enemy: my fear of asking questions. I found that it was easier to approach my actual question with this preface, which is quite ironic since it is also a question in itself. While it can be a polite thing to do, I realised that the question only placed my audience in an uncomfortable position, because they can’t really say no, can they? At this point, the question is really a rhetorical one, a coping mechanism for my genuine fear of questions.

SETTING BOUNDARIES WITH MYSELF

Usually, as we near the end of the year, I would write the same new year resolutions: study everyday, eat healthier, make new friends… you get the gist. Like most people, I find myself obsessed with more and of course, I fail every time. However, this isn’t a productivity article about putting your plans into action. I’ve been baited by hustle culture before, and I’ve learned the hard way that just working harder doesn’t magically solve everything.

EXPLORING LONDON: THRIFTING PART 2 –SHOPPING AROUND COVENT GARDEN AND SOHO

In this next installation in my ‘Exploring London’ series. Allow me to let you in on some of my favourite spots in the regions I’ve had the most chances to explore—the Covent Garden and Soho area. Unlike the previous guide, this one will help you to plan out a packed but eventful day (or even days) within the area itself. If you’re like me, you might just find happy places you just can’t stop yourself from returning to!

WHERE TO THRIFT IN SINGAPORE

Thrifting has recently been in trend with the growing awareness that sustainable fashion is the way to go. Fast fashions have fallen out of favor with Gen Zs given their destructive impacts on the environment. Yet, we are also in the phase of solidifying our identities, and sometimes that is done by exploring our styles! So, if you’re in the hunt for new clothes, styles and fashions, but don’t want to contribute to the environmental damage, here is a list of second-hand shops you can check out!

STUCK IN A LIMINAL SPACE: BETWEEN GRADUATION AND ENTERING THE WORK LIFE

I vividly remember when I was in primary school thinking that six years was an extremely long time. It felt like I was never going to graduate from primary education and now here I am graduating from university within a blink of an eye. It would be a lie to say that studying came naturally to me (math and science were literally the bane of my existence!). While there were subjects that I enjoyed or were slightly better at, it did not mean that I had an easy time with them. Even though my major, literature and art history, plays to my strengths, it still has brought me many tears even if I am more inclined towards the humanities. As such, it is safe to say that graduating from university has relieved me of some of my stress. With that being said, this period of transition has brought along its own set of worries.

ESTABLISHING WORK BOUNDARIES IN UNIVERSITY

We’ve seen a lot of Tik Toks during the Work From Home (WFH) era, where office workers were having a difficult time separating their lives from work, now that the lines are blurry. Their bosses seemed to have no sense of this separation, or respect for the need for workers to step away from work once in a while. Instead, work now became 24/7 and it was draining for those who WFH.

DEALING WITH THE FOMOS OF EXCHANGE

Ever since the semester started, I have been consumed by wanderlust – and a serious case of FOMO – as my Instagram became flooded with photos from all over the world. Paris, New York, Seoul, Tokyo… you name it. As I lived vicariously through my friends’ adventures on exchange, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on major life experiences.

Travelling through regions, meeting new people, having crazy wild adventures… these out-of-the-world experiences made my mundane daily life back in Singapore really pale in comparison. While I do try to feel better by telling myself that there will always be a chance to travel in the future, I can’t help but think that I’m only going to be 21 once, and seeing the world for myself when I’m older won’t exactly hit the same.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BLOSSOMING BOOKWORM

Exam seasons and vacations are the periods of my life where I engross myself in reading more than usual—as a form of escape, leisure, and if I’m lucky, out of pure joy at finding a book that grips my interest like nothing else. As I’ve told friends before (regarding their hesitance to give anime a watch), “there’s something out there for everybody.” So if you find yourself hoping to pick up a book but don’t know where to start, or if you’ve picked up countless books but ran short of luck with uninteresting plots, here’s a little list of fictional books that I hold close to my heart, for reasons I hope you will soon come to share!

EXPLORING LONDON: THRIFTING PART 1, NOTTING HILL AND CHELSEA

As part of my adventures around London during my semester abroad, I’d like to touch on one of my favourite pastimes (even in Singapore)—Thrifting! It’s always thrilling to find that hidden gem tucked away in the multitudes of colourful fabrics or trinkets, even more so when its price tag is kind on your pocket. While I still have so much more to explore in London (ahem Camden and Shoreditch, I’m looking at you), I thought that it would be fun to recommend some shops in some of the areas I’ve visited before.

I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE RESURGENCE OF REALITY DATING SHOWS

If watching trashy TV is your guilty pleasure, you’re not alone.

I myself have been riding the recent wave of reality dating shows on Netflix. Part of a subgenre of reality television, these shows aim to show unscripted real-life situations but often do not accurately reflect reality for the sake of entertainment and viewership. From South Korea’s Singles Inferno to America’s Dated & Related that features pairs of siblings who awkwardly help each other to find love, dating becomes survival of the “hottest”. Handpicked by the production crew, the contestants are usually conventionally attractive and successful. These strangers battle each other out in games to earn dates, and no reality dating show would be complete if they didn’t do it in swimsuits. With their purposely handpicked selection of personalities, they come into conflict with each other in difficult situations, and the drama unfurls.

IMPROVISATION 101 AND WHAT I LEARNED

Have you watched that episode of The Office where Michael joins improv?

Michael is just being himself in this episode, so every time he comes up to perform he acts like a gunman. That should have probably made me not want to join improv but it somehow prompted me to go for a taster session earlier this year.

While Michael might be trying to be funny, he is undeniably a horrible improv artist. His personality is a core of narcissistic needs that make him seek attention. It is the exact opposite of what you are required to do in improv.

MAKING CAFÉ LEVEL COFFEE AT HOME: V60 AND FRENCH PRESS RECIPE

Who knew a sassy retail assistant would change my life forever? Last Christmas I was drawn in by the opulent storefront of Bacha Coffee and asked for their “standard” coffee. I was met with a death glare. “We have coffees from over 50 countries all over the world that all taste unique, there isn’t a “standard” flavour”, remarked the store assistant as she gestured over the gold boxes that filled the walls behind her. At the time, the only coffee flavours I knew were the seasonal drinks at Starbucks. Being a sucker for the packaging, I got a small bag of pre-ground beans and made some at home with makeshift coffee brewing equipment.

AM I ALLOWED TO BE FASCINATED BY THE CROWN?

A memory I recall so vividly is that of my mother telling me that Princess Diana is the most beautiful woman in the world. I always believed my mother put this forth as an attempt to console me about the qualms I had when a haircut didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to (if you look up ‘Diana bob’ online, you will know what haircut I am talking about). As far as the internet is concerned, Princess Diana owns the bob haircut and any attempt at a bob is an ode to her. I recently learned that I am not the only one who heard the very same statement my mother made all those years ago. I blame this statement on my consequential lifelong fascination with the Royals, but little did I know that it was not just me in this conflict-fueled fascination.

HOW BRIDGERTON INSPIRED FASHION TRENDS

Last week, when I went shopping with my mum at Bugis Street, we came across some beautiful flower patterned maxi skirts that were an absolute dream. In the midst of making small talk, the shop owner mentioned how the trend recently has been such floral prints. There was a nagging feeling of familiarity when she said “floral prints”, and as I scrolled mindlessly through Netflix that evening, and a flash of blue and purple pastels cut across the screen, it struck me with epiphanic lightning: Brigerton!

AGEING IS A PRIVILEGE BUT WHY ARE WE MADE TO FEEL ASHAMED OF OUR WRINKLES?

If you are a skincare fanatic like me or are frequently on social media, I am sure you have seen or heard taglines of “Look up to 10 years younger in just 4 weeks”, “Reduces the look of wrinkles and fine lines” and more. Though they are paraphrased versions of one another, they have the same underlying meaning – aging and wrinkles are unsightly and we should get rid of them as much as possible. Such a message has been instilled in our society that more women and even female teenagers (and to an extent the opposite sex) find themselves gravitating towards products that guarantee the prevention of pre-mature aging. In essence we are becoming increasingly obsessed with thwarting aging which is a part and parcel of life.

SURVIVING FINALS: SOME GENTLE REMINDERS BY BELOVED CHARACTERS

For those who can relate, October was… hell.

Bogged down by assignments, projects, and exams, I could only enviously gush over others at Halloween Horror Nights or costume parties on social media. Feeling left out from Spooky Season and stressed over finals, I decided to get reacquainted with some of my comfort characters on Netflix. If you are a tired and struggling student like me, here are some gentle reminders from widely beloved characters who have provided solace for many people while also doubling as motivational figures, reminding us to step into our best selves this exam season. Spoilers ahead!

UNLEARNING YOUSELF

How do you imagine yourself five years from now? It sounds like an interview question, but unknowingly, our subconscious perception of our future self impacts many of our recent decisions. Whether that’s in our relationships, how much work we get done today or simply what we eat for dinner.

I WAS BUSY THINKING ABOUT BOYS

I’m sure we’ve all encountered boys or men with red flags, and they all seem to be just of that one type or kind. Here’s a list of the tropes my friends and I have encountered in our mild, at best, dating escapades, as a vent about the terrible men we’ve met. To the men reading this: don’t be too offended! It’s all in good fun, and in any case, if you are, perhaps you belong to one of these groups…(I jest).

WORDS OF ADVICE: TRAVELLING IN EUROPE

It’s been a hectic month or so and so much has happened – I’ve been on a pre-trip around Germany and Belgium, and now, during the recess week of my exchange in London, I’m in Denmark and am on my way to Italy. Knowing that in NTU, life is hectic from mounting assignment submissions and nearing exam deadlines, I’m hoping that by sharing my tips derived from my various experiences (and more to come!) abroad, you’ll be able to live vicariously through them. Maybe, they’ll even help you with your trip planning and give you that final push of motivation towards travelling overseas!

GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A FRIENDSHIP

A quick browse through Netflix got me watching a recently released fairy tale-esque fantasy/drama ‘The School for Good and Evil,’ and, spoiler alert: it’s about friendship and the love between friends. The movie heavily appealed to the fantasy-obsessed teen in me, but also got me thinking about how everything from the internet to the media to the public’s general opinion today leans heavily towards the romanticization of friendships – with commonly-used expressions like ‘ride or die,’ or ‘bros before hoes,’ implying that romantic relationships are fleeting but friendships last a lifetime. It’s a refreshing change from the era of glamorizing romantic relationships, but the idea that (best) friends stick with you for life may very well leave you feeling hurt and confused if you are ever in the face of a friendship breakup, simply because it isn’t explored enough.

CONFESSIONS OF AN EVERGREEN: ON SELF-IMAGE AND PEOPLE PLEASING

Being single for all my life is hurtful to my pride.

Okay, admitting that out loud is more difficult than I thought. I do try to put on a strong front that I’m alright – no, even happy – with my situation, but sometimes it can get quite hard when you see literally everyone beaming delightfully in relationships. (Ergh, I just want to sleep on the highway tonight.) And while I dream of the type of love that only exists in books and movies, I start to wonder if Taylor Swift was right. It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me… is it really?

STOP! IN THE NAME OF BAD GIFTS: THOUGHTFUL GIFT IDEAS FOR YOUR LOVED ONES

As Mariah Carey begins to defrost, that could only mean one thing- Christmas is right around the corner. You can’t spell Christmas without holiday classics blasting through retail stores, the taste of a decadent peppermint mocha and the constant worry about what to get your loved ones. Whether it be a birthday, anniversary or Christmas present, if you have had to preface your gifts by saying ‘I’m not great with gifts’, it’s time for a change this year.

COMFORT MOVIES FOR SAD AND RAINY DAYS

Sometimes when the weather is dreary and misty, with drizzling rain throughout the whole day, it is simply irresistible to bundle up in your blanket and put a good show to cry over. It is just what the vibes call for. So here are some comfort movies you could watch on Sad and Rainy days, when you need an emotional outlet to cry out all that sadness, anxiety and stress (we know we need it).

CLIMATE CHANGE & SOCIAL UNREST: WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE?

According to the United Nations climate change refers to “long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns [which] these shifts may be natural”, however “since the 1800s human activities have been the main driver of climate change”. This comes as no surprise as with rapid population growth since the 1800s, this has led to an increase in consumption and in turn resulting in increasing emission of greenhouse gases. While politicians such as Donald Trump vehemently deny climate related issues, recent examples like the floods in Pakistan and South Korea and the unexpected rise in temperature in Africa’s already scorching climate, make the impact of climate change on our society quite apparent.

MBTI: THE NEW ASTROLOGY?

I was in high school when I first came across the MBTI quiz. As someone who does enjoy doing Buzzfeed quizzes that reveal who my BTS bias is based on the dessert I choose or my architectural preferences, I jumped right into the 15-minute personality test, with little to no knowledge about MBTI.

THE SEXUALISATION OF UNDERAGE IDOLS IN KPOP

“Looking at my cookie, the scent alone will make you see. You can’t stop at one bite with me.” “Take it, don’t break it, I wanna see you taste it.”

If the above lyrics sound suggestive to you, you’re not the only one. ‘Cookie’ by sensational Kpop girl group NewJeans has stirred up quite a controversy amongst international and Korean netizens alike.

BLOOD REVIEW

The Female-driven brand, blood, is the new, raving, local startup that provides game-changing feminine-care products that are not only one of its kind in the industry, but also created by a team of female scientists. blood is a company that provides products created by women, for women, to ensure that their products are nothing but high quality essentials that we seek for during our monthly periods. They started out with producing MenstruHeat, which are self-warming stick-on pads for bad period cramps. Now they have progressed to produce a line of innovative menstrual pads, made from corn!

NAVIGATING THE MENTAL HEALTH CONVERSATION

If you are ever in need of help or support, or even a break from school or work because of poor mental health, this article explores some tips on how to navigate the sensitive conversation with your near and dear ones, one struggling student to another.

For a usual university student, your time can probably be summed up in 20 seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, but instead of the family drama, make it about staying on top of classes and extracurriculars, while taking care of your own mind and body.

GUIDE TO NTU EXCHANGE

Imagining yourself going on exchange is the ultimate form of romanticization for a college student. You daydream about immersing yourself in a foreign culture, making international friends and just having the time of your life, since you’re only required to pass courses. But, the actual process of applying for exchange can seem daunting and overwhelming. Before I dug deep into NTU exchange programmes, I found myself confused when seniors used words like Explorer and Discoverer and Venturer, and I was expected to know the difference. As I gear up to go for exchange next semester, here’s my guide on how to go on exchange in NTU.

LOVE IS A HABIT.

Is love a habit?

When I think of love, I think of the lukewarm, long-term, type of love. The kind of love that is a product of a set of habits. You fall in love with the routine, with the tasks you do together, with the way they do things.

Love languages play a big part. You can slowly learn and get used to someone’s love language, for example, physical touch or words of affirmation, and this routine expression of love can make you fall in love.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

After all the self-isolation and social distancing done in the past two years, intimacy is something we crave now more than ever. Most of us in NTU would have just started to navigate adulthood in these chaotic and confusing times. If you are unable to receive adequate support from your social circles, this newfound independence can feel incredibly lonely and isolating. With the threat of another Covid wave, it feels like real-life interaction is something that can only happen sporadically.

START COOKING! SIMPLE RECIPES FOR STUDENTS

Since I was a kid, I was always strangely intrigued by cooking, because if you really think about it, cooking is just like edible alchemy—ingredients transform before your eyes into something wonderful. However, I understand that many people my age don’t share the sentiment. I get it, but due to our circumstances as students, perhaps you’ve reluctantly started learning how to cook because you want to save money on food. For some of us, maybe we do find cooking a wonderful thing, but we don’t know where to start. In that case, this mini guide has got you covered with simple yet delicious recipes for you to practice and build up your confidence with.

BECOMING Y/N: MY WATTPAD (UN)REALITY

Who is Y/N? Or instead what is Y/N? Well, Y/N is you, Y/N is me, Y/N is anyone reading this really. It has been a hot minute since I’ve dived into good old fanfiction, but it amazes me that all these years later, I still interpret ‘Y/N’ as ‘Sanjana’, which is my name. Y/N is an abbreviation that was first coined nearly ten years ago and was used primarily by users of Wattpad, Tumblr and Twitter. It essentially stands for ‘Your Name’ and it allows readers of fanfictions to insert themselves into fairytales where their favourite One Direction member and themselves are the protagonists. Or at least, that was what it was for me during my teens.

