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10 2016: MyY e a rOfFa i l ur e s 11 Don’ tS t r e s sAboutS t r e s s 13 Buyi ngBa bi e s 15 WhyY ouS houl dTa kePa r tI nS por t s 17 Ai na ’ sAr t wor ks 19 AWi nt e r ’ sNi g ht 22 Wi t hHi sHe a r tAndS oul 25 ALi f e : Tol dI nPoe ms J a de l ynn’ sAr t wor ks 31 34 35 36 37
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T HESPI RI T of Th ea n n u a lHo u s eCa p t a i nEl e c t i o n swe r eh e l d e a r l yl a s ty e a r . Wi t ht h i sy e a r ’ se l e c t i o n sc o mi n g u p , we ’ dl i k et os h a r ewi t hy o uo n eo ft h ema n y g r e a ts p e e c h e sf r o ml a s ty e a r ’ sc a n d i d a t e s . Th i sf o l l o wi n gs p e e c hi sf r o mAme l i aCh u aa n dwef e e li t r e p r e s e n t swh a tt h eHo u s es p i r i ti sr e a l l ya b o u tf o r a l lh o u s e s … …I ’ mp r e t t ys u r emo s to fy o ua r ee x p e c t i n gt h eme d i o c r eq u o t e sb yt h ea v e r a g eh o u s ec a p t a i nc a n d i d a t el i k e‘ Ye s , wewi l la l lma k es u r et oc r u s ht h e o t h e rh o u s e sa n dwi nt h er a c e ’ ;‘ Ye s , Iwi l lb eh e r e t oh e l pu sa l lf i n a l l ywi nt h i si fy o ue v e rs oc h o o s e t oe l e c tmey o u rh o u s ec a p t a i n ’o rj u s tl i s t i n ga l l t h e i rt a l e n t sa n dc a p a b i l i t i e s . Ib e l i e v et h a tt h a t ’ sa p r e t t yg r e a ta p p r o a c h , Ime a nwh owo u l d n ’ tl i k ea s u p e rs p o r t y , i n t e l l i g e n t , t a l e n t e dp e r s o nr u n n i n g t h e i rh o u s e ? Ho we v e r , t o d a y , Iwi l lb et a k i n gad i f f e r e n ta p p r o a c h . Iwa n tt ob ea b l et oa p p e a lt oe v e r ys i n g l e o n eo fy o u . Ik n o wf o raf a c tt h a to u rh o u s ei sf u l l o fa ma z i n g , t a l e n t e d , p e o p l e . Wh e t h e ri tb e , y o u ’ r e g o o da td a n c e , s p o r t s , y o u ’ r eg r e a ta tma t h , y o u ’ r e g r e a ta ts i n g i n g . Li k ef o re x a mp l e , Sh r u t i , y o u ’ r eg r e a ta ta c t i n ga n d y o u ’ r es u p e rs ma r ta n dy o u ’ r eo n eo ft h emo s t s e l f d i s c i p l i n e dp e o p l eIk n o w;a n dNa q i b , y o u ’ r e g r e a ti nmu s i c , y o u t u b i n g ;Cl a r a , y o u ’ r eg r e a ta t s p o r t sa n dy o u ’ r es u p e rd u p e rs ma r t ; Ab i g a i la n d Sh a wn , y o u ’ r eg o o da tl e g i tl i k ee v e r y t h i n g … Do n ’ tt h i n kImi s s e da n y o n eo u tb e c a u s eIa mf u l l y a wa r et h a te v e r ys i n g l eo n eo fy o ui nah o u s ei sc a p a b l eo fma n yma n yt h i n g s . Ik n o w, ma n yo fy o u ma yb et h i n k i n g , ‘ wh a ti ss h ed o i n g ? ’ , o r‘ u m… He r ?Sh e ’ sr u n n i n gf o rt h i sp o s i t i o n ? ’It o l ds o meo f myf r i e n d st h a tIwa sr u n n i n g , a n dt h e yt h o u g h ti t wa sad a r e , s ot h e r ey o ug o !Ik n o w, i tma yc o mea s h u g es u r p r i s et ot h ema j o r i t yo fy o ua n dIma yg e t s o mewe i r ds t a r e sa tme . Bu ts t i l l , Is t a n dt os e ta n e x a mp l ef o ra l lo fy o u–s p o r t yo rn o t . Be i n gah o u s el e a d e r ?Tob eh o n e s t , a tf i r s t , Iwa s s u p e rh e s i t a n ta b o u tr u n n i n gf o rt h i sp o s i t i o nb e c a u s eI ’ mp r o b a b l yo n eo ft h el e a s te x p e c t e dp e o p l e t ob er u n n i n g …a n dl i k el e g i ta c t u a l l yp h y s i c a l l y r u n n i n gi nt h ef i e l do rwh e r e v e r . Ia d mi tI ’ mn o ta s f i ta sAb i g a i l , J o e y , MrEl l i s , f o re x a mp l e .
HOUSE WHAT’ SI T REALLYABOUT?
Myp o i n ti s , Iwa n ta l lo fy o ut ou n d e r s t a n dt h a ty o u d o n ’ th a v et ob et h eb e s ti ns p o r t s ;t h e t o ps t u d e n ti nc l a s s ;g r a d e8i nmu s i c , t od ot h e t h i n g sy o uwa n tt od o . Yo us h o u l dn e v e rl i mi ty o u r s e l fj u s tb e c a u s eo fwh a to t h e rp e o p l et h i n ka n dwh a t o t h e rp e o p l ea r ec a p a b l eo f . Al wa y sr e me mb e rt h a t y o u , e v e r ys i n g l eo n eo fy o u , a r ec a p a b l eo fe v e r y t h i n gy o ua r ewi l l i n gt owo r kf o r . Bu tI ’ v eg o t t as a y , t h e r ewa sap o i n twh e r eIt h o u g h t a l lo ft h i sd i d n ’ tma t t e r . 4y e a r sa g o , wh e nIj o i n e dt h i ss c h o o l , Ij u s tc a mef o rt h es t u d y i n ga n dwe n tb a c ke v e r y d a y , o n l yt oh a v ed o n et h e s a met h i n ge v e r ys i n g l ed a y . Ho wb o r i n gd o e st h a t s o u n d ?Bu twi t ht h eh e l po fma n yp e o p l e , Ih a v e ma n a g e dt of i n dwh a tI ’ mg o o da ta n dI ’ mt h a n k f u l f o ri t . Iu s e dt ob et h a tk i dwh oj u s ts a to nt h es i d e l i n e swa t c h i n ge v e r y o n ee l s ep r o g r e s s , wi s h i n gI wo u l db ea b l et od ot h es a meo n ed a y . An dg u e s s wh a t ?Ih a v e . I &# 3 9 ; v et a k e np a r ti nt h r e ep r o d u c t i o n ss of a r ;Ip l a yd e f e n s ei nt h en e t b a l lt e a m;Iwa s af i n a l i s ti nTe n b y ’ smu s i ca n dd r a maf e s t i v a li nFe b r u a r y ;Ia mi nc h a r g eo fp u b l i cr e l a t i o n si naUn i t e d Na t i o n s r u nf o u n d a t i o nc a l l e dGi r lUpa n dIs a n ga t t h eq u e e n ’ sb i r t h d a yp a r t ya tt h ema j e s t i ch o t e ll a s t mo n t h . Wh ys h o u l dIwa n tt ob eal e a d e r–o rt a k ep a r ta t a l l ?We l l , Iwa n tt ob ea b l et oh e l pg u i d ea l lo fy o u wh oa r es t i l lu n s u r eo fwh a ty o u ’ r eg o o da ta n dc a p a b l eo fd o i n gb e c a u s eIk n o wt h a te v e r y o n ei sc a p a b l e o fg r e a t n e s s ;wej u s tmi g h tn o tk n o wi ty e t . I ts u r e d i dt a k emeal o n gt i met of i g u r ei to u t , b u ti ts u r e wa swo r t hi t . An dn o wIwa n ta l lo fy o ut of e e ls p e c i a la n da p p r e c i a t e d . Ah o u s en e e d sac h a n g ei nt h ewa yal e a d e rg o e s a r o u n dt h emi s s i o n . Ca nIa p p e a lt oe v e r ys i n g l eo n e o fy o u ?Wh ok n o ws ?Bu tIa mp r o u dt os a yt h a tIc a n
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04
SENIOR 2017 DAY 2017 SPORTS DAY SENIOR SPORTS
The day starts as a crisp Friday morning, a sort of premonition for a good day ahead for me. Upon arriving, I saw many people mingling around, some warming up, some already on the track practising. Just as a student of Tenby, I felt a deep sense of pride for my fellow students who were working so hard to support their own house.