BEST STUDY SPOTS IN NTU

As midterm season approaches and tests are lined up ahead, it is time for us to buckle down and start studying. If you’re looking for some study spots for an uninterrupted and productive study session, here is a list of places in NTU that you can check out over the next few weeks!

HOW I LEFT THE SINGLE’S CLUB: ATTACHMENT STYLES AND YOU

They are doing it again. My friends and I have a meal together, and all they talk about is their partners and their relationships. Usually, I would consider myself a strong, independent person who doesn’t need someone else to feel complete. I even wrote a song called “Strong Independent Woman”. But you know what? Sometimes strong independent people wish they would meet “the one” (especially when their friends only fawn over their relationships).

WELCOME TO THE CULT OF CHEATING MEN: “HELLO THERE, I AM THE WIFE GUY”

If you have not been living under a rock, you would have mostly likely heard of the news of the cheating scandals of high profile men, like celebrity Adam Levine and internet star Ned Fulmer (ex Try Guys). Their unfaithfulness and lack of self-control to keep it in their pants has been taking the internet by storm.

DATE IDEAS IN AND AROUND NTU

It’s a well known fact that we study not at NTU but at Pulau NTU. It’s far from civilization and requires either an hour on the MRT or an expensive cab ride to get there. This means that there are very few options for a good date spot. Fret not, here are some low-budget date ideas for a romantic or friend date in and around NTU:

EXCHANGE STUDENT IN LONDON: WHERE’S GOOD TO SHOP FOR GROCERIES?

It’s always rough on the first day of arrival, especially if you’re a student studying abroad, moving in with close to nothing on hand (pack light for the pre-trip, am I right?). It’s a race against the clock to get your hands on some essentials before the sun sets, but it’s also a challenge and a gamble to decide where to head to. Fear not! Let me tell you where to look to get the items you need!

WHY I DON’T ATTEND FUNERALS ANYMORE

After having attended more funerals than I can count (from an ageing, large extended family), I got disillusioned about traditional funeral rites and practices.

However, for the older generation, they would prefer a wake to be held for them. This is especially so for the elders who I grew up with, who are mostly Taoist. This preference is derived from the beliefs of Taoism, where if the deceased were not properly honoured through holding wakes and having an ancestral tablet, it is believed that they would turn into vengeful spirits that would curse the family.

THE PRICE OF BEING A WOMAN: HOMEMAKERS

Many young women nowadays are increasingly becoming averse to being mothers. Feeling like they have to choose between their career and becoming a homemaker is a huge contributor to this trend. Many of us in the late Millennial and early Gen Z generations grew up with mothers who stayed at home 24/7, and their lives were entirely centered around raising their children. While working mothers were under constant fire for being neglectful, homemakers were praised for being devoted and loving towards their children, caring for their every need. This ended up pitting these two groups of mothers against each other.

THE PRICE OF BEING A WOMAN: WORKING MOTHERS

In the third and fourth waves of feminism, women working in corporate jobs epitomised feminist values of strength, financial independence and ambition. Essentially reaching heights that were previously unthinkable. However, as we celebrate women making waves through the corporate world and fulfilling our ambitions, we pay a hefty price, and this is especially so for working mothers.

SONGS THAT SCREAM FEMINISM

Sometimes pop songs can scream “mediocracy”, especially when the song talks about romance, love, or something related to relationships. It can be tiring to hear the same messages being conveyed repeatedly, even if the beat is bop-worthy. Here are some songs you can check out if you are into lyricism, and get ready for some lyric analysis!

THE DARK SIDE OF MUKBANG (먹방): THE GLORIFICATION OF DISORDERED EATING

With the rise of Korean pop music and drama in the last decade, it comes as no surprise that anything related to Korean culture has been popularized within the past few years. This is no exception when it comes to mukbang (먹방). The original meaning of the term, according to Wikipedia, is an eating show where the host(s) live stream themselves eating large quantities of food and interacting with the audience. In South Korea, many of these hosts use live streams platforms such as AfreecaTV to broadcast their shows. However as mukbangs have gained international fame, many record themselves eating, edit their videos, and thenuploading them onto YouTube to reach out to the wider global audience.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR VAGINA

A while ago, in my course’s cohort group chat (which is coincidentally all female), a lengthy conversation was sparked by the unexpected discussion that took place on this poster we spotted in one of The Hive’s cubicles. These posters have been popping up across the female toilets in NTU, and they raise awareness about vaginal health in an accessible and comfortable way.

A EULOGY TO MY PAST SELF

The death of the self is one that is not often talked about. The skeletons in your closet that you like to avoid and rather not talk about. The forgotten tears on your pillow and the moments you wished you stood up for yourself, or spoke up for your needs. There is always this part of us that we have kept hidden from the world. Our best selves, which we put at the backseat when we encounter others, especially when one is still in survival mode.

WHITE FEMINISM: PROSTITUTION IS NOT EMPOWERING

In white radical feminism, one point of contention is prostitution. Many white feminists use the “my body, my choice” rhetoric, the same rhetoric used for debates on abortion, to justify that prostitution is a trade that feminism should support. Their argument is that sex work is liberating and empowering because it allows them to reclaim their bodies as their own: for their own use, for whatever purposes they would like to use it for, instead of it being objectified. They claim that sex work is a choice and a legitamate way to make money, and that for the safety of sex workers, sex work should be decriminalised and legalised completely.

MY BEST IKEA FINDS

Until recently, I thought of IKEA as a mere home goods store that sold practical, affordable and ready-to-assemble furniture. This was up until I found some extremely useful and handy items for hall residents or otherwise. Here are some of my best finds to make life a little easier for you.

FEMALE SEXUALITY AND THE STIGMA AROUND IT

If you have yet to see or hear the famous Tik Tok video, here is the transcript of it:

"You better wear your clothes properly. I’m warning you! This is not proper dressing, is that clear?"

Shaming women, as seen in the aforementioned video, is commonplace, and perpetrators can be both men and women. There seems to be a constant need to remind women to follow conservative clothing rules, and that showing too much skin is “inappropriate”. In America, where students do not have a uniform and are supposedly given free rein over their clothing choices, girls wearing crop tops or short skirts are often dress-coded because it ‘distracts’ the boys. On the other hand, it is deemed socially acceptable if a topless man walks around the neighborhood, at the beach or along the corridors of your hall. In fact, pointing it out as seen in the Tik Tok would be considered abnormal.

A GUIDE TO FEMALE CONTRACEPTION

When you just begin to be sexually active, it can be a scary experience. This is especially when you have no clue about the kinds of contraceptives there are, and you are overwhelmed due to the lack of knowledge and constant anxiety about an unwanted pregnancy. The most common contraceptive that was introduced to us in MOE-verified sex educaiton was condoms, but there are many options out there that you can explore, depending on what you’re comfortable with. Contraception and responsibility for safe sex is a two-way street. Both men and women should take steps in understanding how to practice safe sex and enjoy sex without worries!

BEST FINDS IN DON DON DONKI $10 AND UNDER

As someone who loves Japanese food and drinks, it is without a doubt that you will be able to find me in the aisles of Don Don Donki looking at the different and latest products adorning the shelves. Even if I do not have anything specific to buy in mind, as if on auto pilot, my legs will start moving and I find myself wandering in Don Don Donki. Moreoften than not, such mindless trips to the store end up with me buying several items even if it was not my intention. As an avid shopper or window-shopper at Don Don Donki, here are my favorite finds that are $10 and under! (Disclaimer: Given that I live in the West of Singapore, all the items recommended here are from JEM.)

MUST WATCH: MOVIES AND TV SERIES WITH FEMINIST MESSAGES

Movies and TV series with feminist messages or interesting female character arcs, (other than the usual ‘just a supporting character’, (cue Hermoine) have always captivated me. Here are some of my favourite movies and TV series with feminist messages that maybe you too will enjoy!

PASSION OR PRACTICALITY

This piece is dedicated to all those who are brave enough to pursue their dreams to study or work in a non-STEM sector.

In today’s ever-practical society, how does one make the choice between choosing something that seems to be a natural choice in the eyes of society, and what they are inherently drawn to but which faces a lot of disdain?

AT A CROSSROADS – MAKING THE UNPOPULAR DECISION

Hey, you. Do you sometimes wonder about another path, one less taken perhaps?

Picture this. You, fresh out of college, with little to no quality work experience and zero clue what you want to do. Your peers have started to apply for jobs as it’s the next logical step.

With our very first breath, we’re shown a conventional route to follow, largely motivated by wealth, relationships, sex, success, power etc. Humans are simple creatures - craving love, acceptance, recognition, peace at the end of it. I just wonder, if our decisions on the paths to take are subconsciously controlled by these conventions, without it being what we truly desire?

DIVING INTO THE WORLD OF DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS: HELPFUL TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

Through the extremely popular Netflix series Stranger Things, the decades old tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons, commonly abbreviated as D&D was brought back to the attention of mainstream media. This resurgence of D&D with new players resulted in a new D&D movie titled Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is set to release in 2023. Despite all this talk and excitement about D&D, speaking from experience, it can be quite daunting to get started in the game as a new player. Allow me, a fellow D&D novice equipped with the experience of a single oneshot and knowledge from my more experienced friends to give you some tips on how to get started in the rich world of D&D. As a disclaimer, this article will not cover the technical aspects of D&D—for such information please refer to the official D&D guidebooks (Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, Monster Manual) instead.

HOW ABORTION IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE

When we think of abortion, usually we think of women’s rights and feminism. Very few of us think that the issue goes beyond that realm. However, in the fourth wave of feminism, the wave we are currently in, intersectionality has become the focal point of the movement. Intersectionality acknowledges that different factors, like socio-economic status and race, contribute to the discrimination of a group of people. So when Roe v Wade was overturned by the US Supreme Court, one of the arguments I found most interesting was how climate change and abortion rigths intersect.

WHY YOU SHOULD MAKE A ZINE

Despite only recently finding out about the existence of zines, I have been absolutely hooked onto the novelty of their delivery and content and was raring to try my hand at making one of my own. To preface, a zine is a self-published work, usually in the form of a small, printed booklet, which contains works of art and/or writing which may or may not be original content. They are usually made for small circulation, and communicate the producer’s unique ideas, making them an absolute blast to read. After successfully (albeit clumsily) assembling my very first zine over the summer, I was completely won over by it. So now, here are three reasons behind why you should make a zine.

TRANSITIONING YOUR RELATIONSHIP FROM LONG DISTANCE TO SHORT DISTANCE

When I first forayed into the magical world of relationship goals/advice/tips/etc… content online, I noticed that I saw one too many “making long distance work” and “going from an SDR to an LDR” articles and posts. But few were about going from an LDR to living in the same place. With pandemic regulations relaxing and borders opening globally, it’s not uncommon to hear that someone’s going from online to in-person dating.

THE END OF AN ERA: THE DEATH SENTENCE OF THE FOURTH-WAVE OF FEMINISM

Fourth-wave feminism, the wave of feminism we are currently in, began around 2012, when issues of sexual harassment arose with the rise of the #MeToo movement that trended on social media platforms like Twitter. It focuses on sexual harassment, body shaming, rape culture, gendered norms, gender equality, intersectionality, the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ peoples, amongst other things. Essentially, its core is based on the empowerment of women, and women supporting other women. It began in an attempt to reverse internalized misogyny, and imaginary competition between women which were enforced by the patriarchy for centuries. However, it seems that the era of the fourth-wave of feminism is slowly coming to a close, and I think that the trigger point was the infamous Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial.

WHERE TO FIND BRAS FOR SMALL CHESTED WOMEN

As someone who belongs to the AA to A cup range, feeling un-feminine, un-sexy is a reality. While I know that my self worth is not tied to my body, I still constantly struggle with body image issues. Even looking at online bra shops and the models on online bra sites can be discouraging, knowing that it would never look like that on me, or it would never fit me.

THE RISE OF “BOY LOVE” DRAMA IN ASIA: FETISHIZATION OR LIBRERALISM?

Thai actors Win Metawin and Bright Vachirawit of the hit 2020 drama series - 2gether - recently came to Singapore to attend the Burberry TB Summer Monogram Takeover event. The pair affectionately known as BrightWin received a huge and warm welcome from their fans as they made their way out of Changi Airport arrival terminal - from banners displaying their names to fans rushing towards the pair while recording the couple on their phones. The massive popularity of the pairing is undeniable. However such popularity extends to more than just the story plot or onscreen chemistry that the actors exuded in 2gether. In fact their popularity can be largely credited to the genre of the television series they starred in - “Boy Love” otherwise known as BL.

WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE: WHY WE SEEK COMFORT IN ANTI-HERO CHARACTERS

If you are an avid anime fan like I am, there is no doubt you have watched or at least heard of Moriarty the Patriot. Based on the villain of the Sherlock Holmes series, Moriarty the Patriot was originally a manga written by Ryōsuke Takeuchi and illustrated by Hikaru Miyoshi. It was subsequently adapted into an anime and released in October 2020. As you would have already guessed, this anime follows the life of Professor James Moriarty from his background as an orphan adopted into a wealthy family to his hatred for British nobility. All of this would eventually lead him down a rather dark and disturbing path where he is the villain. Despite being the anti-hero, many fans have proclaimed feeling emotionally invested in Moriarty’s character with some proclaiming that he is their comfort character.

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO PERFECTING YOUR RESUME

A resume is essentially a summary of your experiences which showcases the jobs you’ve held, the extracurriculars you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table. It’s the most looked at, and arguably most important piece of paper as you apply for internships and jobs.

Here’s some tips and tricks to finesse every detail of your resume before internship application season comes along:

AN INTROVERT’S GUIDE TO EATING AROUND NTU

Thanks to my discovery of the Cheers at South Spine, I began to dine alone more often last semester. That got me thinking about places where one can dine alone more comfortably, away from the crowds and scrutiny of others. With the start of the new school year, this guide might be helpful for some freshies who want to escape the awkwardness of social interaction or the intensity of orientation. Fret not fellow introverts! Here are some spots in NTU—either recommended or tried and tested by myself and my introverted friend group—that I would suggest to anybody looking for somewhere to eat alone!

COMMITMENT-PHOBIC TO TATTOOS? HERE ARE SOME ALTERNATIVES

Tattoos seem very enticing as a style statement and a means of self expression. However, the pain and permanent aspect might bring one back to reality. Here are some tattoo alternatives to get an inked look without the pain or lifelong commitment.

DEAR CLASS OF 2022, THIS IS HOW WE GRADUATE IN A PANDEMIC

Karen Lopez writes that “ the pandemic has left students in a state of limbo and has heightened their financial anxieties, physical and emotional health concerns, graduation disappointment, career uncertainty, and negative academic impact.” I cannot imagine what it must be like to experience a virtual graduation ceremony like Lopez’s, but she reminds us that we need not let such moments define our university experience in its entirety. In my final article on Her Campus, I share about my mixed feelings of graduating in a pandemic.

VICTORIA’S SECRET NEXT MODEL SOFIA JIARU: A STEP TOWARDS INCLUSITIVITY OR JUST A PR PLOY?

Growing up I would occasionally head into Victoria’s Secret outlets in the malls where I met up with friends, and spraying their tester perfumes on my wrists as a last-ditch effort to be presentable before meeting up with said friends. I would also tune in to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show livestreams on YouTube. However, amidst their numerous controversies and fashion shows that only exacerbated my body image issues, Victoria’s Secret soon became a thing of the past for me. While the brand would occasionally pop up on my radar due to its many controversies, it was only when one of the HCNTU editorial members brought up the brand’s latest model – Sofia Jiaru – that the brand once again caught my attention.

BEING SINGLE: IT’S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY

Most of the time, in line with mainstream media’s encouraging portrayals of the strong, carefree, and independent woman, I feel completely okay being single. I buy lunch, start watching a Netflix show, or explore new places in town, without having to answer to anyone; I pay my due diligence at practising self-love, working through trauma and mindfully choosing the words I use with myself. My gym playlist boasts countless sassy, empowering songs chanting, “You’re better off, I’m glad that he’s gone,” “I don’t need no one, I’m independent, on my own,” “Now that you’re gone and out of my way, feeling this bad never felt so great….”

HCNTU’S BEST BUYS FROM SHOPEE UNDER $10

You know what: you’ve had a difficult semester and it’s time to treat yourself, even if it’s a $10 item from Shopee. Here’s a roundup of the best buys from Shopee at a very wallet-friendly price point, courtesy of the HCNTU team.

*Prices do not include shipping.

WANT TO WORK IN EDITORIAL? HERE ARE THE THINGS I’VE LEARNT IN THE PAST 2.5 YEARS

First things first — The Devil Wears Prada is not completely untrue or inaccurate. The publishing realm can be glamorous and there definitely are tons of upsides, but movies tend to sell that image too much, making it almost impossible to tell what it’s really like.

Given, I probably don’t have the most objective opinion because I’ve only been working in fashion, beauty and lifestyle publications for the past two and a half years compared to others who have been in the game for decades, but for the curious: here’s my clear, unbiased view on what it’s like to work in editorial, and valuable lessons I’ve learnt (so far).

THE ART OF “GIVING UP”

“The biggest lesson I’ve learnt from university life is giving up.” When I tell others this, it often conjures up a few uncomfortable giggles; and understandably so — we’ve been raised in a system that condemns giving up, because it implies incapability, laziness or failure. Instead, we are told that we should do as many things as we can, for as long as we can.

LEARNING FROM MY DRESS UP DARLING

A popular anime series released in Winter 2022, My Dress-Up Darling (Sono Bisque wa Koi wo Suru) is an Ecchi, Slice of Life anime which follows the blossoming friendship and romance between protagonist Wakana Gojo (Gojo) and female lead Marin Kitagawa (Marin). With Gojo‘s skill and passion for the craft of Hina dolls, he tries his best to help Marin with her venture into cosplay. Both characters have very different personalities, but they were nonetheless commended by many netizens for their likability. Marin, particularly, garnered lots of attention and was considered a ‘strong contender for best waifu of the season’.

IS GPA OVERRATED?

The infamous GPA (Grade Point Average) that every university student talks about at least once in their university life. Is it really worth it? A high GPA score will definitely look good on paper, on top of that, you feel confident because you’ve got a good score. (Most) professors and tutors probably say that GPA isn’t all that matters, and that employers are looking for graduates who have had experience in the field that they are applying for. Many anecdotes talk about how students with high GPAs may not necessarily do well in the work environment.

CHASING GRADES… IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?

It’s that time of the semester. The time when deadlines kick in, our anxieties go up, we go to sleep thinking about work, wake up thinking about work… Personally, this feels like torture. It feels like a living hell. When I’m sleeping, I feel like I’m in a lucid dream. When I’m awake, I feel like I’m in sleep paralysis. Always stuck in this limbo between waking and sleeping and never fully being either. This got me thinking – why do so many of us put ourselves through this hell?

ACAI BOWL SPOTS IN SINGAPORE TO BEAT THE HEAT

Originating from Brazil, acai bowls, or, açaí na tigela, have been all the rave since its introduction in Singapore. Over the years, acai places in our sunny island have been sprouting, making the healthy dessert more accessible for many. This superfood has become a popular option on a hot day, the light, cool dessert would leave you refreshed and energised.

Here are some hidden acai spots in Singapore for fans of this purple dessert.

YOUR “BOUNDARIES” SHOULDN’T BE AN EXCUSE FOR YOU TO MISTREAT PEOPLE

If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen someone talk about mental health and therapy. Short clips of people sharing their lessons from therapy, iInstagram posts of supposed direct quotes from professionals, and twitter threads of heartfelt personal anecdotes fill the mental health conversation online. This has brought about the radical normalisation of talking about mental health, but with that has come the misuse of therapy terms.

5 ANIMAL SANCTUARIES IN SINGAPORE FOR THE ANIMAL LOVER

Animal sanctuaries aren’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind in Singapore, the urban jungle makes it impossible for animals to roam freely in vast grasslands. With that said however, there have been animal sanctuaries set up on our sunny island over the years. The increased awareness for animal rights and protection have definitely stirred admirable locals to open their own sanctuaries and share their passion for animals with others. Here are some animal sanctuaries to check out during the summer break.

A POCKET-FRIENDLY AND SCRUMPTIOUS NTU FOOD GUIDE

This is your guide to cheap and good food places in NTU that are value for money and won’t put a hole in your wallet!

In this article, we will be targeting specifically food that are $6 and below.

IS SUSTAINABILITY ONLY FOR THE RICH?

A recent poll showed that 64% of adults want to live more sustainably but don’t do so as they believe that such a lifestyle is more expensive. The truth couldn’t be further than that. In my opinion, living an environmentally friendly lifestyle really shouldn’t cost you much or even anything at all.

WHEN MENTAL HEALTH HITS TOO CLOSE TO HOME

Hello! My name’s Cherrell and I’m turning twenty-three this year. I’ve spent too many of my teenage years struggling with problems such as self-sabotage, low self-esteem and self-doubt. Today, I’m writing to honour my mental health journey. (TW: Depression, Anxiety, Eating Problems.)

5 ONLINE WORD GAMES TO TRY IF YOU’RE OBSESSED WITH WORDLE

My nightly routine, nowadays, is to sleep only after completing the next day’s Wordle, released every night around 1am. Then, I annoyingly proceed to share my results with a few of my Wordle-obsessed friends and hear what they have to say about today’s word’s difficulty.

If you haven’t heard of Wordle, it is an addictive puzzle invented by Josh Wardle that involves six attempts at guessing a five-letter word, with clues coming in the form of the colour your letters turn after you’ve entered your guess. If you’re like me and religiously play this viral word game Wordle every day, here are a few free online games to try out.

I TRIED INCREASINGLY WEIRDER SLEEP HACKS FOR A WEEK — HERE’S HOW IT WENT

We all know the implications of chronically bad sleep: worse moods, lower productivity, poorer health and so on. But as a student, I also find it extremely hard to prioritise sleep — my dream of an 8-hour sleep is often shattered by an 11p.m. project meeting, some urgent deadline, or a friend’s party that I don’t want to miss.

5 MUST-TRY COFFEE PLACES FOR THE COFFEE FANATICS

The highlight of my day is definitely finding a quaint coffee shop and grabbing a cup of iced coffee to beat the heat. If you are a coffee enthusiast like me, you’ve come to the right place. After hunting and testing various coffee places around Singapore, I’ve narrowed down 5 unique places you must visit if you too are a coffee fanatic!

GEN Z HUMOUR AND THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINE WAR: ARE WE TAKING THINGS TOO FAR?

Gen Z humour has always been heavily scrutinised; its weird, absurd and dark nature has drawn disapproval from people of other (mainly older) generations. I mean, this generation has literally joked about school shootings, world war III and now, the Russian-Ukraine War. As a generation so exposed to the horrors of the world and yet so oddly comfortable with making dark jokes, one has to wonder: are we crossing a line by calling Vladimir Putin “daddy” and comparing it to the Kimye divorce?

DEBUNKING 4 UNIVERSITY MYTHS

Starting university is no doubt a milestone for many. Most movies (Legally Blonde and Pitch Perfect) and drama series (Love O2O 微微一笑很倾城 and My ID Is Gangnam Beauty 내 아이디는 강남미인) paint the ideal university experience: having a close knit group of friends, finding romance, and having everything planned out. Going into university with set goals and expectations are completely normal, some expectations may be met, while others may come unexpectedly.

ALL ABOUT LOVE!: DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOVE COVERED – SHOWS AND MOVIES TO BINGE-ON DURING YOUR BREAKS

Movie and TV show recommendations when you just need that mini break from school and work!

HOW TO HOBBY: A GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO START DOING MORE

I get it. After a long day of classes, all we really want to do is take a nice long shower, crawl into bed, and binge-watch all the Love Island seasons on Netflix. The mind-numbing interactions between the Islanders and hilarious scripted dramatics of reality television is entertaining for a while, but as three A.M. rolls around and we finally close our laptops, the damning sense of ennui creeps in.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good trashy reality show to unwind in the evenings. It is an important part of my personal routine that helps to wash away the stress of the day. However, as I reflect upon how mindfully I am spending my time, I realised that what I meant to do for leisure has become a crutch that I rely on when I need a distraction from the weariness of daily life.

WHO’S AFRAID OF FEMINISTS?

Men are usually apprehensive when women say they are feminists, based on experiences on dating apps, when we say we’re raised by strong women or that we are feminists, we get reactions like “oh no”, prompting the not again notion of us explaining that feminism is not misandrist.

MY ENTHRALLING EXPERIENCE AT A PLEASURE 101 WORKSHOP

When I first entered The Siri House after having a hard time walking around Dempsey Hill to find this well-hidden spot, I was first greeted by a modern eclectic interior filled with plush bohemian furniture. Despite hosting an intimate—and often taboo—female sexual wellness workshop, the atmosphere was incredibly swanky and glamorous.

HOW TO START DOING MEAL PREP

If you’re asking this question, I assume that you’re more or less comfortable with cooking but find it a bit troublesome to prepare meals (or “meal prep”) for yourself — not everyone has the energy to commit to making cute bento boxes or colourful salads that food bloggers cook up on a daily basis.

THE CASE OF THE TINDER SWINDLER: WHAT IT SHOWS ABOUT THE DARK SIDE OF SOCIETY

Within the past few years, Netflix has been pushing out interesting and potentially controversial documentary dramas. The most recent Netflix documentary drama that has been a hot topic is Tinder Swindler. The documentary is narrated by the very women who were scammed of millions by convicted con-man Shimon Hayut, a dating app-based money swindler. Calling himself Simon Leviev, he portrayed himself as a son of a billionaire. Charmed by his good looks, smooth-talking and luxurious first dates, these women found themselves under his manipulative control.

PRUDE OR “LOOSE”: THE STIGMA AGAINST OUR VIRGINITY

The labels prude and slut are often tied with the topic on one’s virginity.

Choosing when to lose one’s virginity has almost turned into a social competition. It is seen as a rite of passage in the game of life that you are expected to unlock by a certain age. At the same time, conflicting stigmas exist surrounding the concept of virginity, which pushes us into the dilemma between keeping our virginity for its perceived “sacrecy” and the need to lose it before it’s “too late”.

“NOBODY WANTS TO WORK THESE DAYS” – OR NOT!

The Kardashian family is definitely not new to the spotlight. They have had and continue to have every aspect of their lives, actions and statements picked apart by the media and viewers alike. Unsurprisingly, not only has her divorce with Kanye West (one which deserves a whole article on its own) been a hot topic, but her recent statement during an interview with Variety has been gaining attraction – for all the wrong reasons. In an article targeted towards women in business, Kim advises women to “get your f*cking ass up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days.” Giving her the benefit of the doubt, Kim may have said this in an attempt to encourage women out there. Unfortunately, it is extremely tone-deaf as it does not consider how one’s social and financial privileges can contribute to a successful career in business.

FEELING BURNED OUT? THAT’S NOT OKAY

A recent article has revealed that more people are physically dying from being overworked, as compared to malaria. The statistics are alarming, especially since these studies suggest that Southeast Asian workers clock in the highest average annual hours.

TURMOILS OF AN INTERNSHIP IN A PANDEMIC

In January 2022, I started my second internship at a cable business news channel. It is a field that I had no prior experience in. Having worked in retail, F&B, administration, aerospace sectors and majoring in history studies, it was my curiosity that led me to apply for a role beyond my expertise. After two long interviews over a phone call and google meeting, with minor mishaps with the internet connection, I managed to pass the interview and enter the company as a news editorial intern.

RECLAIMING MY FEMININITY: A PERSONAL JOURNEY

Over the last few years, I’ve seen posts made by women in a range of social media sites (Tumblr, Twitter, Reddit, Instagram) on their experiences having recently regained and reclaimed their interest in the colour pink. For most of these women, pink was a colour that they had loved in their childhood but eventually ‘grew out of’ as they matured and became more aware of the social perceptions surrounding the colour pink.

HOW TO LET GO AFTER A BREAK-UP

Mourning the loss of a relationship is perhaps one of the most painful processes in life. It can feel exactly as grim as it sounds — the grief that comes along with breaking up is sometimes a lot like grieving an actual death. This looks different for everyone — from losing your appetite to binging on food as a coping mechanism, or from having insomnia to oversleeping.

After the inevitable period of mourning, one has to eventually let go. Letting go of someone can feel hard and potentially terrifying, especially if you had a strong emotional attachment to them. Perhaps your ex-partner was a great person, but the situation just wasn’t as great anymore.

5 TRIED-AND-TRUE GLOSSES YOU CAN ROCK WITHOUT A MASK (+MATTE, BUDGEPROOF OPTIONS)

ICYMI: PM Lee announced last Thursday that masks are now optional when you’re outdoors (from Tuesday, 29 March). If you’re a gloss person like me, you’ve been waiting for this day for ages (okay, fine, two years). As a self-professed lipstick/lip gloss connaisseur, I’ve tried — and loved — more products than I can count over the years. These are the ones that I missed wearing the most, plus the best matte, mask-proof options for people who don’t plan to soak up the sun anytime soon. Understandably.

Read on for the pros and cons and retail sites of each.

ONE THING WE WISH WE KNEW AT 21

It appears that many of us expect ourselves to ‘have it all together’ once we hit our twenties. I get it though, it’s both exciting and daunting being on the cusp of adulthood. On one hand, it feels as if you finally get to make important decisions at the age of 21. On the other hand, you’re immensely pressured to live out your best life.

I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with trying your best and wanting to get adulthood ‘right’, but is this goal even realistic? I think we tend to forget that adults are also allowed to make mistakes and that we’re all only human.

Looking back, here’s what some women have to say to their 21-year-old selves and these might resonate with your inner child.

SPLITTING THE BILL ON A DATE: YES OR NO?

There has been this ongoing trend circulating around social media where women talked about how bills should be paid by the one inviting them out on a date or by men in general, and it has always befuddled me as to why that should have been the case. Just where did this mentality of men paying for a woman or the one doing the inviting paying for the other party came from?

GUIDE TO GETTING FULL MARKS IN CLASS PARTICIPATION

I was often called soft-spoken as a child, and realising that most courses in NTU have part of the grades allotted to class participation had me too stunned to speak (and not just in class). At the start, I avoided making eye contact with my professors to elude from being called onto answer a question. I even considered ignoring the 10% participation point and focusing on scoring points on the other grading rubrics. However, class participation takes a lot less effort to master than say, finals or a quiz. I imagined myself transforming into an eloquent and confident public speaker in a matter of time but with almost four semesters in, it has yet to happen. Here’s my 6 tips to acing class participation as an introvert which have helped me call myself a work-in-process class participant:

ALONE TIME: A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN OF HISTORY PAST

When I see the word “Alone Time”, I think of the times when you can reach for your favourite vibrator as you please, releasing the necessary endorphins; all without the need for another party to accomplish. There is something so empowering about not being dependent on someone else to satisfy the most intimate of needs. However, such self-sufficiency did not come about easily. Its origins date back to the 1800s when the first electromechanical vibrator, known as the “percuteur” was invented. The British Physician who invented it, Joseph Mortimer Grandville, thought that “vibration powered the nervous system” and sought the percuteur as a medical device to alleviate ailing nerves in women that arise from hysteria.

CAN SOCIAL MEDIA BE HEALTHY?

Social media has borne the brunt of many criticisms: It’s what promotes extremist views, fake news, and cyberbullying; it tends to present us an unrealistically beautiful image of life, making us compare ourselves with flawless, edited images of someone’s face or body; and not to mention, the chase for attention or following has given rise to many questionable behaviours.

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF EXERCISING IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE

We have probably all heard of the “No Excuses” rhetoric in the world of fitness: Stop whining, get stuff done; your biggest enemy is yourself; and no, you must go to the gym, even if you don’t feel like it.