Our day started with the most tiring event: the 1500m race. As soon as the starting signal sounded, everyone took off running. Everyone had burst into a complete run right off the bat, which surprised all of us in the stands. A pleasant surprise it was, though. We had started yelling as well, some calling out the runners’ names, some just calling out our house’s names. Smiles painted our faces as the rising sun painted the scene with a pleasant glow. After our brilliant runners had finished, and the medals given out, the track events started as well.
As the announcement called for participants for the track events, a flood of people trailed down from the stands and towards the far sides of the track. High jump, discus, javelin, shot put, long jump - these are the events people normally overlook due to them not even being able to see the events happening from the stands. Which is why I would like to shed more light on them. The teachers in charge of each event give the students a briefing on the proper postures and ways of handling the javelin, discus and shot put, I see the complete concentration on their faces as well as determination. Even though this was a competition between houses, the camaraderie between our different houses was very clearly shown through participants of different houses discussing tactics, tips and tricks to achieving the best results they can. There was also a very strong sense of good sportsmanship as there was no one who showed any signs of being a sore loser.
There were many races happening but the one most of us were excited about was the staff race. Each house had a team of four teachers racing a short relay. As we watched, we laughed and cheered as well due to the hilarity of our teachers in headbands with ribbons, an afro, a moustache and face paint. After all the events had been completed we all sat twiddling our fingers, waiting for the final results. The air felt completely tense even when we tried to relieve it with empty chatter. As a voice booms over the amplifiers, everyone’s attention is captured. The houses were announced from last to first. Tigers came in fourth (no surprise there), Phoenix came as the third, cheers rang out again. As we all sat tight in our seats, the Dragons were announced as second. At that exact moment, Falcons went absolutely insane. We jumped, screamed, yelled in triumph. Thus, ended our Sports Day. As well as the Form 5’s and Year 11’s final Sports Day we could participate in together.
Yap Li Yan (& Muhammad Daniel) 5
Falcon
Track – 541 Points
Field – 320 Points
1st Place
6
Phoenix
Track – 490 Points Field – 271 Points
3rd Place
8
Dragon
Track – 447 Points Field – 343 Points
2nd Place
7
Tiger
Track – 382 Points Field – 319 Points
4th Place
9
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Is t a r t e dof f2016f i l l e dwi t he xc i t e me nta sIwr ot e downmyf i vema j orgoa l soft heye a r : 4Asf orASLe ve l s ;pa s smyt e a c hi ngl e ve lpi a no e xa m;ge ta tl e a s t1500/ 1600ont heSAT;be c ome Exe c ut i veDi r e c t orf ort he24HourRa c e ;ge ti nt o t heUni ve r s i t yofOxf or d. Ie nde d2016a c hi e vi ngnoneoft ha t . Thef i r s tha l f oft heye a rf e l tl i kede f e a ta f t e rde f e a t .If e l tl i kea c ompl e t ef a i l ur e . Thr owi nabr e a kupf r ommyt wo ye a rr e l a t i ons hi p( Ia mat e e na ge ra f t e ra l l )a ndyou c a npr oba bl ys e ewhyIwa sme nt a l l y ,phys i c a l l y , e mot i ona l l y&s pi r i t ua l l yawr e c k. Af t e ral otofc r yi nga ndf e e l i ngs or r yf ormys e l f ,I s t a r t e dr e de f i ni ngwha tIt houghtofa sf a i l ur e .Ir e a l i z e dt ha twi t houtt hos es e t ba c ks ,Iwoul dn' tha ve ha l ft hes t r e ngt ha nddr i veIha ver i ghtnow;mye go woul ds t i l lbes kyhi gha ndIwoul ds t i l lbede f i ni ng s uc c e s sba s e donma t e r i a l i s t i ca c hi e ve me nt swhi c hc ompl e t e l yi s n' tt hewa yIwa ntt ome a s ur e s uc c e s s !Is t a r t e dt ot hi nkoff a i l ur ea snoneot he r t ha nat r a ns f or ma t i vec ha r a c t e r bui l di nge xpe r i e nc e .Il e a r ntt oe mbr a c ei ta ndt ha t ,i fyoul e ti t , f a i l ur ewi l lbeyourmos tpowe r f ult e a c he r . Thes a meye a roff a i l ur e st ur ne doutt obemymos t a c c ompl i s he dye a rye t-buthowi st ha te ve npos s i bl e ?Iha df a i l e dt oa c hi e vea l lofmymos ti mpor t a ntgoa l soft heye a r !Thet r ut hi s ,mef r omaye a r a gowoul dne ve rha vebe l i e ve dyoui fyout ol dme s ome t hi ngbe t t e rwa sc omi ngmywa y .Ius ua l l y don' tl i kes ha r i ngmya c hi e ve me nt spubl i c l y ,buti n l i ghtofpr ovi di ngagoode xa mpl eofhowf a i l ur e a l wa ysput syouonabe t t e rpa t h,Iwi l l .
Someoft het hi ngst ha tIwa spr oudt oha vedone l a s tye a ri nc l ude ds pe a r he a di ngayout hs oc i a le nt r e pr e ne ur s hi pe ve nti nSi nga por e ;a t t e ndi nga s umme rpr ogr a mi nCa mbr i dgeonf ul ls c hol a r s hi p; be i ngSe c r e t a r yGe ne r a lofmys c hool ' sMUNc onf e r e nc e ;or ga ni s i ngt he24HourRa c e( As i a ' sl a r ge s t yout hl e dmove me nt )a sde put ydi r e c t or ;ge t t i nga s c hol a r s hi pf orahi ghl yc ompe t i t i ver e s e a r c hpr ogr a mf r omt heUni t e dSt a t e s ;a ndwr i t i ngar e s e a r c h pa pe rone c onomi cde ve l opme ntwhi c hwa sl a t e r s e l e c t e dt obepubl i s he di nar e s e a r c hj our na l . Ma gi c a lt r a ns f or ma t i onsha ppe nwhe nyouc hoos e t ol e a r nf r omf a i l ur e .He c k,i fmyye a rwe nta c c or di ngt opl a n,Iwoul dn' tha veknownt ha tIs houl dbe a i mi ngt odomor ef ul f i l l i ngt hi ngsi nl i f e .Fa i l ur e ha st a ughtmebe t t e rwa yst ogr ow,l e a r n,l ovea nd beki nd-t omys e l fa nde ve r yonee l s e .I t ’ sbr ought outt hebe s ta ndt hewor s ti nmea ndIa me t e r na l l y gr a t e f ulf ori t .Fr a nkl y ,wi t houtmyf a i l ur e sI woul dn’ tbet hepe r s onIa mpr oudt obet oda y . I t ’ st r ue ,I ' l lne ve rknowwha tl i f ewoul dbel i kei fI di de ndupge t t i nga nyoft hos egoa l sbuti ft he r e ’ s onet hi ngIknowf ors ur e ,i ti st ha tIa mont he be t t e rpa t h.
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Doy o uo c c a s i o n a l l yf e e ly o u rh e a r t b e a tp a l p i t a t i n g , y o u rr e s p i r a t o r yr a t ei n c r e a s i n g , a n dy o u rp a l ms s we a t i n g ?Ord oy o ue x p e r i e n c emo o ds wi n g s , f i n d i td i f f i c u l tt os l e e p , a n dh a v ec o n c e n t r a t i o nt r o u b l e s ?We l l , i fy o ua r e , i t ’ sp r o b a b l ys o me t h i n g c a l l e dSTRESS. I t ’ ss o me t h i n gn o tma n ya r ea wa r e o f , b u ta f f e c t s1i ne v e r y4p e o p l e . Wi t ht h eu p c o mi n gc h e c k p o i n t sf o rYe a r s6a n d9 , a n dt h eI GCSEsf o rYe a r1 1 , ma n ys t u d e n t sa r e s u b j e c t e dt os t r e s s . Wh i l ei t se f f e c t sma ys e e m s h o r tt e r m, s o meo ft h en e g a t i v ei mp a c t sl a s tf o ra wh i l e , a n da f f e c tb o t ht h emi n da n dt h eb o d y . Ma n y s t u d e n t se x p e r i e n c es t r e s si ft h e ya r eb e i n gp r e s s u r e d , mo s tc o mmo n l yb yt h e i rp a r e n t s , p e e r s , a n d t e a c h e r s . Ama j o r i t yo ft h ep o p u l a t i o np r o b a b l y a s s u met h a ts t r e s si ss o me t h i n gt h a tc a no n l ya f f e c t a d u l t s . Be l i e v ei to rn o t , s t r e s sa f f e c t sc h i l d r e na s we l l . I nf a c t , a c c o r d i n gt os t a t i s t i c s , c h i l d r e nb e t we e nt h ea g e so f5a n d1 5b e g i nt os h o ws y mp t o mso fs t r e s s .
Mo r eo f t e nt h a nn o t , t h es t e r e o t y p i c a l As i a np a r e n t s s e th i g hg o a l sf o rt h e i rc h i l d r e n . I ft h ec h i l d r e nf a i lt o a c h i e v et h e s eg o a l s , t h e ya r et h r e a t e n e d -s o me t i me s b yb e i n gt o l dt of i n da n o t h e rf a mi l y , o rt og e tt h e i r o wnd i n n e r . Pa r e n t sd op l a yak e yr o l ei nt h ee d u c a t i o na n dt h er a i s i n go fac h i l d , b u ti ti si mp o r t a n tt o r e me mb e rt h a tac h i l d ’ swe l l b e i n g -me n t a l l ya n d p h y s i c a l l y -t a k e sp r e c e d e n c e . Ad d i t i o n a l l y , f r i e n d s a n dp e e r sc a nu n wi t t i n g l yc o n t r i b u t et ot h e i re v e r g r o wi n ga mo u n to fp r e s s u r e . Te a c h e r so f t e nh a v e t h et e n d e n c yt os e th i g hs t a n d a r d sf o rs t u d e n t s , wi t h t h eb e l i e ft h a tt h e yc a nwo r ka tah i g h e rl e v e lo fc o mp e t e n c y
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DI S CLAI MER:My i n t e n t i o nh e r ei sn o tt o ma k ea c c u s a t i o n sa g a i n s tp a r e n t s , f r i e n d s , a n dt e a c h e r s , b u tr a t h e rt ob r i n ga t t e n t i o nt ot h ef a c tt h a tama j o r i t yo fs t u d e n t sDOs u f f e rf r o m s t r e s s .
So me t i me s , t h es t r e s se v e nc o me sf r o mt h es t u d e n t st h e ms e l v e s , wh e nt h e ys e tu n r e a l i s t i cg o a l s a n do v e r wo r kt h e i rmi n d sb yr e p e a t e d l ys t u d y i n g a n dp e r f e c t i n gat o p i c , o rs t r e s s i n go v e raf e wd a t e s t h a tt h e ys t r u g g l et or e me mb e r . Th e yc a na l s o b u r d e nt h e i rb o d yb ys t a y i n gu pl a t ea n dg e t t i n g l i t t l et on os l e e p , wh i c hwo n ’ td ot h e ma n yg o o di f t h e yr e me mb e ra l lt h ef a c t sb u tc a n n o tp e r f o r m d u r i n gt h ec r u c i a lmo me n t .
I ti sr a t h e ru n l i k e l yt oe x p e r i e n c eh e a r ta t t a c k swh i l e y o u ’ r es t i l li ns c h o o la tt h i sa g e , b u ti ti ss t i l lp o s s i b l e . Th a t ’ swh yi t ’ si mp o r t a n tt oma k es u r et h a t y o u ’ r ea l wa y sc a l ma n dc o l l e c t e d , a n dy o u re mo t i o n s a r ei nc h e c k , t oe n s u r et h a ty o ud o n ’ ts u b j e c ty o u r b o d yt op h y s i c a ls t r e s s .
Th e r ea r ean u mb e ro fwa y st h a ts t r e s sc a na f f e c t y o u rb o d yn e g a t i v e l y . Wh e ny o ua r eu n d e rs t r e s s , y o u ’ r el i k e l yt oe x p e r i e n c ear u s ho fh o r mo n e s , f a t i g u e , a n df r e q u e n tc o l d sa n di n f e c t i o n s , a l lo f wh i c hc a ni mp a c tt h ewa yy o ut h i n k , t h ewa yy o u a c t , wh a ty o us a y , a n dal o tmo r e . Th el i s tc a ng o o na n do n !De p e n d i n go nt h es i t u a t i o ny o u ’ r ei n , t h ei n c r e a s eo fy o u rh e a r tr a t ec a nl e a dt oe f f e c t sa s mi n o ra st e n s emu s c l e s , h e a d a c h e s , a n dv o mi t i n g , o ra ss e r i o u sa sh e a r ta t t a c k s , d e p r e s s i o n , i n s o mn i a , h i g hb l o o dp r e s s u r e , a n dma n yo t h e r s .
I t ' se a s yt og e tc a u g h tu pi nt h ef l o wo fs t u d y i n ga s mo s ts t u d e n t swo u l dp r o b a b l ywa n tt oa c h i e v eh i g h g r a d e sa n dl e v e l st oi mp r e s st h e i rf r i e n d sa n df a mi l y . Bu ti ts h o u l da l s ob eat o pp r i o r i t yt od e s t r e s s . Th e r e a r eawi d ev a r i e t yo fwa y sy o uc a nc o p ewi t hs t r e s s , s o met h r o u g hc h a n g i n gh o wy o uwo r k , o rt h r o u g h n a t u r a lr e me d i e s . Th e r ea r eaf e wwa y sy o uc a nd e s t r e s sb yma k i n g s ma l la d j u s t me n t st oy o u rl i f e , b ei tt h r o u g he v e r y d a y c h o r e sa n dd u t i e s , s c h o o l , o rl i f e s t y l e .
1 1
WI L L I AM J AMES
“Thegreatestweaponagai nststressi sourabi li tyto chooseonethoughtoveranother”
Ma na g et i mewi s e l y Le a r n i n gh o wt op r i o r i t i s ea n ds o r to u ty o u ra g e n d ai sak e yf a c t o rt oal e s s c l u t t e r e dl i f e . By ‘ f i l t e r i n g ’wh a ty o un e e dt od oi mme d i a t e l y , y o u ’ l lf i n dt h a ty o u ’ l lh a v et i met od ot h et h i n g s y o ul o v e . Fo l l o wt h e s et i p st ol e a r nh o wt oma n a g et i mewi s e l y . · Se ts p e c i f i cg o a l s · Ma k eat o d ol i s t · Pr i o r i t i s ey o u rl i s t · Pl a nf o raf e wd a y sa h e a d · Se td e a d l i n e s Or g a ni s e Si mi l a rt oma n a g i n gt i me , o r g a n i s i n gi sa l s oo fp a r a mo u n ti mp o r t a n c e . Wi t h o u tp l a n n i n g , y o u ’ d b ea l lo v e rt h ep l a c e , wi t hy o u rmi n da l li nas c r a mb l e . He r ea r e5h a b i t st ok e e py o u rd a y si n o r d e r : · Wr i t et h i n g sd o wn · Do n ’ tp r o c r a s t i n a t e · Gi v ee v e r y t h i n gi t so wnp l a c e · Ha v er e g u l a rs p r i n g c l e a n s , a n dd i s c a r dj u n ka n dc l u t t e r · So r to u ty o u rp o s s e s s i o n sr e g u l a r l y Ca t e g o r i s ea ndpl a ny o urs t udy i ng I t ’ si mp o r t a n tt og i v ea l ly o u rs u b j e c t sat i mea n dp l a c e . Byk n o wi n gwh a ty o un e e dt od o , a n d wh e ny o u ’ dl i k et od oi t , ma k e se v e r y t h i n gs e e mmo r es t r a i g h t f o r wa r da n de a s yt of o l l o w. Th e r ea r emu l t i p l ewa y sy o uc a np l a na n dc a t e g o r i s e , t h e y ’ r ep r e t t ys i mp l e : · Ma k eal i s to ft h es u b j e c t sy o ui n t e n dt os t u d y · Lo o ka te a c hs u b j e c ti n d i v