But after holding myself up to the expectation of unwavering motivation and totally consistent workouts, I saw that the reality of going to the gym involves much more than just having no excuses. For us women, in particular, the menstrual cycle plays an important part in how we feel during exercise (as well as other aspects of life).

COFFEE, TEA, NO ME: A SINGAPORE GIRL

Hey, you. What comes to mind when you see an air stewardess? Specifically, one employed by our national carrier, Singapore Airlines? A “Singapore Girl”?

“The essence of the Singapore Girl is something no other airline can duplicate. She’s reached mythical status.” – CampaignAsia

Seeing and hearing of people, even young girls aspiring to be a “Singapore Girl”, with friends and relatives treating you differently because they can’t dissociate the brand from you as a person when you are one, makes me wonder, Is the “Singapore girl” image good or bad for my own sense of female identity here in singapore? And if it’s the latter, why is this so? Does female objectification have anything to do with this?

FINDING YOUR OWN PERSONAL STYLE

The best way to find your personal style is to figure out what best suits you and what makes you feel comfortable and confident. But how exactly do you do this? Here are three tips to help you find your personal style and create cute fits every time!

A GUIDE TO OVERCOMING YOUR FEARS THROUGH SHADOW WORK

Shadow work. You might have seen this term pop up on your TikTok ‘For You’ page time and time again, and whether or not that is a coincidence or a sign, I’ll leave that up to you. Before you dismiss it as mere spiritual nonsense, shadow work is actually a practice with roots in psychology.

LEARNING FROM YUZURU HANYU’S OLYMPIC EPISODE

Yuzuru Hanyu is a household name when it comes to the world of figure skating. He first rose to prominence on the world stage in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, when he took home the Gold medal for Japan with his long programme coupled with exquisite music from Romeo and Juliet by Nino Rota. He then clinched the Gold again in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, despite mostly being on painkillers to aid his injured ankle in the lead up to the Olympics. The two-time Olympic champion was the media favourite when it came to this year’s Olympic games in Beijing.

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT: WOMEN IN THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN SINGAPORE

Women’s rights have come a long way. Being born as a woman in current-day Singapore, I have definitely been presented with opportunities that I may not have been granted if I were to be born in another time or place. However, with that being said, as a cis-het women, I belong to the majority in Singapore and I do not face the issues that my LGBTQ+ friends do. Given that International Women’s Day is this month, I hope to bring to light the difficulties faced by women in the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore. As such I have interviewed a bisexual woman to give us her two cents on some of the problems she has faced and continues to face.

WOMEN UNBOUNDED: SITTING DOWN WITH HSIN MIN

March is Women’s History Month, and 8 March is International Women’s Day. To honour the occasion and the many inspirational women in Singapore, HerCampus @ Nanyang Tech is featuring several inspirational women from diverse backgrounds.

We approached Women Unbounded, or WU, a Singapore-based volunteer community that seeks to facilitate friendships and mentorships between women. Their mission aligns very closely with what we believe in and do at HerCampus. Zee Hsin Min (she/hers), as she prefers to be addressed, is definitely a force to be reckoned with. At just 24, Hsin not only juggles her full-time job as an associate at Shopee, but is also the director of WU and one of its founders.

WOMAN OF RESILIENCE: KIM UNDERHILL ON EMPOWERING WOMEN THROUGH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES

When Kim Underhill escaped from her abusive marriage years ago, she was determined to ensure that she would be able to provide financially for her two children who were then still young. Despite the gruelling hours of her full time job as well as her night studies, Underhill remained resilient so that she would become financially secure for her and her children. Recalling her mother’s words, she firmly states: “You can cry today but the next day the problems will not go away. You can vent your worries and frustrations but you need to take concrete steps to make a difference.” For her, the ‘concrete steps’ were going to night school while juggling her full time work so that she could climb up the corporate ladder to remain financially independent and secure. Touching on her role as a corporate maven, she is very grateful for her mentor who not only encouraged but also sponsored her studies. “My mentor sponsored the entire 6 years of my night studies and this opened up many job opportunities for me,” she gratefully notes. Thankful for this supportive figure, Underhill pays it forward through social activism.

SUPERWOMAN IN HUMAN FORM: THE FILIPINA PILOT OF MANY TRADES

Airbus A320 Pilot. NFT company founder. Air Force reservist. Registered nurse. Former flight attendant. Mother of two. These labels are hardly enough to describe the persevering spirit that Chezka Gonzales from the Philippines has! I had the great honour of interviewing her for an International Women’s Day feature, despite her busy schedule. Not only is she a gorgeous individual, Filipina pilot Gonzalez is also a force to be reckoned with. In my interview with her, she brought me through the ups and downs that she has faced in life, despite her many accomplishments; and her life thus far is truly a tale of tenacity and determination.

SCOOT’S FIRST OFFICER NICOLE CHEE ON GENDER AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE AS A FEMALE PILOT

For Nicole Chee, First Officer at Scoot, being a woman has never posed a challenge in the audacious pursuit of her dreams to become a pilot. Citing her first encounters with aviation – plane watching at Changi Beach when she was three, she recounts being entranced by the loud roar of engines, as well as the planes descending upon Singapore’s approach path. “How does that big machine get up in the air? It was just the fascination with the physics of flight… For me, planes were more interesting than being able to go from point A to B.” Little did Chee know that her fascination would spark a lifelong passion with flying, a path less travelled for someone born to parents with jobs outside of the aviation industry

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2022: INTERVIEW WITH QIYUN

International Women’s Day (IWD) falls on March 8th and it is officially celebrated by 27 countries as a national holiday. On this day, we honour women’s rights, recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world and reflect on existing struggles.

On this special occasion, Her Campus Nanyang Tech interviewed Woo Qiyun, better known as @theweirdandwild for her accessible eco infographics on social media.

REBOUNDING WITH CONFIDENCE

This International Women’s Day, we are excited to speak with various noteworthy women that are and remains an inspiration to many. Her Campus at Nanyang Tech sat down with second generation leader of Matchsticks of IMH, Xavierlyn, to speak about depression, mental health, and how you can support those struggling with mental health.

LET’S TALK PERIOD POVERTY

Menstruation is a basic human fact. It is part of a woman’s monthly routine to stock up on pads, tampons, menstrual cups etc. Something that is a necessity to females across the globe must be accessible to all, right? Wrong. Period poverty is when menstrual products become inaccessible to women who don’t have the monetary capability to purchase them from stores.

FALL INTO THE WORLD OF TRUE CRIME YOUTUBE(RS)

Going onto YouTube is like falling into a rabbit hole. You can spend hours clicking videos after videos and by the end of the day you have no idea how you landed on the video that you are currently watching. This is how I ended up as part of the true crime YouTube community. Today the true crime genre on YouTube has been growing at an increasing rate. Not only is there an increasing amount for YouTube channels making true crime their niche, more people are watching such content. Given the overwhelming number of these YouTubers, below are some channels that I often turn to and would like to share with you as you start your journey into the world of true crime YouTube.

SIGNS YOU SHOULD LET GO OF A FRIEND—AND HOW TO DO IT WITHOUT THE DRAMA

I’ve always remained in a place of passivity, letting people decide their place in my life—not because I wanted to, but because I never realised I could have a say in who got to stay and who had to leave—and it’s been incredibly empowering. Over the years, I’ve learnt to always choose yourself and preserve your peace of mind, because you’re the only one with full control over it. If surrounding yourself only with people (not necessarily always erupting with rainbows, sunshine and optimism) good for your growth makes you a better person, definitely take the time to sift out the ‘bad’ ones.

FIVE REASONS WHY THE MENSTRUAL CUP MAKES YOUR TIME OF THE MONTH EASIER

Most of us have heard of the menstrual cup and that it’s an eco-friendly alternative to disposable pads. But let’s face it: do we actually know much about the cup beyond that?

Trying out the cup can feel like a big change to make, and I hesitated for months before purchasing it. Now that I’ve been a proud convert for more than a year, I say forget the environment for a while—here are five reasons why the menstrual cup will make your time of the month easier!

WHAT ENCANTO TELLS US ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF FAMILIES

Once again, Lin-Manuel Miranda strikes with the new hit Disney musical Encanto, the story of the magical Madrigal family who finds their superhuman powers in danger, as the young gift-less Maribel unravels secrets about her mysterious uncle Bruno.

Aside from the popular songs and viral TikTok trends the show has engendered, I also find that it is extremely sensitive and intellectual in handling the issue of family and change, much in line with Lin’s skillfulness in writing about these topics, as seen in Moana too.

5 CHICK FLICKS FROM THE 90S-00S YOU HAVE TO SEE TO SAY YOU’VE LIVED LIFE

What are chick flicks? A chick flick is a slang used most generally to describe films catered towards women with female protagonists and frequent romance plots. This is my favourite genre of film, and I am not afraid to admit that I love them wholeheartedly.

HERCAMPUS’ ULTIMATE GUIDE TO RESTING AND RECHARGING DURING RECESS WEEK

Congrats, you’ve made it through half a semester! Before stressing about the upcoming due dates after this week of paradise, take a fraction of time to switch your brain off and kick back. Here are some upcoming activities to look forward to, as well as some of my favourite things to do during recess week, organised by the amount of off time I have in total.

LETS TALK ABOUT VAGINISMUS

Vaginismus, though fairly common amongst women, often goes unnoticed or even dismissed due to the lack of proper knowledge and awareness about vaginal health.

Even as a woman in her 20s, I have never come across the term vaginismus (before I wrote this article) and neither have my friends.

IS ACNE BEAUTIFUL?

There is this ongoing trend on social media that advocates for setting everyone’s individual appearances as the beautiful standard and de-stigmatizes the commercialised universal look of being beautiful: big round eyes, thick lips, clear skin, a curvaceous or lean body.

This trend created a space for spreading positivity and places less pressure on people to conform to a certain “beauty standard.”

MY EXPERIENCE AT AN INFLUENCER’S FLEA MARKET

It was my first time attending something as a fan. I have always been someone who keeps a look-out for pop-up markets of my favourite online crystal, jewellery or tarot stores. But my recent drive to get back into fitness got me looking out for affordable and visually appealing activewear- which, as any fitspo gal would know, is hard to come by. However, after attending my first influencer’s flea market, I was left with mixed feelings and here’s why.

LOOK AT YOU LOOKING AT ME: WHEN WOMEN ARE STARED AT IN THE GYM

Recently, I came across a TikTok video of a girl who captured a man in the background looking in her direction at the gym. The captions insinuated that he was staring at her during her workout. After, an anonymous user responded to her video and claimed that the man was simply watching the television behind her. This inadvertently invited a group of commenters to attack the girl who had originally posted the video

NETFLIX’S HIT REALITY SHOW ‘SINGLE’S INFERNO’ GIVES US A LESSON ON DATING

The wildly popular show, Single’s Inferno, follows 12 single (and hot) men and women marooned on a deserted island, ‘Inferno’, where they engage in competitive games to win a chance at a date in ‘Paradise’, a hotel-like setting with a luxurious spread of food and drinks.

CRINGE CULTURE: WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?

We all have moments when we are reading or watching something, and we cringe at what is happening or being said. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, to cringe is to feel embarrassed or ashamed about something. When past incidents or things I have said float to the surface of my mind, I would find myself recoiling in embarrassment at those memories. While the notion of cringing is nothing new, within the recent decades, Cringe Culture has become a worldwide phenomenon. So what exactly is Cringe Culture, how does it differ from simply cringing, and is it bad?

I JOINED SQUISH, A BLIND FRIENDSHIP DATE, AS A GUY. HERE’S HOW IT WENT

Platonic relations? Is it possible?

We’re no strangers to internet dating even if it’s strangers that we meet online. That being said, we are of course no strangers to how internet dating works. We are also familiar with the gendered stereotype that has plagued online dating; that men and women cannot develop a platonic relationship seperate of romantic or sexual expectations.

BECAUSE I WATCHED THE BOLD TYPE, I NOW WRITE FOR HER CAMPUS

The Bold Type premiered earlier in 2017, but I had only started (and finished) watching all five seasons on Netflix last December. Written and produced by Sarah Watson, the film series follows the lives of three best friends in their mid-20s, working at Scarlet—a women’s magazine. I hate to say this, but the romanticized notion of writing for an existing community really appealed to me, especially with the ongoing pandemic.

MANAGING YOUR ONLINE SPENDING HABITS

With the accessibility of online shopping, it’s easy to get carried away in the thrill of adding sale items to your cart or camping for a product drop. However, the panic starts to set in once this feeling fades and you find that you’ve exceeded your budget again. Online shopping has gained traction over the past few years, leading me to realise that overspending has become a common issue plaguing my friends who are avid users of such digital platforms. So, here are several methods that my friends and I have found useful to rein in our inner shopaholics which I hope will work for you too!

IS THIS REALLY LOVE? 5 SIGNS YOU ARE BEING LOVE BOMBED

He showers me with compliments and gifts almost daily — I must be so lucky to be spoiled.

Weeks into dating he tells me he loves me, that we are meant for each other.

He must be really into me.

“I just want to be with you all the time. Don’t you?” — I feel guilty for wanting to set boundaries, I should be grateful he is so dedicated. Right?

If only I had known earlier that these were actually signs I was being love bombed.

FOMOING ON VALENTINE’S? HERE’S WHAT TO DO

This is an open letter to all that feel left out, alone and unloveable on this day.

With pink glitter, roses, promise rings and chocolates at every turn, social media doesn’t make it easy for us to forget that Valentine’s is here. As a silent observer of the two camps– the ‘flexers’ and ‘flexed-ons’– it seems that Valentine’s has been turned into a game show where the prize for the showiest Instagram story was a secret flurry of screenshots (imagine if the app started notifying us whenever this happens. Shudder.) and gossip. Nobody wins here, unless you somehow found your inner nirvana.

NO-ROMANCE (BUT STILL HEART-WARMING) MOVIES FOR WHEN YOU AREN’T IN THE MOOD

The arrival of Valentine’s Day can be tough for lonely souls, especially with all the rom-coms making their way into cinemas and streaming platforms. As quite the anti-romance filmgoer, I can totally relate to anyone who finds it difficult to sit through a heartbreak scene without being reminded of their own heartbreaks, or who feels extra sad and alone when movie characters smooch their way into a happy ending.

LOCAL BOOKSTORES TO GO TO GET YOUR LITERARY FIX

Looking for more book recommendations but don’t know where to start? We are familiar with local stationery/bookstore giant POPULAR – the place to get your assessment and text books before school starts. Kinokuniya and Times are also some other favourites among the wider reading audience in Singapore. Compared to these ‘chain’ bookstores, where book stocks are more commercialised because they usually bring in what’s popular, local bookstores are mostly more individualised and authors and titles are carefully selected to suit the store’s theme.

GALENTINE’S GIFT IDEAS

In my secondary school, Valentine’s Day was a huge thing — I remember the bustle of coming into school early, NTUC bags filled with chocolate, sweets and sometimes roses, the excitement of exchanging gifts with friends along the corridors, and the group hugs and giggles that ensued. Coming from a girls’ school, my experience with Valentine’s Day was always platonic, filled with the warmth and tenderness of girlhood.

NIGHTMARES ON DATING STREET

Valentine’s day is fast approaching and the air around us is starting to look a little bit rosy for those in love and looking for love. The romantics gather round for a reason to go on a date on the 14th; singles pat off the dust on their social skills to hit up their old and new acquaintances or strangers on dating apps. Hearts begin to flutter at the thought of spending a romantic day together and the thrill of romance increases one’s expectations. One may start to expect the day to begin with a smile, playful banter, an enjoyable conversation and an ending with a promising goodbye, a gift, an intimate exchange or an invitation to stay together longer. But sometimes (or most times), reality does not go according to expectations.

WHEN THE CONCERN FOR HEALTH GETS CONCERNING

We all have those nights when a small discomfort in your body — perhaps a headache or a twitchy eyelid — makes you reach for your phone and google what the symptom is about; and, of course, after landing on some shady “medical website”, you read the most horrifying explanation for that small discomfort, and suddenly you’re wide awake at 3 a.m., looking up doctors near you who can treat this supposedly fatal illness you now think you have.