i d u a l l ya n dp i c ko u tt h et o p i c s · Se tas t a r ta n df i n i s ht i mef o re a c ht o p i ca n ds u b j e c t · Re s e r v et i mef o rb r e a k sa n dn o n a c a d e mi ca c t i v i t i e s · Ke e pd i s t r a c t i o n sa wa yf r o my o u rwo r ks p a c e Me di t a t e Me d i t a t i o nh a sp r o v e nt ob eo n eo ft h emo s tt r u s t e dwa y st or e l e a s ey o u rmi n do fa n yt e n s i o no r n e g a t i v ee n e r g y . I th a sa l s ob e e nk n o wnt oh e l py o us t a yf o c u s e da n dc a l my o u rmi n dd o wn . Re s e a r c hs h o wst h a tme d i t a t i n gc a nh a v es t r e s s r e l i e v i n ga n dp h y s i c a lh e a l t hb e n e f i t st oc o u n t e r a c th e a l t hi s s u e ss u c ha sh i g hb l o o dp r e s s u r e , a n x i e t y , i n s o mn i aa n dd e p r e s s i o n , s o me0 f wh i c ha r ec a u s e db ys t r e s s . He r ea r es e v e r a ls t e p st ome d i t a t e : · Lo c a t eaq u i e tp l a c e · Ch o o s eac o mf o r t a b l ep o s i t i o n , p r e f e r a b l ywi t hy o u rb a c ks t r a i g h t · Cl e a ry o u rmi n do fn e g a t i v et h o u g h t s · St e a d yy o u rb r e a t h i n g Dr i nkhe r ba lt e a Dr i n k i n gh e r b a lt e ai sag r e a ts o u r c et og e ty o u rv i t a mi n sa n dn u t r i e n t sf o rah e a l t h i e rl i f e s t y l e . Th ed i f f e r e n c eb e t we e nt e aa n dh e r b a lt e ai st h a tt h el a t t e rd o e sn o tc o n t a i nc a f f e i n e . He r b a lt e a h a sb e e nk n o wnt oh a v ev a r i o u sh e a l i n gp r o p e r t i e s : · Ch a mo mi l eTe a -r e l a x e smi n da n ds o u l · Gi n g e rTe a -i mp r o v e si mmu n es y s t e m · Va l e r i a nTe a -i mp r o v e ss l e e p l e s s n e s sa n ds t r e s s · Pa s s i o nFl o we rTe a -h e l p si n s o mn i aa n da n x i e t y · Ha wt h o r nTe a -r e d u c e sh i g hb l o o dp r e s s u r e STRESSKI LLS! I Fy o u ’ r es t r e s s e do u ta b o u ts t r e s s , STOP!Do n ’ ta l l o ws t r e s st od i s r u p ty o u rl i f e . Do n ’ ta l l o wi t t or u ni t sd e a d l yp a t ho fh e a l t hd e t e r i o r a t i o n . Do n ’ ta l l o wi tt og e ti ny o u rwa yo fe n j o y i n g t h i n g s . Le a r nh o wt oa d a p tt ol i f e s t y l ec h a n g e s , wi t h o u tb e i n go v e r l ywo r r i e da b o u tc h a n g e . Wh i l ei ti st r u et h a ts t r e s sc a nh a r my o ui nma n ywa y s , s o meb e i n gv e r ye x t r e me , i t ’ si mp o r t a n t t ol e a r nh o wt od i a g n o s et h ec a u s eo ft h es t r e s si nt h ee a r l ys t a g e s , b e f o r ey o us u f f e rp h y s i c a l l y o rme n t a l l y . I t ’ sg o o dt oh a v et h ed e t e r mi n a t i o na n dd r i v et os t u d y , b u tr e me mb e r i n gt ot a k e c a r eo fy o u rb o d yt a k e sp r e c e d e n c e .
1 2
Buy i ng Babi es
Sl a ve r ya ndHuma nTr a f f i c ki ng,2c ommon wor dst ha tr e s ona t et hr oughoutt hewor l dye t r e ma i na samonume nt a ldi l e mmaa f f e c t i ng t hel i ve sofmi l l i ons .I t si nhuma nena t ur ei nvol ve st hos ewhoc a nba r e l yf e ndf ort he ms e l ve s ,bei tc hi l dr e n,wome norme n,e xpl oi t e dt hr oughf or c e dl a bourorc omme r c i a ls e x i l l e ga l l y .
Ma l a ys i ai t s e l fi sade s t i na t i onf ort r a f f i c ki ng, wi t ht hegove r nme ntt r yi ngt oe xt i ngui s hi t , butba r e l ye ve nr e a c hi ngt hemi ni mumuni ve r s a ls t a nda r dst oe ns ur eas t e a dys t e mmi ng oft hef l owt oourc ount r y .Ha l foft hemi gr a ntwor ke r si nMa l a ys i a( 1. 9m)a r eundoc ume nt e d. Al lt hos e pe opl ec oul dbet r a f f i c ke dove r s e a s( t oSi nga por e ,UK,HongKonga ndFr a nc e )a ndunwi l l i ngl yma det o wor kda nge r ous ,ba c kbr e a ki ngj obs .Ot he r wi s et he ya r eki l l e d,i nor de rt oc ont r i but et oor ga nt r a f f i c ki ng i nt hebl a c kma r ke t ,i fde f i a nt .
BUTWHE REDOTHE SE TRAF F I CKE DVI CTI MSCOME F ROM?
Av a r i e t yo fi n i q u i t o u sme a n ss o u r c et h e s ev i c t i ms , b u tas h a d o we dr e a s o nh a sr e c e n t l ys t i r r e dMa l a y s i a n d i s c o n c e r t . Ab h o r r e n ts c h e me st h a tn o n eo fu sc o u l d e v e ri ma g i n et ob ev i c t i mi s e di n , n o n e t h e l e s sa r et h e ma i n s t a yo ft h en i g h t ma r e smi l l i o n sl i v e . “ Bo y , 3 k g , $ 2 0 0 0 ” -ap h r a s ea l lt o oc o mmo n , b u tr e n d e r e di nd i f f e r e n tf o r ma t s , wi t h i nt h e‘ t h r i v i n g ’ c h i l d t r a f f i c k i n gs c e n eh e r e . Top u tap r i c eo nal i v i n gt h i n g , ah u ma nb e i n g , j u s tl i k ey o ua n dIwe r e o n c ei su n f a t h o ma b l yi n h u ma n eb u tv e r ymu c har e a l i t yf o rt h o u s a n d so fc h i l d r e n . Ba b i e sa r eb o r nl o c a l l y , o t h e r wi s eb r o u g h ti nf r o mp r i ma r i l yCa mb o d i aa n dTh a i l a n da n ds o l db a s e d o nt h e i rg e n d e r , r a c ea n ds k i nc o l o u r . ‘ Fo r t u n a t e ’o n e swi l lb es o l dt od e s p e r a t ef a mi l i e swh oc a n ’ t c o n c e i v eo ra d o p to n et h r o u g ht h er i g o r o u sa n de x p e n s i v ea d o p t i o ns y s t e mi nMa l a y s i a . Th er e s t ?Ar e s o l dt ot r a f f i c k e r s , a n da r eb r o u g h tu pt ob es e xs l a v e s , b e g g a r sa n dwo r k e r s . Co n s t r a i n e dt ot h e i r b u y e r , t h e i rb a s i ch u ma nr i g h t so ff r e e d o ma n dd i g n i t yh a v eb e e ns t r i p p e da wa ya n ds t e p p e do nl i t e r a l l ys i n c eb i r t h . Bo r nwi t h o u tac h o i c ei nt h ewo r l d , t h ec y c l et h e nr e p e a t s .