WEIRD RED FLAGS IN DATING

You have probably heard of the term red flags before. But what’s a weirdly specific red flag? To unpack it, let’s look at what a red flag means.

A red flag is a warning sign of a potential problem with how a person is going to treat you in a relationship; a foreshadowing of what is to come.

THE ART OF LETTER-WRITING

It has always been a special practice of mine to write letters to people when strong emotions are evoked in association to them. In return, I can usually see how touched my friends are when they receive my letters of gratitude or good wishes. Yet, I hardly receive letters of the same emotional depth in which I give out to others. I realised that most letters between people my age barely scratch the surface of the feelings that they are trying to convey.

THE POWER OF WORDS: POSITIVE SELF-TALK

Like most people, self-deprecating talk/humor is and has always been a form of coping mechanism for me, as a way to mask my own feelings of inadequacy. I cannot count the number of times where I called myself stupid or joked about myself being stupid whenever I feel embarassed about my inability to do something. Such talk allows me to point out my own flaws before others do and in turn gives me a sense of control. In essence, it has become my security blanket, one that is so second nature that I did not realise how often I talk negatively about myself. It was only when I was having a heart-to-heart talk with my close friends that they pointed out to me this bad habit of mine.

4 THROWBACK GAMES TO PLAY AT THE BEACH

2022 started with heavy rainfalls, thunderstorms, and a drop to 23 degrees Celsius. Singapore’s yearly Northeast Monsoon Season – December to early March – has begun to shift from its wet phase (Dec – early Jan) to dry phase (late Jan to early March). This means that more people will be planning for a day out while the sky remains clear.

FUN DATE IDEAS TO DO DURING THE PANDEMIC

Here is a list of tried-and-tested affordable shared activities that can be done with your partner or friends, during a time where most of us are limited to the local scene.

4 EASY WAYS YOU CAN ACTUALLY HAVE A WORK-LIFE BALANCE DURING WFH

No thanks to the pandemic, the work from home scheme has been a major part of our lives and threw many of our work-life balances off-center. I used to be a huge fan of working from home–after all, what’s not to like about waking up later and having a more comfortable workplace? –before my revenge procrastination and complete lack of discipline took over. This led to the blurring of boundaries between work and rest; on productive days I get off work on time, but sometimes it could drag on till eight in the evening.

MUSIC AND THEATRE FOR THEIR OWN SAKE: INTERVIEW WITH THE RUNAWAY CO.

Having been in performing arts groups for a good part of my life, I have a special appreciation for music and theatre — and the combination of the two — but I also know that the arts scene is (to say the least) a tad tougher in the context of pragmatist Singapore.

AN ANTIDOTE TO THE WOES OF FESTIVITIES

I got my inspiration for this article just as I took out some of my time whilst studying for finals to visit certain family members. But, boy oh boy, did my sentiments change after the visit. Not only was I interrogated and given insensitive comments about my personal life, there was also a breach of trust – which all began with insider details about my life being given without my consent by a relative whom I thought I could trust to keep things to herself when I added her to my “close friends list” on Instagram. There is always a tendency for families to think that just because they have your best interests at heart, it is completely acceptable for them to say whatever they want (whether it hurts you or not), so long as they get their point across.

DOUBLE STANDARDS PLACED ON PLUS-SIZED CELEBRITIES AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT US

Trigger warnings: Mentions of weight loss, dieting

If you’re a fan of Adele like me, you would know of her huge music comeback in 2021. We’re not here to discuss her phenomenal voice and her amazing songwriting skills, though, but her interview with Oprah Winfrey during her press tour for her latest album ‘25’. During the interview, Adele spoke about the backlash she received on her weight loss, which got me thinking about society’s odd obsession with plus-sized celebrities’ health and weight.

4 GAMES YOU CAN PLAY INSTEAD OF MAHJONG THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR

Some of us can spend hours at the table, washing Mahjong tiles through the wee hours. Not me though. I get tired after a full round of it — the back aches from sitting too long, and the brain fog that comes with guessing the next tile that is going to be thrown out. Not forgetting that awful feeling of a losing streak… So it’s time for a change.

COMING TO TERMS WITH WEIGHT GAIN

Disclaimer: This article talks about weight gain that is not directly related to health and medical conditions.

I don’t think it’s a lie to say that the majority of women in my generation have experienced some kind of anxiety about weight gain, starting probably in the very early teens. The first wave of explosion of social media, carrying with it countless images of beautiful women around the world, was an especially hard hit for young impressionable girls who had just reached puberty. For me, at least, the pressure of having to look like those women — to look thin — set in as soon as I became conscious that I was growing taller and heavier (even though I was literally supposed to).

#SUPPORTLOCAL: ROAR IN THE CHINESE NEW YEAR WITH THESE HOME-BAKED GOODIES

It is no secret to close family and friends that my favourite aspect of Chinese New Year is the array of mouth-watering traditional pastries and cookies. Not only is my house filled with said goodies, but you will also most likely find me tucked away in the corner of my relatives’ house munching on the aromatic pastries whenever my family visits them during Chinese New Year. While there are too many goodies to choose from, my top three are most definitely the buttery pineapple tarts, crumbly kueh bangkit and crunchy love letters.

PUTTING YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIES TO THE TEST

The importance of representation in films isn’t a new discussion. Even with the well-known Bechdel Test being created and introduced back in 1985, whitewashed movies and male-heavy cast and crew have become the norm today. It’s clear that the movie industry still grapples with problems relating to gender equality and intersectionality.

HOW TO MAKE ENVIRONMENTALLY-CONSCIOUS FASHION CHOICES THIS CNY

Chinese New Year is just around the corner! If you’re someone who celebrates this holiday, you’ll know it is time for spring cleaning and shopping for new clothes. However, the whole culture of “spring cleaning” and the constant cycle of buying new clothes every year encourages excessive consumerism and is extremely wasteful. Now, I am not suggesting that we completely do away with our yearly traditions. But we can adapt our cultural practices and change our habits to be less wasteful. So here are three ways to be more environmentally conscious with your clothes this Chinese New Year!

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE “TEEN”: SEX IN TEEN DRAMA

From Skins to Euphoria, the genre of teen drama has been steadily gaining popularity over the recent years. Many have credited the surge of popularity in teen drama to the willingness to touch on topics usually shunned by society, such as depression, eating disorders, teen pregnancy and more. Credit where credit is due, however, this is not to say that teen drama is unproblematic. Having occasionally watched teen dramas, one of the major problems I have with them is how sex is portrayed, and the over-sexualisation of teenagers as a result of it.

LET’S DISCUSS LABELS: CHARACTERISING OTHERS INTO TROPES

Before the pick me girl, softboi, and vsco tropes, were the jocks, cheerleaders, and nerds in typical American high school movies. Are cheerleaders more than just poms poms and a bow-tie? Labelling has been narrowly defining individuals throughout the years, diminishing them to an ant in an army – breaking down individuality and grouping people into broad categories. Although labels give us occasional laughs and entertainment through the people portraying them in movies or the ‘starter pack’ memes circulating around the internet, labelling calls on further thought and criticism to the effects and attitudes that these tropes bring across.

SELF-HELP GUIDE TO COUNTERING THE BYSTANDER EFFECT

Trigger warning: Sexual harassment, catcalling

As young women, there will always be a concern for our safety in unexpected situations — a constant worry that we will be thrown into an uncomfortable situation where conflicting interests and opinions could lead to harassment. Those situations may include persistent cat-calls, strangers following you at night, a group of pushy individuals approaching you in a club or an acquaintance making suggestive remarks or acting inappropriately.

TAKING IT DAY BY DAY WITH DEPRESSION

Self-care. I’m sure many of us are familiar with this term, especially with social media platforms fiercely advocating for this act so much that sometimes, it could feel like we are being force-fed with this ideology. A quick search of this buzzword on YouTube easily generates content done by renowned creators, with one of the most widely watched being the series by Harper’s Bazaar. Big names in Hollywood industry such as Jessica Alba and Liv Tyler stand in their bathrooms, filmed against the backdrop of their luxurious marbled walls and walk-in showers, and the crystals of a chandelier peeking through, as they speak to the camera holding up their beauty products you definitely cannot find at the drugstore.

NEW SEMESTER, NEW ME: 5 WAYS YOU CAN READY YOURSELF FOR THE NEW SEMESTER

A new semester has started, and the long break has undoubtedly made it harder to get back into the swing of studying.

FESTIVE SEASON FOR THE MINIMALIST: SALIENT LABEL

To many of us, the end of a year is not only the season for festivities, but also for shopping sprees. From 11.11 to Christmas, it’s almost impossible to make it through this period without buying (a lot of) things, whether it’s out of the necessity of getting gifts, or a generous holiday spirit, or simply because the sales are too tempting.

4 GIFTS FOR THE OVERDUE TRAVELLER [+XMAS GIVEAWAY!]

Just in time for Christmas, the causeway between Malaysia and Singapore will once again be roaring with the sound of cars, motorcycles and buses. Our neighbour is the latest addition to Singapore’s active Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) countries, and joins the United States, Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji and France; just to name a few.

Thinking of getting a gift to celebrate? Look no further as HCNTU brings our top budget-friendly travel gifts for you or your loved ones this year!

WHY WE LOVE JUNG BEAUTY’S 2-STEP STEAMING HAIR TREATMENT

I love dyeing my hair and giving myself a new look every once in a while. However, as a result of the dye and bleaching, my hair has been extremely dry and damaged. The use of hot tools only made matters worse. To say that my hair was in a dire need of a pick-me-up would be an understatement.

#SUPPORTLOCAL WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING THIS YEAR!

Know someone who’s into the beaded jewellery trend? Local insta-shop friendship.discount is the perfect place to create a custom piece!

6 WAYS TO ENJOY CHRISTMAS AMIDST THE PANDEMIC

Do you feel the magic in the air? It’s finally that time of year!

Christmas is right around the corner, a yearly highlight for me like many of you. Usually a time for celebration with family and friends, this season brings people together to share the joy of giving and to relish in festivities. Unfortunately, we are stuck amidst a pandemic.

WOMEN DON’T HAVE EXPIRY DATES

Actually, nobody does.

Yet, in discussions between friends and family, the statement “your clock is ticking” still comes up, when it comes to starting a family and having a successful career. What may sound like a joke actually reveals many biased notions that society at large has towards women.

4 UNCONVENTIONALLY SUITABLE CHRISTMAS MOVIES ON DISNEY+

What better way to spend the Christmas season than binge-watching your favourite Christmas movies! This holiday season, apart from watching timeless Christmas classics, why not venture into movies that weren’t made for Christmas, but nevertheless channels the holiday spirit – snow, kindness, nostalgia – to gear you up for the season of giving.

IN DEFENSE OF NON-COMMUNICATON

Many people say that communication is the key to a successful relationship, but sometimes talking it out isn’t always the best thing to do.

DE-ROMANTICIZING RED FLAG BEHAVIOURS IN ROMANTIC DRAMAS

I’m a big sucker for romantic dramas. Be it a sad, happy, dramatic or light-hearted one, I’m completely invested in the character’s relationship and personal development. And I love a good original plot that catches you off guard and the clichés that will never grow old.

UNPACKING THE POLITICS OF “WOKE”

I have a deeply uncomfortable relationship with the term woke. Being labelled as that woke friend on numerous occasions, I’ve come to see it as a means of distancing oneself from the politics associated with it. I held the initial belief that this knee-jerk reaction was the result of a general passivity towards important issues. I later came to realise that it wasn’t that my friends did not care (at least not all of them), their rush to distinguish themselves from the term revealed the anxiety and fear associated with “speaking out” that prevented them from joining the conversation. It seemed like the ‘woke crowd’, that I was an unwitting member of, was part of the problem.

HOW TO VALUE YOURSELF (EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT)

Trust me, I get it: feeling good about and being kind to yourself are much easier when things are going well — you’re hitting your goals, harvesting the fruits of your labour, and receiving positive feedback from others; it makes sense to reflect on yourself favourably and reward yourself every now and then.

STRIPPING OFF: SINGAPORE’S ONLYFANS CREATORS

Lewd poses. Bare breasts. Perky posteriors. As OnlyFans takes off among young content creators in Singapore, HerCampus contributor Eunice Sng sheds the layers on this growing scene and chats with the enterprising folk behind those scandalous shots.

INCONSISTENCY OF WOMEN’S CLOTHING SIZE, BODY IMAGE AND SELF-ESTEEM

I recently went shopping at Cotton On and was excited to find a pair of pants that had cut that I was looking for. Being the typical US size 8 in Cotton On, I took my size as well as a US size 10 just for good measure and headed into the dressing room. However, to my dismay, my usual size was too tight for my liking and the US size 10 just hung off my hips. This was ironic as the pair of shorts that I was wearing at that moment was a US size 8 from Cotton On. While I have had issues with sizing inconsistency, having not shopped for pants for quite a while, this encounter in Cotton On has led me to relive my nightmares with sizing inconsistencies and body image issues.

5 TIPS TO DEAL WITH IMPOSTER SYNDROME

I’m sure we’ve all felt this when we entered our first university class: You’re sitting in a lecture, the prof asks a question and someone in your class starts blabbering on about things you haven’t even heard of and the prof is impressed. Then, thoughts of doubt start flooding in.

IS IT REALLY TIME TO CANCEL ‘CANCEL CULTURE’?

TW for the article: mentions of verbal abuse and transphobia

If you have any social media exposure at all, you’ve probably heard of the term cancel culture.

We’ve seen prominent cases of cancel culture at work over the past few months. Most of us know about the Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) saga, Korean actor Kim Seon-Ho’s controversy with his ex-girlfriend, and the backlash against American comedian Dave Chappelle for his allegedly transphobic remarks.

PANDEMIC DATING AND ITS ACCESSORY, THE FACE MASK

The ultimate pandemic essential, the face mask did not enjoy this much attention before Covid-19 made an entrance. It was only used in medical facilities, when someone was ill, or by celebrities hiding from the paparazzi. Half-faced humans walking around in public has become the norm for over a year. Now, no matter how much we try to catch our breath while wearing masks, it has become so habitual that we sometimes can’t imagine how we’d interact with others without one. No more scowling at commuters in trains and buses.

LET US ENJOY OUR HOBBIES: THE UNNECESSARY HATE ON FEMININE ACTIVITIES

The sighs and rolling of eyes that follow almost instantly after the mention of astrology. Does the scene sound familiar?

TIKTOK FEMINISM: WHY WE SHOULDN’T “KILL ALL MEN”

No, I’m not a pick me. This new wave of feminism on TikTok, a platform where satire runs wild, that users are advertising, is bringing us further away from our goal of true gender equality and respect on both sides of the line that has been drawn in the sand for millenia.

MORE THAN JUST A LABEL: FEMALE CHARACTER TROPES IN THE MEDIA

Character tropes are essentially “stock characters” with certain traits and backstories that place them into boxes, conditioning audiences into subscribing to certain stereotypes. These characters’ storylines and personalities revolve around one or two selective traits and solely exist to further the leading (often male) character’s narrative. There is seldom any dimension to the characters and they’re pretty linear in their decisions.

WHAT TAYLOR SWIFT’S ALL TOO WELL (10 MINUTE VERSION) SAYS ABOUT AGE GAPS IN DATING

Amidst fans’ huge excitement surrounding Taylor Swift’s re-release of the Red album, one song in particular seems to have captured lots of hearts (and music charts) with particularly wrenching force — All Too Well (10 Minutes Version), the original version of the 5-minute All Too Well, allegedly written for Taylor’s brief romance with Jake Gyllenhaal when she was 20 (and him 30), caused quite a crying party on the Internet, especially with the release of the eponymous short film starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien (who, incidentally, are 19 and 30 years old respectively).

THE IT BOYS: WHY WE LOVE FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

Step aside boys, other boys are attracting girls left, right, and centre. Fictional male characters have made their way into our hearts for generations. We take a look at some of the most beloved male fictional characters in recent decades to find out what makes us prefer them over men in real life.

RECLAIMING SEX AND ROMANCE AFTER ASSAULT: THE LESS SPOKEN

Trigger warning: sexual assault

Love, sex, romance. For many of us, these are experiences we will not miss out on, and neither do we want to. Feeling lost in an ocean of feelings. Or being inside on a rainy day with a cup of hot cocoa. Or being at the peak of a rollercoaster with a maddening, possessive and overwhelming presence blooming in your chest. Or falling into bed after a long day. The fairytale that Disney films promised that we all secretly still desire.

WHY WE BINGE-WATCH: DEBUNKING THE BINGE-WATCHING PHENOMENON

Ever feel that reality is too hard to bear? And Netflix just seems like the right avenue to leave your troubles behind?

WHAT WE GET WRONG ABOUT SELF CARE

The term “self-care” has become one of the biggest buzzwords in recent years as more people advocate for mental health. In its perfect sense, self-care simply means taking care of yourself. This is inarguably important, but its vagueness has been exploited to encompass literally everything. It has taken on a breadth of meaning; it could mean eating healthily or eating unhealthily, going out or staying in, waking up early or sleeping in.

I ASKED SINGAPORE’S THEATRE PROFESSIONALS FOR BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

Yes, we’re giving you another round of book recommendations (catch Nicole’s article on our editorial team’s favourite reads here). After stumbling on a video on YouTube where this girl decided to send direct messages to royal princes to ask them on dates (this cracked me up), I decided to do my own rendition. This time, I sent direct messages on Instagram to Singapore’s very own theatre practitioners and asked them for some book recommendations.

I DON’T FEEL LIKE HAVING SEX ANYMORE…

He comes over. We’re excited to see each other –– he is evidently more delighted about our rendezvous (if you catch the phallus shaped drift). A warm embrace. A firm, welcoming kiss. My palms start sweating… he’s going to say it, I just know it.

A (NOT SO BEGINNERS’) GUIDE TO APOLOGIES

So here you are, feeling kind of embarrassed, ashamed, and guilty that you did that thing to that person. You search for someone else to blame, but a small voice in your head disagrees: “This was on you. You need to apologise.”

ACTING MY GENDER: QUESTIONING THE RELEVANCE OF GENDER ROLES

Sit like a girl. Boys don’t cry.

These phrases aren’t novel to many of us. Growing up with these restrictive expectations based on our assigned gender is hard. Though it may not really be apparent, the pressures of conforming to traditional gender norms — how we are expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our assigned sex — plays a big part in our lives.

THE GRIND CAN STOP: ‘STUDY PRODUCTIVITY YOUTUBES’ AND TOXIC PRODUCTIVITY

In recent years, there has been a surge in YouTube channels whose content centres around being productive and studying. The rise in the number of such YouTube channels has led to the term ‘Study Productivity YouTubers’ being coined. Titles such as “12 hours study day” or “How to be productive while sick” have really gained momentum in the genre, and I am not talking about people who are using such titles as clickbait: They really are constantly productive in their videos, regardless of their circumstances.

DEAR MEN: A GUIDE TO BECOMING A BETTER SEXUAL PARTNER

Whether it’s with our relationship partners, friends with benefits, or even our flings, most of us would have had a terrible sexual experience, where the sex was either bad, awkward, or not pleasurable. It’s the kind of experience that we wish we could will out of existence.

HOW TO BE LESS AWKWARD ABOUT BEING BROKE

Let’s be honest here. Being broke sucks. BIG TIME. Checking in on your bank account in the middle of the month to see that there are only two digits left in it or worse, you’re already in the one digit range and hitting it close to $0. You start to wish that you could simply sweep this “broke-ness” under the rug.

THE HATE TOWARDS THE D’AMELIOS AND ADDISON RAE: IS IT VALID?

If you have been keeping up with Internet drama, you might have seen that the D’Amelios and Addison Rae recently came under lots of flak for a range of things. From the 2021 Met Gala outrage to their debut in the traditional media space (The D’Amelios’ reality show and Addison’s remake of “She’s all that”). Not only them, but Tiktokers in general have always attracted tons of hate.

WHY ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS SHOULDN’T BE AN “AESTHETIC”

You walk into a museum, you see an artwork you like, snap a photo with or of it, and you post it on Instagram. Now, there is nothing wrong with that. In fact, I’ll be the first to admit that I do post pictures of art on social media. So what did I mean when I so blatantly stated that art is not an aesthetic? Let’s walk through this.

YOUR NO B.S. GUIDE TO SKINCARE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES

You asked for it, and we delivered. Here’s a no b.s., comprehensive guide on how to care for your skin type.

PLUS SIZE, PLUS PRICE: IS IT OKAY FOR CLOTHING BRANDS TO CHARGE MORE FOR LARGER SIZES?

I recently encountered a small business that sells hand-made clothes on Instagram. The business is run by one person, selling very intricately designed crochet clothing. It takes days of manual work at the expense of the owner/tailor to make a single piece of clothing.

UNPACKING CATCALLING, WOLF-WHISTLING, AND MORE

Disclaimer: This article contains certain opinions that might be offensive and contradictory to some.

When one searches catcall on Google, big heavy words appear – “sexual harassment”, “street harassment”, and so on. According to American publishing company Merriam-Webster, catcalling has 2 definitions: 1: ‘the act of shouting, harassing and often sexually suggestive, threatening, or derisive comments at someone publicly’ and 2: ‘the act or an instance of loudly or raucously expressing disapproval (as at a sports event)’ Strikingly different, aren’t they?

WHY THE PRO-LIFE/PRO-CHOICE ARGUMENT NEEDS TO STOP

The issue of abortion and female autonomy over their own bodies have once again been thrust into the spotlight, thanks to laws being passed in places like Texas, that sparked outrage around the globe.

CELEBRATING THE BIZARRE: PERSPECTIVE FILM FESTIVAL 2021

The first and longest-running student-led film festival in Singapore, Perspectives Film Festival (PFF) is open to the public from 21 to 31 October 2021. Organised by NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, PFF celebrates its 14th year with all that is bizarre — in the best way possible. From the dreamy, to the eccentric, the gory, and even the psychedelic… there is perhaps no better phrase to encapsulate this year’s exciting lineup of films, than the festival’s own cheeky but apt theme

WHAT TIKTOK’S OBSESSION WITH #COUCHGUY REVEALS ABOUT US

If you’ve been on TikTok in the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen the viral #couchguy video of a girl surprising her long distance boyfriend at his college dorm. When the original user, Lauren Zarras, enters the room, her boyfriend gets up from the famous couch where he had been sitting on with three other girls, and the pair share a hug. This clip of a seemingly normal and perhaps heartwarming moment almost immediately garnered a slew of comments mocking the awkwardness of the situation.

5 MUST-WATCH DISNEY MOVIES FOR SPOOKY SEASON

No one does Halloween much like Disney. Remember Monstober? Pumpkins, witches, cauldrons, ghouls…Halloween classics hail from Disney. A very stark difference to the horror movies we are used to today, family-friendly Disney has taken a spookier and more magical version in their original Halloween movies that won’t leave you cowering in your seat.

IS IT TRUE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE “HAVE IT EASIER” NOWADAYS?

There seems to be a misinformed stigma in the present time, about the late 20th – early 21st century (Born in the 1980s to present-day) youths and young adults having an easier time than the previous generations. I’m talking about Generation Z here and maybe Millennials who can relate to this stigma. Where the previous generations would often say that we didn’t have to experience the hardship that they had to undergo. Starting the conversation with “Back in my days” and ending it with the assumption that the younger people of today are having a much easier time.

MINDFULNESS IN A FAST-PACED WORLD: A TRIBUTE TO SLOW LIVING

Mindfulness can be defined as a “mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.” It’s origins date back to ancient eastern religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism, where it manifested in yoga and vedic meditation in Hinduism, and also considered as one of the basis towards achieving “enlightenment” for Buddhism.

HOOKUP CULTURE: EMPOWERING OR DANGEROUS?

People have long been hooking up with each other, but the likes of dating apps like Tinder have made meeting new people, including potential sexual partners, so much easier. It’s almost like shopping at a grocery store, with a variety of individuals looking for “FWBs” (Friends With Benefits) or “NSA” (No Strings Attached) in the “sexual gratification” aisle, within reach with just one swipe.

STYLE SWAP…WHEN YOU’RE TIRED OF REPEATING OUTFITS

We all know that feeling when you have clothes in your wardrobe, but you’re tired of the same outfit being worn. Outfit repeating, as they call it. Although some outfits are truly so amazing that they could be repeated however many times you wish, it’s never a bad idea to add a little zest to our everyday style.

HOW ROMANTICIZING YOUR LIFE CAN MAKE YOU HAPPIER

Recently, the Korean acronym, ‘소.확.행. (so-hwak-haeng)’ has been popular on my social media feed. The full form of this acronym roughly translates to ‘a small yet certain happiness’. I found out that this originated from 小確幸 (しょうかっこう, sho-kakko), first coined by Haruki Murakami in his novel “Afternoon in the Islets of Langerhans”.

JERKING OFF OLD NORMS: FEMINIST PORN

It’s not news that sex trafficking and child rape run rampant across pornographic sites. News heard almost every other day is just the tip of the iceberg. The most popular porn site, PornHub, has been criticized in the past for allowing videos of non-consensual sex, revenge porn, child pornography, and sex trafficking. These porn sites are complicit in the trafficking and rape of young girls as most of them have no system in place to verify whether the people in their content are of consent-giving age and condition. And, why would they when their sole purpose is to fill their pockets.

TRYING OUT MEDICINAL SKINCARE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN – SEBAMED’S FACIAL CLEANSERS

A facial wash is like a life partner — a good one must be reliable, honest, and hopefully not smell too bad. The wrong choice may leave us scarred, stressed, and feeling like we wasted money on them.

THE HYPERSEXUALIZATION OF ASIAN WOMEN: PREFERENCE OR FETISH

Someone once confidently told me how Asians are his “type”, as Asian girls are just so exotic. It still baffles me how the sexualization of ethnicity can be thought of or excused as simply a “preference” or being a person’s “type”. The line between having a preference and having a fetish is so blurred as we are blinded by the normalization of hyper-sexualizing Asian women.

THE ART OF SPEAKING UP IN CLASS

Shaking hands and feeling nauseous are something that most students experience when they want to speak up in class. I am no exception to it. As a year 4 student, one would have expected me to have been used to speaking up in class, yet that is not the case. I still find my hands shaking and my throat closing up occasionally. Sometimes, I will be sitting in class desperately wishing to utter something but just end up being silent the whole time. Not a single word leaves my mouth.

DON’T BE THAT GIRL: “THAT GIRL” AESTHETICS AND HOW IT IS TOXIC

Who is “that girl”? If you’re not familiar with her, let me introduce her.

“That girl” is the girl who has a manicured schedule that includes sleeping by midnight and waking up to see the sunrise, that girl who eats an aesthetic breakfast, that girl who goes for spin classes five times a week in cute clothes, that girl who is a living and breathing Pinterest board. That girl who we all want to be, that girl who “has her shit together”.

LOSERS, BITCHES AND MASCULINE ANXIETIES IN SQUID GAME

Squid Game, Netflix newest binge worthy Korean survival drama follows desperate, poor, and debt-ridden individuals who are offered the chance to win billions of dollars in exchange for their participation in a series of Korean childhood games. What sounds like innocent fun is met with a deadly twist –– the losers are shot to death and the winners progress until the last man is left standing. It resembles the competitiveness of The Hunger Games and the brutality of Saw coming together to create a bone-chilling yet humanising portrayal of survival at all costs.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH TIME BLOCKING

As we get into the swing of the semester, I started exploring time management methods to maximise my productivity, and came across a method called time blocking. After trying it out for two months, here’s my experience with time blocking and its pros and cons!

ONE SWIPE WONDER? BIFESTA’S MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER SEBUM REVIEW

Tired of taking that nice awesome nap and waking up to find makeup artfully smudged on your face? Bifesta’s Micellar Cleansing Water might be your motivation to get that clean, makeup-free face before you hop into bed.

LOCKER ROOM TALK: LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT

If you are like me and have the unfortunate opportunity to be the only female caught in the middle of locker room talk with multiple grown men, I feel you. So, here’s your helping of the goss to catch you up: A is explicitly rating girls’ appearances in our class, B is agreeing, C is quiet but looks uncomfortable and I was quiet. In retrospect, although I was furious inside, I didn’t feel safe enough to speak up and I blame myself to this day. Sound familiar?

MY (ALMOST) FOOLPROOF PAIN AU CHOCOLAT RECIPE

Singapore is no stranger to pains au chocolat. A self-proclaimed pain au chocolat connoisseur, I have tasted every, if not most pains au chocolat I’ve laid my eyes on. Better known here as chocolate croissants, it can be found at the ever-popular Starbucks, Tiong Bahru Bakery, and Baker & Cook (home to the best pains au chocolat in Singapore – according to my taste buds).

WE TESTED BIORE’S NEWEST SUNSCREEN AND MICELLAR WIPES – HERE’S WHY YOU NEED THEM, STAT.

Not to be that person, but a lil skincare goes a tremendous way. Especially as students, we’re on years-long hunts for the most budget-friendly yet best-performing products that can care for our skin in minimal time, and Bioré’s are definite forerunners.

WHY YOU NEED #SUPPORTLOCAL PODCASTS

We don’t appreciate our local content enough and for good reason *coughs* Mediacorp *coughs*. One medium in particular has been blossoming with a diversity of content that we shouldn’t be sleeping on –– Podcasts. Think radio shows but less music with much more curated and niche content catered to specific audiences. Podcasts are a good way to take your eyes off the screen and indulge in other forms of storytelling, education, news updates, TEA, you name it. And the best part, they’re readily available (unless you’re waiting for the next episode, that is).

WITCHES, SLUTS AND CARS: WHAT ARE WE READY TO RECLAIM?

I’m not usually one to bash TikTok trends; they’re creative, fun, and a good bonding experience for users from different backgrounds. But a while ago, the “car trend” emerged on my For You Page which at first puzzled me, and then, after I understood it, seemed nothing short of disturbing.

TIKTOK’S NEW AGE CRAZE: HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

If you’re seeing astrology, sparkling crystals and swinging pendulums on your TikTok FYP, this is your sign to keep reading to uncover the common misconceptions you might have of the New Age movement!

3 QUOTES THAT CHANGED MY BODY IMAGE

Body image refers to how we perceive and feel about the attractiveness of our own body. Although our physical shape seems to be a tangible and objective trait, the reality is that the way we view our body is influenced by society, culture, remarks from others, or our own personal thoughts. In extreme cases, some people are clinically diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) where they are pathologically worried about the flaws they perceive in their appearance.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE SUFFERING ARTIST

Van Gogh. Silvia Plath. Virginia Woolf. Kurt Cobain. These renowned artists and writers are widely known not just for their remarkable works, but also the mental illnesses they suffered from, which eventually led to their demise. These gifted yet tragic figures have inspired many fictional “crazy genius” type of characters, from the troubled actor Riggan in Birdman to the mad ballerina Nina in Black Swan.

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF FORGOTTEN FEMALE SUPERHEROES

Warning: Major spoilers ahead!

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the event of the year –– and rightfully so for its majority Asian-Chinese cast! This film tells the story of a son’s journey to confront his immortal tyrant father in order to save his family and home. Xu Shang-Chi, played by Simu Liu –– the charismatic, boy-next-door looking, Kim’s Convenience heart-throb –– is the first Asian superhero to grace our screens and everybody just can’t get enough of him.

WHAT TO WEAR WHEN YOU HAVE “NOTHING TO WEAR”

Have you been trying to get off the hamster wheel of buying new clothes for every occasion or, even worse, every month? But ultimately succumbing to the consumerist pressure of getting a “closet essential”?

RETHINKING UNIVERSITY: TAKING A SEMESTER OFF

There are several reasons why students decide to take a semester off: mental health concerns, finances, embarking on business ventures, internships, self-discovery… Whatever the reason, if you’re on the fence about taking a break from university, read on!