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On eo ft h emo s tp r o mi n e n te x a mp l e so ft h i sh a p p e n i n gi nMa l a y s i ai st h ee x p e r i e n c eo fc h i l d r i g h t sa c t i v i s ta n df o s t e rmo t h e r , Ha r t i n iZa i n u d i n . Sh ewa sv i c t i mi z e di n t ob u y i n gab a b yf r o m t r a f f i c k e r s , u n d e rt h ei n i t i a lf a l s ei mp r e s s i o nt h a t s h ewa sj u s tg o i n gt op i c ku pa n o t h e ru n wa n t e d c h i l d . Th et r a f f i c k e r ss h ewa swi t he x p l a i n e d h o wt h eb a b y ' ss k i nwa s‘ t o od a r k ’f o rt h ef a mi l y wh oo r i g i n a l l ywa n t e dt ob u yh e r , t h e r e f o r ec a n c e l e dt h e i rd e a l . Th e yt h e no f f e r e dt h eb a b yt o Ha r t i n if o rRM3 0 0 0 , o t h e r wi s et h e ywe r eg o i n g t os e n dh e rt oPu l a uKe t a m, o f ft h ec o a s tf r o m Po r tKl a n g , t ob es h i p p e do f ft oTh a i l a n d . Th e r e t h eb a b ywo u l dmo s tl i k e l yb ema i me d( mu t i l a t e d / c r i p p l e d )a n dma d eab e g g a rt og e n e r a t er e v e n u ef o rh e rb u y e r s . Ha r t i n i , a f t e rt h ec o n s u l t a t i o n o famu t u a lNGO, b o u g h tt h eb a b ya n da c t u a l l y ma n a g e dt oa d o p th e ra sh e ro wne v e na f t e ro f f i c i a lp o l i c er a i d s . An o t h e rwa yi nwh i c hc h i l d r e na r eo b t a i n e d , t h i s t i me' v o l u n t a r i l y ' , i sa c t u a l l yt h r o u g hs o c i a l me d i a . Yo u ' db eb a f f l e db yh o wr e ma r k a b l ye a s y i ti st of i n dac h i l df o rs a l e . Al t h o u g hs e a r c h e s s u c ha s' b a b y ' a n d' a d o p t ' b r i n gu pn e wsa r t i c l e s , l o c a ll i n g os u c ha s' a n a ka n g k a t ’o r‘ a n a ka n u g e r a h ’( e n g l i s ht r a n s l a t i o n :a d o p t e d / g i f t e dc h i l d ) g e t sy o uawh o l ewe bo fh e i n o u sp o s s i b i l i t i e s . Ad v e r t i s e me n to fb a b i e sf o rs a l ea r e n ' tj u s ta t h i n gf o u n do nt h ed a r kwe b , b u to nawe b s i t ei n n o c e n t l yu s e db yt h ema j o r i t yo fu sf r e q u e n t l y Fa c e b o o k . Asb a f f l i n ga si tma ys o u n d , i t ' sb i t t e r l yt r u e . Th ei n t e r n e ti sac o n d u i tt o u c h i n ga l l l e v e l so fs o c i e t ya n dwh e nt h a tc o n d u i td i s g o r g e s s u c ha n i mo s i t ya n dp r o p e n s i t yt ot h ec r u e l e s t ma l i c et o wa r d st h e s eh e l p l e s sv i c t i ms , t h e ne v e n t u a l l yt h ed i mme du n s e e na s p e c to fs o c i e t ywi l l d i r t yt h ewh o l e .
Li f t i n gt h es p i r i t ss l i g h t l y , wec a np i n p o i n tc e r t a i n p r o j e c t sa n do r g a n i s a t i o n st h a th a v eb e e nc r e a t e d t owo r kt o wa r d st h ee r a d i c a t i o no fh u ma nt r a f f i c k i n ga n dmo d e r nd a ys l a v e r y . Mo r ei mp o r t a n t l y , we c a nl o o ki n t ot h ewo r kt h a th a sb e e nd o n ei no u r v e r yo wnc o u n t r ya n dt h et h i n g sy o uc a np a r t a k e i nt os a v en o t1 , n o t2 , b u tmi l l i o n so fl i v e st h a t n e e dy o ut ob et h e i rv o i c e . SUKASo c i e t y :h t t p : / / www. s u k a s o c i e t y . o r g / Ri c k yMa r t i nFo u n d a t i o n :h t t p : / / r i c k y ma r t i n f o u n d a t i o n . o r g / Wa l kFr e e :h t t p s : / / www. wa l k f r e e . o r g Ho wma n ys l a v e swo r kf o ry o u ?h t t p : / / s l a v e r y f o o t p r i n t . o r g / I ' ma l s ov e r ys u r ema n yo fy o uh a v ea l r e a d y h e a r d , o re v e nb e e nt o , t h e2 4Ho u rRa c e . Te n b y h a sb e e nap a r to fi ta c t u a l l ys i n c e2 0 1 5 , i nwh i c h weh a d2f e ma l et e a ms( 1 6g i r l s , f u l lo fe n t h u s i a s t i ca n da ma z i n gi n d i v i d u a l s )t o2 0t e a ms ( 1 6 0 p e o p l e ) , as e n s a t i o n a lc l u t c ho fp h e n o me n a lr u n n e r sa n da d v o c a t e sf o rt h ec a u s e . Ana n n u a lr e l a y r a c ei nwh i c hy o uc a nt a k ep a r ta l o n gwi t hy o u r f r i e n d st or a i s ea wa r e n e s so fmo d e r nd a ys l a v e r y , g e n e r a l l ya tt h ee n do ft h ey e a r . Pl e a s ej o i nu sb yv i s i t i n gh t t p s : / / www. 2 4 h o u r r a c e . o r g /
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1 4
WHYY O US HO ULD T A K EP A R TI NS P O R T S
Sp o r t si ss o me t h i n gIl o o kf o r wa r dt oa tt h ee n do ft h ed a y , s p o r t si sf r e e d o m, s p o r t sg i v emea n e s c a p e . Ane s c a p ef r o mt h es t r e s so fc l a s s e s , a ne s c a p ef r o md e a l i n gwi t ht h i n g st h a tId o n ' twa n tt o t h i n ka b o u t , a ne s c a p ef r o ml i f e . Sp o r t sh a v et a u g h tmema n yt h i n g so v e rt h ey e a r s , f r o ms p o r t sI l e a r n e da b o u tp e r s e v e r a n c e , Il e a r n tt h a tn oma t t e rh o wt a l e n t e dy o uma yb ei nwh a t e v e ri ti sy o ud o , y o ua r en o ta l wa y sg o i n gt oh a v ean a t u r a la f f i n i t yo rb et h eb e s t . Mo s to ft h et i mey o ua r eg o i n gt o h a v et owo r kf o rwh a ty o uwa n t . Noma t t e rh o wg o o dy o ua r ey o uwi l lme s su p ;s o me o n ewi l lb e b e t t e ra n do c c a s i o n a l l yy o uwi l lf a i l . Th es p o r t sIp i c k e du pd i dn o tc o mee a s i l yt omea n dIwa se a s i l y f r u s t r a t e db yt h es l i g h t e s tmi s t a k ea n dd i s t r a u g h tb yal o s s . Iwo r k e da tt h e m, t h o u g h , a n db e i n gap a r t o ft h o s et e a mswe r es o meo fmymo s te n j o y a b l ee x p e r i e n c e st h r o u g h o u tmyy e a r sa ts c h o o l . Il e a r n t t h a twh e ny o up u tt i mea n de f f o r ti n , i tp a y so f f . Th r o u g h o u tmys p o r t i n gc a r e e r , Ih a v et a k e np a r ti nv a r i o u ss p o r t s , t h emo r ec o mmo no n e sb e i n g Ru g b y , Te n n i s , Ba s k e t b a l la n dmyp e r s o n a lf a v o u r i t ef o o t b a l l . Th el e s sk n o wns p o r tt h a tIh a v et a k e n p a r ti na r eCr i c k e t , Ga e l i cf o o t b a l l , Ro u n d e r sa n df l o o r b a l l . Si n c emyf i r s ts p o r t sc o mp e t i t i o ni n2 0 0 7 , Ih a v et a k e np a r ti nav a r i e t yo fs p o r t i n ge v e n t si n c l u d i n gi n t e r h o u s ec o mp e t i t i o n s , I n t e r s c h o o lc o mp e t i t i o n sa n do v e r s e a sc o mp e t i t i o n s .
You’ l lbehe a l t hi e r .
Ph y s i c a lr e c r e a t i o nr e q u i r e sy o ut omo v ey o u rb o d y , a n di t ’ sac o mmo n l yk n o wnf a c tt h a te x e r c i s ei sg o o df o ry o u rh e a l t h . Ph y s i c a la c t i v i t yh e l p sc o n t r o lwe i g h t , c o mb a t sh e a l t hc o n d i t i o n sa n dd i s e a s e s , i mp r o v e smo o d , b o o s t se n e r g ya n dp r o mo t e sb e t t e rs l e e p . Th eh e a l t h a d v a n t a g e so fp a r t i c i p a t i n gi nas p o r tf a ro u t we i g ht h ed a n g e r so f a c t u a li n j u r y .
You’ l lbes ma r t e r .
Ma n ys t u d i e sr e v e a lt h a tp l a y i n gs p o r t sc a na c t u a l l yb o o s ty o u rb r a i n p o we r . Ar e p o r tf r o mt h eI n s t i t u t eo fMe d i c i n es t a t e d :Ch i l d r e nwh o a r emo r ea c t i v es h o wg r e a t e ra t t e n t i o n , h a v ef a s t e rc o g n i t i v ep r o c e s s i n gs p e e d , a n dp e r f o r mb e t t e ro ns t a n d a r d i s e da c a d e mi ct e s t st h a n c h i l d r e nwh oa r el e s sa c t i v e . Th i si s n ’ tt o os u r p r i s i n ga se x e r c i s ei n c r e a s e sb l o o df l o wt ot h eb r a i n , a n db l o o df l o wt ot h eb r a i ns t i mu l a t e s b r a i ng r o wt h . Pl u s , p l a y i n gas p o r ta c t u a l l yd o e sr e q u i r ey o ut ot h i n k o ny o u rf e e ta n ds t r a t e g i z e , k e e p i n gy o u rmi n ds h a r pa n da l e r t .