PREVENTING UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SAFE SEX

Unintended pregnancies are pregnancies that are mistimed, unplanned or unwanted at the time of conception — and are more common than you might think.

COVID-19 THROUGH THE EYES OF PETS

Animals, like their human counterparts, had their daily lives disrupted amidst the relentless surge of the pandemic that has swept the world. Staying indoors — what came as a somewhat unfamiliar way of life had no doubt become almost second nature to many. Despite the many disadvantages the pandemic has plagued the world with, one group seems to be the winner.

Pets.

FASHIONABLE BASICS FOR THE EVERYDAY UNIVERSITY STUDENT

Deciding what pieces to bring to hall? Looking to get some closet essentials? The key to finding great basics is not only to get clothes that go with everything, but also pieces that are versatile to get the most bang for your buck while also reducing waste. Here are some everyday fashionable basics you can incorporate into your university wardrobe!

YOUR GUIDE TO RENTING A PLACE IN SINGAPORE

Most of us, at one point or another in our lives, will have to face the “exciting” task of hunting for a rental flat — whether you’re an international student who didn’t manage to get one of NTU’s hall rooms, or a fresh graduate eager to build a new, independent life outside home.

MONEY MATTERS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Throughout our formal school education, hardly anyone teaches us about managing our finances.

Sure, we might learn about compound interest and economics and tuition fee loans for the sake of our education. But no curriculum ever dives into detail about what kinds of savings plans or investment plans you need for the future. This may seem like a non-issue to some, but as we get older, we might realise that our peers are much further ahead in terms of financial literacy and money management, leading to feelings of inadequacy or even actual financial struggles.

OUR EDITORIAL TEAM’S FAVOURITE READS

Whether you’ve clicked on this article to find motivation to pick up new books after following #booktok on TikTok, or just ‘cause you’re curious about our team’s taste in books (promise not to judge!), you’re in the right place.

THE MALE GAZE IN THE MEDIA — AND HOW IT HURTS EVERYONE

If you have been recently scrolling through Tiktok, you’ve probably seen the “written by a man trend” on your For You Page. Under the hashtag #writtenbymen, female content creators mimic cliche, overly sexualised, or straight-up absurd characters that are — you guessed it — written by men. This trend has highlighted the overwhelming problem of the male gaze in the media.

WHAT I LEARNT FROM TAKING MULTIPLE INTERNSHIPS

“Experience,” this term is too often thrown around in exchange for underpaid student labour. Don’t get me wrong, it is indeed an attractive word because as students with little exposure to the working world, it’s precisely what we need.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS (THAT ARE NOT MBTI) TO TAKE WITH YOUR PARTNER TODAY

Whether you’re just recently in love, or have been with your partner for quite some time, it’s never a bad idea to get to know them on new levels — and maybe start a meaningful conversation — through psychological tests. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) often comes to mind when we think about measuring personalities, but there are actually many more tests out there, formal and informal, which you can explore and use to better understand each other.

THRIFTING ON INSTAGRAM: WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT

In recent years, thrift stores have been all the rage. Thrift stores are great places to get cute clothes for affordable prices, sometimes even designer labels. They’re also a lot more environmentally sustainable than fast fashion retail stores because they don’t contribute to the growing amount of textile waste filling up our landfills.

MY PERIOD IS IRREGULAR — WHAT NOW?

Have you ever had a pregnancy scare because your period came 4 weeks late? As someone whose period has been regular her whole life, when my period was just 4 days late, it threw me into a panic. I even bought a pregnancy test kit to see if I was pregnant.

5 THINGS I LEARNT FROM LEAVING A “SITUATIONSHIP”

The term “situationship” is a pretty recent invention. It refers to the ambiguous romantic phase in which the two parties involved clearly have feelings for each other, are regularly talking, meeting up, having sex… but are in neither a relationship nor a friends-with-benefits arrangement.

BROWN IS… MY THICK, CURLY, AND FRIZZY HAIR

I still remember the sizzling sounds as I cautiously slid the flat iron down a portion of my hair — during which I’d repeat a silent prayer that the 320 degree celsius was not going to burn off my head, and that my straightened hair would last the day. In my teens, straight hair was “beautiful” and anything that veered away from that was undesirable — especially thick, curly, and dry hair.

5 WAYS TO BE A GOOD ALLY TO LGBTQIA+ FOLK

There isn’t just one right way to be a proper ally, but due to the slow progress of understanding LGBTQIA+-related topics, things we say can sound patronizing and hurt people in this community more than you can imagine, even if that wasn’t your intention.

A 5-STEP GUIDE TO DIFFERENTIATING ROMANTIC FEELINGS FROM PLATONIC ONES

Have you ever questioned the boundaries of your relationship with your bestie and considered what it would be like to be more than friends with them? Have you ever caught yourself checking your bestie out for a few seconds beyond platonically acceptable? Been wondering if you have — oh dear — feelings for them?

SNEAKY WAYS TO LEAD A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

The term “healthy lifestyle” sounds really good — but also very tiring. It automatically activates certain images in the mind: salads that taste like cardboard, long hours spent in pain at the gym, and joyless nights out where you have to turn down all the cocktails offered by friends.

SIDE HUSTLES FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Entering university can be the most pivotal time in our lives with the anticipated newfound independence, the drinking and partying and making new memories. Yet, there are also looming student loan bills and higher-than-expected living expenses. No wonder we feel broke all the time. So, here’s why you should have a side hustle, and five ways you can earn some income while schooling.

LIFE MULTIFUNCTIONAL ITEMS THAT WILL CHANGE THE GAME FOR YOUR HALL LIFE FOREVER

It’s back-to-school season, which also means — time to move (back) to hall!

While there’s no denying the advantages of hall life, such as the convenience and proximity to school, we can all agree that halls in NTU could be a little more comfortable.

YOUR GUIDE TO OUR FAVOURITE CAFES IN NTU

We get it: sometimes you just work better in a café. Apart from the basic but reliable crowd-favourites like Starbucks and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, there are many more hidden treasures to tick off your bucket list during your time here. Keep scrolling to uncover our team’s favourite hang-out spots around campus.

HOW AN INTROVERT STARTED DANCING IN UNIVERSITY

If you’re a freshman in university, you’re probably thinking about joining some co-curricular activities (CCAs). But you’re wondering if it’s too late for you to pick up a new hobby in university, especially since your peers may have had years of prior experience.

OUR DECLASSIFIED ONLINE SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE

The Covid-19 situation has been fluctuating, and it seems that online school is here to stay for a while, whether partially or completely substituting face-to-face class.

From having to deal with multiple distractions to changing your learning style, online school might be rather difficult for some to adapt to. Always dozing off in lectures? Feeling unprepared for every class? Getting lost in deadlines? You’re not alone. So here’s a guide on how to get the most out of online school.

Toxic Romantic Relationships

A quick Google search term defines a toxic relationship as “any relationship [between people who] don’t support each other, where there’s conflict and one seeks to undermine the other, where there’s competition, where there’s disrespect and a lack of cohesiveness.”

Smile Makers Review: Our Experiences With Their Sex Toys

Smile Makers, the sexual wellness brand leading a global effort to normalize the perception of female sexuality, is set to relaunch its original collection of innovative vibrators, with a range of upgraded designs driven by user feedback. We got the opportunity to share with you our experience with their reinvented range.

DTF?: Finding Sexual Gratification on Dating Apps

There are certain moments in your life where you feel inexplicably horny. Woman, man, dog, mammoth –– hormones escape no living thing. While fingers and toys are great and all, sometimes a sister gets lonely getting it on on her own. I’m aware of the red flags that men on Tinder with gym selfies and bios that say “DTF” pose, but what can I say, sometimes I’m DTF too.

How to Approach Kinky Conversations With Your Partner

You don’t have to be self-conscious about wanting to be pleasured during sex. We have previously written (The Normalised Gap in Sexual Pleasure) about the unfortunate fact that there is a normalised sexual pleasure gap between men and women. Within heterosexual relationships, 90% of men achieve orgasm compared to only 50% of women. Perhaps, some of us may be willing to try other things in the bedroom in order to spice things up.

A Day On Sisters' Island

Legend has it that after an old widow died, her two very pretty daughters, Minah and Linah, left their home village to live with an uncle. Unfortunately, Linah was chased by a group of pirates one day while taking water from a well. She ran away from them and unintentionally led the pirates to her uncle’s home, where the pirate brandished his dagger and demanded to marry Linah.

Pretty Privilege

Looks or personality? This age old question continues to be asked when determining our preferences for a partner. Humans are highly visual creatures. An attractive person walking by will turn heads. Although beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, we’ll be talking about the people who are conventionally attractive. ‘Pretty privilege’ sums up our biases and preference for attractive people, whereby beauty is socially constructed, marginalising certain individuals and groups in the process.

Tackling Inconveniences That Are Stopping You From Working Out

Let's face it: we're all guilty of trying to do something productive, only to be deterred by seemingly small inconveniences along the way. Working out is no exception, with its own set of physical and mental barriers. But hey, when there's a will, there's a way! Here are some common concerns that might be holding you back from exercising, and some advice on how to overcome them

A Liaison with Lipstick

Before going to work every morning, my mother would plant bright red lipstick stains on each cheek in spite of my resistance as I tossed and turned in bed. When I woke up, I would desperately try to rub the marks off of my face. To me, the remnants of the lipstick represented manufactured beauty; I despised it.

Why I Got Engaged Early

As I write this, I am twenty-four. It’s been eleven years since I met my fiance, three years since he first confessed, and two years since we got engaged. Our wedding is some time at the end of this year, and I have absolutely no regrets about my take on taking things slow because he’s been an amazing part of this. However, things have not always come so easy. There have been the inevitable ups and downs, the fights, the arguments, the questioning of decisions, and the harrowing comments presented by the people around us.

A Day on Coney Island

Did you know that Coney Island was not always the picturesque place it is today? Originally known as Pulau Serangoon, Coney Island was once owned by the Aw Boon brothers, the same brothers who built Haw Par Villa, and have even built a house on the island.

Here's How to Ace Your First Internship

Many will agree the corporate world is a treacherous maze for bright-eyed students looking to make their first mark in their career field. With COVID-19 only increasing the competition in the internship market as companies cut their costs, making a lasting positive impression on your interviewer and supervisors can be incredibly difficult as an inexperienced applicant. While pointers such as dressing the part and learning as much as you can are intuitive, they may not help you stand out from the crowd of equally — if not more — qualified applicants. Here’s my experience with how I scored and made the most of my internships during the pandemic.

You've Got Mail: My Experience Having a Pen Pal

In the midst of the circuit breaker last year, instead of burying my head in technology, I found solace in painting, reading, and music. The repetitive days slowly got to my head and I was looking to get out of my comfort zone and do something exciting. Writing to a pen pal had always crossed my mind, and the circuit breaker played a big role in enhancing my desire of finding a pen friend.

Gifting on a Budget: 4 Cheap DIY Gift Ideas to Explore!

Birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Christmas — wondering what to give during each season of giving usually presents us with a headache. Stuffed toys or stationery seem too generic, while most ‘unique’ or personalised gifts are either highly impractical or burn a hole in your wallet. The perfect present is an engineered blend of originality, pragmatism, and, preferably, frugality. After all, if you’re a broke university student like me, you’ve probably realised that we can’t be spending a hundred dollars on every gift.

Interesting Plants and Where To Find Them

Like many, I once brought home a succulent believing that it would ease my journey into being a plant parent - but it ended up not doing too well. I had absolutely no idea on how to care for it. Fortunately, as time passed, my success in gardening and caring for house plants grew. I am now a proud plant parent of the ever-aesthetic monstera deliciosa, several syngoniums, and the easy-going money plant!

A Day On Pulau Ubin

Home to one of Singapore’s last kampongs, an intertidal beach, and many other beautiful views, Pulau Ubin is an underrated jewel waiting to be fully appreciated. Despite its size of only about 10sqm, the island is jam-packed with beautiful sights and activities.

Fixed Mindset: How to Overcome Procrastination

Do you find yourself browsing around on YouTube when you have a test the next day? Why do we waste our time even when we are busy? The answer: procrastination.

The Case for Comfort Zones

The comfort zone is a mental state in which a person feels familiar with things, at ease and in control, with minimal stress and anxiety. It is also, curiously, the state that we’re most eager to leave. It’s shunned in almost every motivational speech ever; the phrase “step out of your comfort zone” is tossed around so often, that the comfort zone almost seems like a dangerous and scary place to be in.

Setting Boundaries for Mental Health With Your Loved Ones

When things start getting rough, most of us feel like we have to vent to someone. It isn’t healthy to bottle up negative emotions, so having a good ol’ friend to talk to can help you manage your thoughts and eventually deal with whatever life throws at you.

A Day at St John's Island and Lazarus Island

St John’s Island and Lazarus Island have worn many hats throughout the years. Originally kampongs before the 1960s and then a quarantine centre for those inflicted with Beriberi, St John’s Island and Lazarus Island are now beautiful island getaways for those who wish to unwind from the stresses of the city. Connected via a causeway, these two islands boast cool waters, white sands, and incredibly scenic views. Anyone who steps off the jetty will be immediately drawn into its serenity.

I Tried the Pomodoro Technique for My Midterms. Here’s How It Went.

You may be familiar with this feeling: assignments are piling up, the exam is in two days, but you can’t find the motivation to start doing anything.

"Ungrateful!" - Why Do We Respond Negatively to Help?

"Help” is a concept loaded with positive meanings. Receiving help from others implies that we are relieved from our struggles, closer to attaining our goals in life, and in a better relationship with those who help us. Humans are social creatures, and being able to help one another is a key factor that has allowed us to survive and thrive as a species.

How to Stop Overthinking

It’s pretty much human nature to worry about things that might bother you, especially when it’s about something important. But what happens when that extended period of time becomes part of everyday life? Hours filled with unwanted thoughts and ruminations, only to find that none of the scenarios that you’ve played in your head justifies the amount of effort you’ve spent mulling something over.

Fake Luxury in Bling Empire

Is fake luxury shaming wrong?

For avid fans of Netflix’s hit series, Bling Empire, you may remember expert jeweller Florent Bonadei exposing fellow castmate Kelly Mi Li for wearing fake designer jewellery to his Diamonds Forever party, generously hosted by billionaire BFF, Anna Shay. While the entire series is based on the obnoxiously glamorous lifestyles of the wealthy, there is still a bias against fake luxury, which is also reflected, albeit to a smaller extent, in our “regular,” less spectacular lives.

Why We Need to Thrift (More)

From the humble establishments of the Salvation Army to hundreds of Instagram shops bearing the promise of ‘vintage’ items, thrifting has proven its relevance in the local fashion scene. A great alternative to fast fashion consumption, combined with many students’ shallow pockets and their instinctive desire for self-expression, the up and rising powerhouse of fashion doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Here’s Your Crash Course On How to Thrift Like a Pro

Fashion’s biggest buzzword as of late, thrift shopping has certainly made it to every fashionista’s to-do list, and we don’t blame you for it. With fast fashion consumption becoming an increasingly large environmental problem, and sustainable brands like Everlane being priced at unrealistic prices for students despite its quality and transparency, it’s no wonder that many students turn to thrifting to be trendy without breaking the bank or the environment (further).

Overdressing, According to Dion and Steffi

Overdressing still receives judgement in our society, and can even be tagged by a few as inappropriate or ‘extra.’ Whether it be hanging out with friends on the weekends or going for lessons in school, those of us who like to dress more extravagantly can sometimes feel uncomfortable with the unwanted attention we get from curious strangers. You start to question if the outfit that you’ve so proudly picked out that morning looks good on you or worse — if you have food stains smeared across your top or face and look like a complete fool, trying to catch a glimpse on any reflective surface discreetly so as to not draw even more attention to yourself. Turns out, you’re not alone in your thoughts. We spoke to Steffi Heloise and Dion Chan, who have adopted a laissez-faire (literally ‘let it be’) approach to expressing themselves freely and embracing their creativity and style over time, and show you how to do the same.