You’ l ll e a r nt e a mwor ka nds por t s ma ns hi p.
I ns p o r t s , i n d i v i d u a l sl e a r nt or e l yo ne a c ho t h e ra n dmo t i v a t eo n ea n o t h e rt oa c c o mp l i s hac o mmo ng o a l . Th o u g hi n d i v i d u a ls p o r t sa r e g r e a t , t e a ms p o r t sa c t u a l l yd ot e a c hy o ual i f el e s s o n :t h es u c c e s so fa t e a mo ra no r g a n i s a t i o nd e p e n d so nh o wwe l lt h ep l a y e r swo r kt o g e t h e r . No te v e nt h e“ s t a r ”p l a y e rc a nwi nt h eg a mea l o n e . Sp o r t sa l s o t e a c h e sy o ut op l a yf a i r l ya n dt or e s p e c tt h ep l a y e r so nt h eo p p o s i n g t e a m. Ch e a t i n g , g l o a t i n ga n df i g h t i n gd o e sn o tb e l o n gi ns p o r t s— o r i nt h ep r o f e s s i o n a lwo r l df o rt h a tma t t e r . Sp o r t st e a c h e sy o ut op u t f o r t hy o u rb e s te f f o r ta n de x h i b i th o n o u r a b l eb e h a v i o u rwh e t h e ry o u wi no rl o s eag a me .
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You’ l lma kef r i e nds .
Wh e ny o uj o i nas p o r t st e a m, y o uwi l li n e v i t a b l yma k ef r i e n d s . Be c a u s et e a mma t e ss h a r e s oma n yf u na n de x c i t i n gmo me n t s , y o u rf r i e n d s h i p ss h o u l dl a s tl o n ga f t e ry o uf i n i s hp l a y i n g .Th e r ei sa l s oo n emo r ep e r k :mo s tt e a mst r a d i t i o n a l l yg oo u tt oe a ta f t e rag a me
You’ l ll e a r nt of oc usa ndma na geyourt i me .
Sp o r t sr e q u i r et i mea n dc o mmi t me n t , b u tmo s tp l a y e r su s u a l l yp e r f o r mb e t t e ri ns c h o o l a n da r emo r el i k e l yt ob ei n v o l v e di nc l u b so rc o mmu n i t ys e r v i c e . Ho wi st h i sp o s s i b l e ? Pl a y i n gas p o r tr e q u i r e st e e n a g e r st od e v e l o pt woi mp o r t a n ts k i l l s :f o c u sa n dt i mema n a g e me n t . Fo c u sa n dt i mema n a g e me n ta r ec r u c i a lt r a i t si np e o p l ewh og e tt h i n g sd o n ea n da c c o mp l i s ht h e i rs h o r ta n dl o n g t e r mg o a l s .
You’ l ls t r e ngt he nyourc ol l e ger e s ume .
Th o u g hi ts h o u l dn o tb et h ema i nr e a s o nt oj o i nas p o r t , i t ’ saf a c tt h a tc o l l e g e sa n du n i v e r s i t i e sd of a v o u ra p p l i c a n t swh oa r ewe l l r o u n d e d . Pl a y i n gas p o r twi l ln o to n l yp a dy o u r r e s u me , i twi l lu s u a l l yt e l lt h ea d mi s s i o n sc o u n s e l l o rt h a ty o ua r ed i s c i p l i n e d , c o n f i d e n t a n dwo r kwe l lwi t ho t h e r s . I tma ys a yt h a ty o uh a v emo r et h a ns t u d e n tp o t e n t i a l… y o u h a v el e a d e r s h i pp o t e n t i a l . Th e s ea r ej u s t6o ft h ema n yr e a s o n swh yIt h i n ki ti se s s e n t i a lf o re v e r y o n et ot a k ep a r ti n a n ys p o r t i n ga c t i v i t y .
Pr i t hv iGul at i
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Ai n aHa b i b
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Wi nt e r ’ s
A
Thes nowbl a nke t e ddowna c r os st hehor i z on,t heme dl e yofr e da ndpi nk hue sf a di nga wa yi nt ot hec l oudsofs pe c kl e dwhi t e . Thedyi ngs unwa sj us t pe e r i ngf r ombe hi ndt her oc kc a s c a dec i r c l e dbyf i rt r e e s .Na ke dbr a nc he s mour ne dunde r ne a t ht hewe i ghtoft hea s he nl a ye rdr i f t i ngs l owl yt owa r dst he gr ound,t hes kyl i neofmut e da mbe ri nt e r t wi ne dwi t ht hef l e c ksofwhi t ewe r e dot t e da c r os st hel a nds c a pe ;t hes kywa swi nt e r ’ sc a nva sa nds hewa spa i nt i ng ama s t e r pi e c e .
r ,dr i f t i ngs oundl e s s l ya mongs tt hewhi s t l e soft he Cont e ntf l oa t e di nt hea i wi nd.Not hi ngbutt hee c hoe soft hewonde r l a ndout s i dee nve l ope dmei ns e c ur i t y .Swa t he di nt hi c kf l e e c ea ndwr a pa r ounds ,myf i nge r se nc a s e dmy be a c onofwa r mt ha smys t a r e swe r ef i xe da tt hei r i de s c e ntf or mofas nowf l a kema ki ngi t sgr a c e f uldr i f tdownwa r ds . Thes c e ntofhotc hoc ol a t ef i l l e d mynos t r i l s ,ur gi ngmet ot a keas i p. Thewa r mt ha ndj ovi a la mbi e nc eoft hel i vi ngr oomwa same l odyofe l e me nt swe a ve dt oge t he r .Eve r yt hi ngf r ommys t e a mi ngmugofhotc oc oa ,t o t hepl us hs of a ,a ndt hes c e ne r y-t ha tha dbe que a t he di t s e l font ot hel a nds c a pe me s me r i z e dme .Iwa sdr a wnt oi tl i kef i s ht oba i t ,t hebe gui l i ngvi e wr e e l i ng mei n-onl yt obee nha nc e dbyt hec r a c kl i nge mbe r soft hel ogf i r e ,i t sl e a pi ng f l a me sl i c ki ngt hes ur r oundi nga i r .I te nc a s e dmei nac oc oonofwa r mt h.
If e l tmye ye l i dsbe c omel e a de nwi t hl a ngui s h.Nor ma l l y ,t he yf l ut t e r e dc a ut i ous l y ,a t t e nt i ont oe a c hs ound.Butt oda y ,t hewhol ewor l ds e e me dmut e d.I t wa sj us tme ,a ndt hes now.Me ,a ndt hevi e w.Eve r yt hi nge l s ewa saf a de d, s ombr es ha deofgr a y .If e l tmys e l fdr i f ta wa yi nt ot hec r a dl eofs l e e p,t he s i l e ntr oa roff l a me st hel a s tt hi ngIhe a r dbe f or eInodde dof fi nt oape a c e f ul s l umbe r . Cr a s h.Boom.Ba ng. Si r e nswa i l e d.Si l e nc edi s s i pa t e d.Se r e ni t yva ni s he d.Di s or i e nt e da nddi s he ve l l e d,Iwa sbl i nd.Eve r yt hi ngs ur r oundi ngmewa sas wi r lofbl a c k.Il ooke d a r oundf orwha tus e dt obet hec r a c kl i ngf i r e pl a c e ,wa sr e pl a c e dwi t ht he qui c kl ydi mi ni s hi ng,f a de dgl owoft hedr owni nge mbe r s .Pa ni cs e i z e dme ; t hr ot t l i ngmys a ni t ya sIs t r uggl e dt oma kes e ns eofmys ur r oundi ngs . Thea i rt a s t e dofs t e e l yc ol di r on,a sIf e l tt hewa r mc r i ms oni nmymout h.I t he nr e a l i z e dt ha tIha dbe e nbi t i ngmyl i pt hr oughoutt heor de a l .Is t ood, f r oz e nt ot hes pota ndmor t i f i e d,Ic owe r e dunde rt hewa t c hf ulga z eofda r kne s s .Out s i de ,t hes nowha i l e ddownont hewor l d. Thec l oudshungs t i l li n t hea i r ;t hes kyove r c a s ta st hunde rt hr e a t e ne dt or e i gn. Ast hepi nks uns e twa s s wa l l owe dbyt heobl i vi onofani ght ,t hes kywa ss oonr e pl a c e dbyas t a gna nt ,de e pbl a c k,f or e i gnt os t a r s .
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Fe a rgr i ppe dmel i kea ni r onf i s t .If e l tmys t oma c hl ur c h,a ndt he nknotunc ont r ol l a bl y . Thea i r ,t hi na ndbr i t t l e ,be ga nt oc r e e pi nt hr oughmy pi t c hbl a c kl i vi ngr oom,t hec ol dc a pt ur i ngmei ni t sgr a s p. Thewi nd,whi c h whoos he di n,s e e me dt oc a c kl ea tmea st hene ga t i vet e mpe r a t ur e ss t a r t e dt o ma kei t swa ydownt omybone s .Fr oz e nwi t ht r e pi da t i ona ndt hec ol d,I t houghtt ha ti tc oul dnotge ta nywor s e .But ,oh,howwr ongIwa s … Thevi ol e ntbr e e z ehowl e da st heda r kne s soft heni ghte ngul f e dt hel a nds c a pe . Thes now( orha i l ,a si twa snow)wa sbe a t i ngdownonmyr oofwi t h a l li t swr a t h. Whi t e ,f r oz e npe l l e t shi tt hei c ygr oundwi t hal oud‘ c r unc h’ , l i kebul l e t sgr a z i ngt hes ur f a c eofa r mour . Af r e s hwa veoft e r r ora ndna us e ar ol l e dove rmea sr e a l i z a t i onhi t .I tf e l tl i ke awr e c ki ngba l lt owa r dsmyf a c e .Soone rorl a t e r ,Iwoul dbef r oz e nt oapul p; t hewor l d’ sf i r s thuma ni c i c l e !Iha dt oge tt oas our c eofhe a t ,a ndf a s t .Eve n t houghmymi ndwa sal a byr i nt hoft hought sa nddr owni ngvi s i ons ,Iwa s qui t ec e r t a i nt ha tIdi dwa ntt ol i vet os e et hene xtc r i ms onr e ds unr i s ec a s c a deove rt hee mpt ys ky . But …t heque s t i onwa s ,how?I nt heme r c yoft hebl a c ks hr oudi ngme ,Iwa s a bouta sus e f ula sf l i ntwi t houts t e e l .De f e a tc r a wl e di nt omys ys t e m,a sIf e l t i tc r e e pi nga l la r oundme .Myha mme r i nghe a r ts e e me dt obebur s t i ngoutof myr i bc a gei nt hec ons t a ntr hyt hmoft hes nowt hunde r i ngonme ,e nc a ps ul a t i ngme ;r e mi nde dmeofadr umme rboy . Adr umme rboybl i ndl yl e a di ngmy s e ns e sdownt hepa t hwa yt ohe l l . Tode a t h. Tot hec ol d. Tot heda r kne s s . Af i na lwa veofc l a us t r ophobi ahi tmea ss oona st hes kywa smome nt a r i l yi l l umi na t e dbyl i ght ni ng,s ha t t e r i ngt hede a f e ni ngs i l e nc eoft hes t i l la i r .I t s l i c e dt hr ought hehor i z on,f or ki ngi t swa yt hr ought heda r kne s s .Is udde nl y f e l ts uf f oc a t e d.I twa sa si ft hea i ri ns i deofmeha dbe e nr e pl a c e dwi t hnot hi ngbuthol l owi ng,c r i ppl i ngf e a r . Ic owe r e d,myf r a medr oopi nga sIbe ga nba c ki nga wa y ,t r yi ngt of e ndof ft he de monsIc oul dn’ ts e e . Ahi s se c hoe dt hr ought hepi e r c i nga i r .Ic l a we da ti t , wor dss t r uggl i ngt of or ma tmymout ha sc ons t a nts c r e a mst or ea tmyt hr oa t . Sha r dsofgl a s ss l i c e ddownmyoe s opha gusa ss ha dowybl a c kf i gur e se nc i r c l e dme ,t e ndr i l sofda r kne s sr e nde r i ngmewe a k.Mys ki nwa sr a wa nd bl oodi e d.Iha dt r i e df i ght i ngal os i ngba t t l e .I twa st i met oputdownmy s wor da ndt a keof fmya r mour . Andt hi st i me ,wi t hnohe s i t a t i on,Il e tt hede monsa t t a c k. Thel a s tt hi ngIe ve rs a wwa st hec r i ms on,dr i ppi ngr e di nt hehor i z on. Snowf e l l .
OhWe n Xu a n 20
Wi t hHi s o u l a n dS He a r t Th ey o u n gma nh i ms e l fl o o k sa si fh eh a sn o tb e e ng e t t i n ge n o u g hs l e e po rf o o d :t h i sc a nb ec l e a r l y s e e nf r o mh i sme s s yb e dh e a d , p r o mi n e n te y eb a g sa n dd i s h e v e l l e dc l o t h e s . Hi sh a n d sa r ec o v e r e di n s mu d g e so fi n ka n de v e naf e wb u mp sf r o mh o l d i n gh i sp e nf o rf a rt o ol o n g . Hes e e msf i x a t e do nt h e wi t h e r e db o o kwh i l eh i sl e f t h a n dt r a v e l so v e ri ti naf l o u r i s ho fmo v e me n t , s c r i b b l i n gn o t e so n t oi t ; h i sr i g h th a n dh a ss t r i n g st i e dt oe v e r yf i n g e r , c o n n e c t e dt ot h ea r msa n dl e g so fama r i o n e t t e . Wi t h a b s e n t mi n d e dt wi t c h e so fh i sf i n g e r s , h es u b c o n s c i o u s l yc o a x e st h ema r i o n e t t ei n t oah a p h a z a r dd a n c e o fd r u n k e ns wa y i n ga n du n e v e nl e a p s . Wi t he v e r yp a g et h a th ef i l l su pwi t hmo r ei l l e g i b l es c r i b b l e s , h i se x p r e s s i o nd i g r e s s e si n t oo n eo f i n c r e a s i n gwo r r y . I tb u i l d su pl i k ewa t e rp u s h i n ga g a i n s ta nu n s t a b l ewa l lu n t i lf i n a l l y , t h es u p p o r t b r e a k s . I ns u d d e nu n r e s t r a i n e dmo v e me n t , h et e a r sah a n d f u lo fp a g e sf r o mt h eb o o ka n ds c a t t e r st h e m i n t ot h ea i r . “ Th i si s n ’ tr i g h t !I t ’ sb e e n5 5 7d a y s , a n dy e tp r o g r e s sh a sr e ma i n e ds t a g n a n t …I st h i sr e a l l ya l lt h e r ei s t omyc a p a b i l i t i e s ? ” Hec l u t c h e sh i sf o r e h e a dwi t hh i sl e f th a n d , u n a b l et od oa n y t h i n gb u tl e th i st h o u g h t sc o n s u meh i m. Fo rt h en e x tf i v emi n u t e s , a l li ss i l e n te x c e p tf o rt h es c u f f l i n go fs ma l lf e e ta g a i n s tawo o d e n p l a t f o r m-t h ema r i o n e t t eh e l db ys t r i n g st oh i sr i g h th a n di smo v i n go nh e ro wn . He rs t e p ss e e m s l i g h t l yu n s t e a d ya n ds h ewo b b l e su n d e rt h ewe i g h to fh e ru n f a mi l i a rwo o d e nb o d y , b u ts o o ns h e ’ s a b l et og a i nf a mi l i a rf o o t i n g . Sh ema k e sh e rwa yt oh i m, l o n gwh i t ed r e s st r a i l i n gb e h i n d , a n dt a k e s h o l do ft h ei n d e xf i n g e ro fh i sr i g h th a n d . “ Wh a t ’ swr o n g , Al l e n ? ”Sh ea s k e d ,“ Yo uh a v e n ’ tma d ea n yp r o g r e s st o d a ye i t h e r ? ” Al l e nd o e s n ’ ta p p e a rt ob es u r p r i s e db yh e rs u d d e na n i ma t i o n . I n s t e a d , h el e a n sb a c ka g a i n s tt h ec h a i r wi t har e mo r s e f u le x p r e s s i o no nh i sf a c ea n dn o d s . “ Th a t ’ sn o t h i n gt ob ea s h a me do f , ”Sh er e s p o n d swi t has l i g h tf r o wn , “ Wh yn o ty o ud e mo n s t r a t et ome wh a ty o u ’ v el e a r n t ?I ’ mc e r t a i ny o umu s th a v eb e e na b l et oa c c o mp l i s hac h a n g e , e v e ni fi ti s mi n i ma l . ” Al l e nl o o k sa th e r , u n c o n v i n c e d , b u th es h a k e sh i sh e a da n da b i d e sn o n e t h e l e s s . Het e a r sap i e c eo f p a p e rf r o mt h ewi t h e r e db o o ka n dp r o c e e d st od r a waf e wp a t t e r n so n t oi t sb l a n ks u r f a c e . Th et i po fh i s p e ns e e mst og l i d es e a ml e s s l yo v e rt h ep a p e r ’ su n e v e nt e x t u r e , mu c hl i k et h ef l u i dmo v e me n t so fa n i c es k a t e re n g a g e di nar e h e a r s e dp e r f o r ma n c e . I t ’ sas p e e d yp r o c e s s -wh e na l lt h ewo r d sa r ep r i n t e d o n t ot h ep a p e r , t h ei n ks t i l lf r e s ha n db e a d y . Al l e np r o c e e d st or u bh i sf i n g e r sa g a i n s tt h eg l i n t i n gb l a c k wo r d sa n ds mu d g e se v e r y t h i n g . Hi sf i n g e ra p p e a r st ob ed o i n gt h i si nac e r t a i np a t t e r na n ds o o n , e v e n t h eMa r i o n e t t el o s e st r a c ko fwh i c hwo r dh e ’ ss mu d g i n ga n di nwh i c ho r d e r . Th eMa r i o n e t t ei su n a b l et of i n dt h er i g h two r d st os a yo rh o wt op h r a s et h e mi nawa yAl l e nwo u l d n ’ t t a k eb a d l y . Toh e rs u r p r i s e , t h el a t t e ri st h ef i r s tt os p e a ku p .