How to Recognise if You’re Gaslighting Your Friends and Family

We may have seen discussions on how to recognise if you’re being gaslit, but what about situations when you’re the gaslighter? We all have something to work on, and for some of us, it may be toxic gaslighting tendencies.

What to Do When Your Friends Have Turned On You?

Sudden betrayal by someone you may have considered to be a close friend can traumatise and hurt very deeply. You might not understand or know the initial series of events surrounding the betrayal. In these moments when you are emotionally distraught, it is common to feel lost and alone. You may also not initially realise that the person you trusted so deeply has turned their back on you. The loss of a deep friendship can be emotionally devastating, as you feel that your support system has collapsed. Numerous studies have shown that betrayal makes it subsequently more difficult for people to trust others and build deep relationships with others. How can you identify when this is about to happen?

I “Failed” My Diet, Here’s How My Experience May Be Able to Help You

Trigger warning: disordered eating, weight loss

It was a bright and breezy Saturday at the start of the semester. Normally I’d be out and about, meeting friends or running errands. But today wasn’t a normal day. I lay in bed, weary and light-headed, scrolling through food delivery apps on my phone. Grab, Foodpanda, Deliveroo, then back to Grab… my eyes dwelled on every picture of food and every line of description; all the cells in my body seemed to be screaming, “Eat!”

Singaporean Abroad: Living Away From Home

Many of us spent our formative years in Singapore — going to local schools, eating local delights and frequenting classic landmarks like the Merlion for our weekend family outings. After all these years, we’ve gotten used to the familiar culture and environment of our sunny island.

“You’re Not Like Other Indians”: The Identity Crisis of a Mandarin-Speaking Brown Girl

Cai fan aunties have been my biggest fans because of my seeming prowess in speaking Mandarin since I was a kid. Of course, the source of these praises was not exclusive to them. Being a brown girl with Mandarin as my “mother tongue” in primary and secondary school did in fact turn a lot of heads.

Why the Anecdotes on Racism Just Aren't Working Enough

The most interesting part about writing the draft to this article was the emotions that flowed through me. Before this, I did not realise the extent of my anger and resentment toward the comments that had been casually tossed at me as a Malay Muslim living in Singapore. I found it difficult to write everything I wanted to for fear of being “cancelled” and for fear of writing beyond me — that I would be assuming that every other Malay Muslim minority felt this way. But as I began to review the emotions that I had so frustratedly put onto paper, I began to realise that more needs to be said.

Studio Ghibli's Female Characters Hold Their Own

Founded in 1985 under the helm of directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki, Studio Ghibli has become Japan’s pre-eminent animation film studio. Beloved by many, films produced by the studio continue to be enjoyed by audiences - My Neighbour Totoro (1988), Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), and Spirited Away (2001) have achieved cult status internationally. Spirited Away was recently announced to be adapted into a stage play in 2022! Getting tickets for the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo is as competitive as purchasing concert tickets. Queues of Ghibli fans decorate the exterior of the museum, all waiting with excitement to get a glimpse of the art and technique of their favourite films.

Not Like Other Goddesses: A Look at Contemporary Role Models

The common assumption in the status quo is that for a woman, being religious comes with the burden of oppression by archaic thoughts and ideals. However, it is important for us to question whether the newfound oppressive definition of religion has come from a man’s whim or what religion truly was in its purest form. This requires one to view the world from an objective standpoint to realise that while patriarchal elements are almost indistinguishably intertwined into the fabric of religion, cherry-picking the virtues of religion that inspire and empower the modern-day disciple is what ensures everyone’s mental peace. This ideal can be found in certain goddesses, such as Draupadi, Lilith and Tara, who prove to be role-models and embody the principles of the feminist movement.

5 Myths About Fitness That I Wish I Didn’t Believe as a Beginner

No matter how much your gym rat friend raves about exercising, we all know that working out isn’t the easiest hobby to pick up or stick to. This might be especially true for us women since we’re generally less familiar with the gym (and so perhaps more intimidated by it). But at the same time, we’re more targeted by advertisers in the fitness industry. I can’t remember the number of times when misconceptions and irrational fears had held me back in my fitness journey - and I’d hate to see another person go through that. So, if you're planning to lead a more active lifestyle, here are some fitness myths I wish someone had debunked for me when I first started working out.

Why Ghosting Is Acceptable

In this digital age, we show interest in someone by initiating conversations through DMs, agonising over the subtext of our crush’s every message, and replying with read receipts switched off to convey our pointed lack of interest in that stubborn individual who just won’t stop texting.

Seriously Hummus Review: Hummus Where the Heart Is

Launched last July, Seriously Hummus is a home-based business that sells, you guessed it, hummus. Currently, NTU student, Qistina Warren, is running the brand by herself and has a great love for hummus, which immediately caught my intrigue. If anyone knows anything about me, they know that I love hummus and have it every week.

“Don’t be a pussy”: Playing Women’s Contact Rugby in NTU

“Don’t be a pussy!” I remember the shock when my coach first flung those words at me after I had been tackled to the ground and was visibly shaken. My first thought was: “the audacity of her” my second, “I’m going to prove her wrong.” That’s the first thing about contact rugby, it’s perfect for rebels. From day one, we were convinced that we’re tougher than what we’re made to think we are.

To All the Boys Who Dance

You might have heard of #BoysDanceToo, a movement in 2019 that started after Good Morning America host, Laura Spencer, made an insensitive remark on Prince George’s ballet lessons (she clearly hasn’t seen Billy Elliot or Mao’s Last Dancer). The ballet world was quick to respond, with ballet companies — San Francisco Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre coming to his defence. 300 dancers even took part in a ballet class at Times Square in support of the movement.

GG: The Struggles of Being a Gamer Girl

“Wait, you’re a girl? GG.”

Gaming has, for the longest time, been a male-dominated industry. From the production to advertising and the community focus, men have always been at the front and centre in gaming. With the rise of female streamers and outspoken women in the community, women are beginning to make their voices heard through the fog of sexist stereotypes that sometimes make it difficult for girls to feel welcome in various online and offline gaming communities.

Is There Space for Men’s Rights in Feminism?

Okay, let’s get this out of the way first. We need to have uncomfortable conversations and men’s rights is one of them. At a cursory glance, it is easy to assume and dismiss that this discourse was started by “incels” (Involuntary Celibate) and bitter men who lament about how women have “too many advantages” in society. Men benefit in Singapore as they hold high positions of power within the patriarchal hegemony, so what are their complaints? However, the patriarchy hurts men too. There are ingrained social stereotypes that are harmful to everyone —  men, women, and non-binary. I think that it’s an unpleasant necessity to look at and delve into this particular argument of men’s rights.

The NTU Supper Club: Raydy Bee Hoon

When you’re burning the midnight oil to work, study or even just hang out with your friends, nothing satisfies your hunger pangs more than a steaming hot packet of bee hoon.

The Problematic Phenomena: Not Like Other Girls

"You aren’t like other girls, you know? You aren’t the typical girly type.”

I hear this type of comment or some form of variation often, and it’s usually said with good intentions; as a compliment and invites me, a woman, to take part in the joke and poke fun at the hobbies that feminine women enjoy.

Building Confidence as a Woman: How to Handle Mansplaining

Have you ever tried to speak up during discussions in class, only to find your voice drowned out by louder voices in the group? Do you notice that they are often male? Research by Dartmouth College showed that men speak up 1.6 times more than women in the classroom. Even outside of class, many women feel like they inevitably have to give in to men’s assertiveness.

High Maintenance Women: Empowered and Proud

What’s the big deal with this term, “high maintenance?” Well, “high maintenance” is used as an insult rather than praise or an objective term. High maintenance hints to the idea of something being maintained, where it requires a lot of work to keep in good condition. Concerning people, it refers to a person or a relationship demanding a lot of attention, time, or effort.

My Experiences Being Harassed by Men

TW: Sexual Harassment

I have been reflecting on incidences where I’ve gotten harassed by men, and in light of recent news, it felt important to write about — not that it already wasn’t. Harassment occurs in various forms and it has happened to me online and offline, as well as in various locations.

When Is It Inappropriate to Have Men in Women’s Spaces?

To celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) which was on 8th March, The Straits Times decided to dedicate a special feature on the 7th March to commemorate powerful and inspiring women. Thus, under their Life section, their biggest article on the front page was “Male, feminist and proud of it.”

10 Strides Towards Gender Equality in 2020

2020 exposed crippling inequalities in every facet of society. Nonetheless, we took huge strides for women’s rights. From greater representation in the spheres of politics and science to new laws that guarantee fundamental dignity for women of all ages, here are ten times we took a step closer towards gender equality in 2020.

A Love Letter to my Hometown

My first two weeks in Singapore were spent looking at a dilapidated by-road from the constraints of my 14-square-metre SHN (Stay Home Notice) room. My third week felt like that episode of The Office where Kevin said the least words possible for anything, filled with ‘huh’s and ‘what’s as I tried to transcend the accent. And just before I celebrated my one-month anniversary, I discovered Singapore’s obsession with bubble tea, a phenomenon that still confuses me. Learning all the little nuances of a vastly different culture from the one I grew up in made me feel like a foreigner.

A Kopi Date Experience: Kopi for Your Thoughts?

A Blind Date. That sounds terrifying. You don’t know what they will look like, you don’t know if you’ll vibe with them, and you can’t guarantee your safety. Well, that is what Kopi Date tries to resolve by curating your first blind date to find someone with whom you can have a genuine connection and ensuring your safety through their venue partners.

Ask An Expert: Wildlife Encounters in NTU

POV: You’re late for your tutorial, making haste with your bag on your shoulders. There it is, lounging on the path — NTU’s unofficial mascot, the macaque. Unsure of what to do, you stop and stare. Passersby whip out their mobile phones to snap a photo of the primate. Some people walk on by while others are cautious.

Semester Break Getaways: Singapore Islands

Ah, semester break - a breather from the usual back-to-back extracurriculars and tired eyes toiling through assignments. You might at some point have decided: Hey! I need a break. (You probably should decide this at some point - mental health is really very important.)

Afterhours Study: A Co-Studying Space for Students

Any Singaporean student would be familiar with the struggle to find good study spots, especially during peak exam season. With COVID-19 safe distancing measures in place, communal study areas such as those in community centres and public libraries face limited seating capacity to the disadvantage of many busy students.

Hentai: A Commentary on Consent

Hentai, as most of us know it, is Japanese animated pornography. Directly translated, it refers specifically to “abnormal sexual desires” such as tentacle porn or other hardcore pornography.

Outside of Japan, the term is used as a catch-all to refer to any type of animated pornography. Some of the most popular or well-known hentai categories include tentacle porn, lolita porn (porn where young children-like girls are sexually involved. They are usually hundreds or thousands of years old magical or supernatural entities with childlike bodies.), and rape, sexual assault, or otherwise dubious consensual acts. Particularly, this last category appears in hentai a lot more frequently than in real person scripted pornography, with many different types of violations that may happen to women.

Assault, Body Autonomy, and Consent in Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman 1984 (WW84) comes during the rise of women-centred superhero films like Captain Marvel and Harley Quinn: Birds of Prey. Unlike the other two movies, Diana has a key love interest, Steve, who plays a major role in this story. As opposed to Wonder Woman, Diana is no longer the naive ignorant superhero but a strong independent woman: with a caveat. She has made no meaningful connections with anyone and has been pining over her lost love Steve for over 70 years. Relatable. Empowering. Compelling. Yay, Girl Power.

The Truth About Trauma in I May Destroy You (cw: sexual assault)

I’m sure the triggering headlines on sexual assault cases of late have been occupying your social media feed way too frequently. Following the string of survivors who have boldly called out their perpetrators, the enraged online community has been a tremendous force of justice. While justice for survivors often centres on punishing the perpetrators, we tend to forget that these traumatic experiences live on. How can solidarity with sexual assault survivors better accommodate their healing process? I May Destroy You unpacks this very question.

Beat the Heat @ Negative 21 Degrees

NTU students know full well that the food options in school are aplenty. With food courts, fast food chains, and hall canteens, most of our meals are easily covered. But before this year, there were hardly any good dessert places here for when we need an icy treat, especially after a long day in Singapore’s blazing hot weather.

Actually Useful Questions to Ask on Your First Date

There are tons of guides out there on questions to ask on a first date, but they may be unhelpful since they’re so general. While I’m sure everyone has their own way of measuring compatibility or chemistry, here are some questions that can help you filter out what kind of person they are, and find someone with traits you value.

7 Green Flags to Look Out for in Your Next Partner

In the age of the Internet, we get hyper-exposed to red flag behaviour in potential partners, and this can include gaslighting, co-dependence, and disrespecting boundaries. However, we are less aware of the more positive “green flags” that could signal a healthy relationship. Apart from asking important questions during your first meeting, here are some of the signs you may want to look out for in your potential partner.

Dating as an Introvert: My Experience on Some of Singapore’s Most Popular Dating Apps

With COVID-19 and the Circuit Breaker in 2020, going out to meet new people seems to be harder than ever, and even more so for an introvert like me. With small and few friend circles, potential dates are very hard to find. Plus, asking my fellow introverted friends whether they know anyone who might be looking for a date… yeah, no. Dating apps then seem like the best alternative. I get to see who catches my eye from the smartphone I’m perpetually glued to, without the fear of making eye contact or having them notice that I’m staring. The bio of a dating profile seems to provide a handy cheat-sheet of how someone wants to present themself, so that should appeal to introverts… right? Most dating apps only let two people chat after they’ve both indicated interest in each others’ profiles, so that should ease the cursing nerves about “What if they aren’t interested?” I tried out some popular dating apps in Singapore and here’s what I struggled with the most.

How To Identify and Deal with Toxic Family Members

Sometimes the saying ‘blood is thicker than water’ may be a little complicated when your family dynamics are not the healthiest. Certain relationships with family members may be stressful and upsetting when you can never seem to see eye-to-eye or an argument erupts whenever you’re in the same room. While family are supposed to be your rock, sometimes it’s better to distance yourself from your loved ones if they’re draining your mental and emotional energy. As it may be difficult to detect the toxic red flags in your loved one, here are tips on identifying toxicity in your family and learning to deal with it.

Queering Your Watchlist: 9 Great LGBTQ+ Shows to Stream Now!

It’s no secret that cisgender and heterosexual characters have dominated the screens for most of our lives – from Hollywood to Korean dramas and of course, (cough) Mediacorp. In a climate of LGBTQIA activism and raising awareness of the institutional discrimination these communities face, it is time we start making space for queer narratives. If you’re unsure of where to start, fret not, we’ve compiled a list of wholesome, creative, and unique TV series that centre around a spectrum of queer characters.

My Experience in an All-Gender Toilet

In Singapore, most of the toilets we encounter are distinguished by the pink or blue signs, or if there’s a triangle or not. It’s rare, almost unheard of, to find an all-gender restroom.

Navigating NTU as a Transgender Student

We reached out to Kaleidoscope, a group that gives voice and visibility to the LGBTQ+ community by championing inclusivity, education and discussion to share some experiences with navigating our campus as a transgender student.

A How-to Guide to Sex Toys

What is your relationship with self-pleasure? This may be one of the most difficult things to talk about as a person with vulva in Singapore. Our sexual education in schools is limited and we still suffer from what is known as the orgasm gap.

The Ultimate Guide To Getting Your First Tattoo

Getting a tattoo can be an immensely intimidating process when the storefronts tend to be dimly-lit and full of people with menacing bodywork or scary piercings. With social media, the process of getting a tattoo has become easier and less harrowing, but what can we expect during the process?

Beyond the pandemic: Rickie Sonjia, Tattoo Artist

For most of last year, it seemed like time had stopped. With physical sales halted, many artists found themselves searching for alternate ways to stay afloat, with no clear sign of the end in sight. Tattoo artist Rickie Sonjia was one of them…uncertainty was looking her square in the face.

7 Spots On Campus To Spend Your Time Well

The time you have between classes is precious for catching up with friends, grabbing meals and maybe, squeezing in some me-time before another three-hour lecture. Spending time well requires a conducive environment suited to what you are doing.