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Th ee f f e c ti si n s t a n t a n e o u s :t h eb l a n ki n kb e g i n st op u s hu p wa r d sa si fi t ’ sa t t e mp t i n gt oe s c a p et h e c o n f i n e so ft h ep a p e rp r i s o n . Th e yt r a v e li nu n i s o n , p i l i n go nt o po fo n ea n o t h e ra st h ee b o n y c o l o u r ss wi r lt o g e t h e ra n df i n a l l yb e g i n st oma k et h ef a i n to u t l i n eo fap i c t u r e :ap a i ro fl e g s , at o r s o , e v e na ni n k l i n go fah e a d . I tr e a c h e so u ti t swi s p ya r ms , mo u t h i n gi n a u d i b l ewo r d s . Ho we v e r , t h eMa r i o n e t t e ’ sb a t e db r e a t he s c a p e st h ei n i t i a lc a g eo fh o p ei twa sc o n f i n e di nwh e nt h e i n c o mp l e t ef i g u r ef r e e z e sa n dc o l l a p s e sb a c ki n t ot h ep a p e rl i k et h ef a l lo fat o we ro fc a r d s . Th et wo a r el e f ts t a r i n ga tap i e c eo fb l a c k e n e dp a p e r -t h e y ’ r eb a c ka ts q u a r eo n e , j u s tl i k eAl l e nh a dp r e d i c t e d . Th eMa r i o n e t t ei su n a b l et of i n dt h er i g h two r d st os a yo rh o wt op h r a s et h e mi nawa yAl l e nwo u l d n ’ t t a k eb a d l y . Toh e rs u r p r i s e , t h el a t t e ri st h ef i r s tt os p e a ku p . “ I t ’ ss ou n f a i r …”Sh eh e a r sh i sv o i c ewa v e r , “ . . . . Ic a ns t i l lr e me mb e rt h a td a ywh e nmyf r i e n d sa n dI we r es t i l ln o r ma l …. Wewe r ej u s ts t u d e n t s , b u tt h e n …t h a tmo n s t e rc a mea n dt o o ka wa ywh a td e f i n e d t h e ma s‘ h u ma n ’ . Ev e nu n t i lt o d a y , t h e y ’ r es t i l lt r a p p e di ns o meg o d f o r s a k e nr e a l m!Iwa sa l l o we dt o k e e pmyb o d ya n df r e ewi l l , a n dy e tI ’ v es t i l lb e e nu n a b l et os a v et h e m… Ho wu s e l e s so fme …! ” Th eMa r i o n e t t es q u e e z e sh i sf i n g e rt i g h t l y , h e re y e ss t e e l yg r e y . “ Al l e n !Ge tah o l do fy o u r s e l f ! ”Sh e s h o u t sa th i m, “ St o pwa d i n gi ns e l f p i t ya n do p e ny o u re y e s !Do n ’ ty o us e e ?Yo u ’ r es oc l o s et o c r e a t i n gap h y s i c a lme d i u mf o ry o u rf r i e n d ’ ss o u l st ob et r a n s f e r r e dt o !Di dy o un o ts e ei tj u s tn o w? ” “ Id i d !Id i d . . .Id i d . . . Ik n ow. I t ’ st o oe a r l yf o rmet og i v eu p , Ik n o wt h a t . Bu t . . ”Al l e n ’ sv o i c ed r o p st o al o wmu r mu ra n dh eb l i n k sh a r di na na t t e mp tt oj o l th i ms e l fu p , “ I ’ ms ot i r e d , a n di t ’ sa l ls ov e r y p a i n f u l … Id o n ’ twa n tt of a i lmyf r i e n d s -Ir e a l l yd o n ’ t , b u t … Bu tc a nIg ot os l e e p , j u s tf o ral i t t l e wh i l e …? ” Th eMa r i o n e t t el o o k sa t Al l e n ’ sf i n g e r s -i n d e e d , t h o s eo nh i sl e f th a n da r ec o mp l e t e l yb l a c k e n e df r o m a l lt h ei n ka n ds k i np e e l so f fi ns o mea r e a s . Th o s eo nh i sr i g h th a n da r ewo r s es i n c et h e t i g h t n e s so ft h es t r i n g sh a sc a u s e dh i sf i n g e r st os we l la n dt h r o b . Th o s ea r et h es t r i n g st h a tc o n n e c th e r t oh i ma n dn e i t h e ro ft h e mc a nd oa n y t h i n ga b o u tt h e m, b u tg u i l ts t i l lwe l l si nt h eMa r i o n e t t e ’ sc h e s t :i t i sa nu n d e n i a b l ef a c tt h a tb e c a u s eo fh e r , h es u f f e r st o o . Amo n g s tt h ec o mmu n i t yi nt h eo u t s i d ewo r l d , p e o p l ewh i s p e r e dr u mo u r so ft h el e g e n d a r yAl l e na n d h o wh i si n t e l l i g e n c ea n dd e t e r mi n e dmi n d s e tma d eh i mag e n i u sa mo n g s tg e n i u s e s . Hewa ss u p p o s e d t ob ea nu n s t o p p a b l ef o r c e , a nu n b e a t a b l ea l l y . . . . a n dy e tu n d e r n e a t ht h ed i mc a n d l e l i g h ti nt h a tv e r y mo me n t , Al l e nl o o k sj u s tl i k eawe a kc h i l dwh oi smu c ho v e r d u ef o rb e d t i me . Un a b l et os e eh i ms u f f e r a n y mo r e , t h eMa r i o n e t t eg i v e si n . Sh es mi l e sg e n t l y , s t r o k i n gh i st wi t c h i n gf i n g e ri nac o a x i n gma n n e r . “ Ye s …s h h , s h h . Got os l e e p , f a l l d e e pa s l e e p . Bes i l e n ta n dr e s t , Al l e n . J u s tf a l la s l e e pa n de n t e ral a n do fd r e a ms . ”
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Wi t has ma l ls i g h , Al l e ni sc o a x e di n t oc l o s i n gh i se y e s . Re s t i n gh i sh e a da g a i n s th i sa r ms , t h el a s tt h i n gh es e e si st h es ma l lp a i n t e df a c eo ft h ema r i o n e t t ed o l ls i t t i n gb yh i ma n ds i n g i n gaf a i n tl u l l a b ywi t hh e rr o s el i p s . He rv o i c e , t h o u g hs oi n d i s t i n c ta n ds o f t , l u l l sh i ml i k e s l e e pg e n t l ye mb r a c i n gh i ma n da l l o wi n gh i mt os i n ki n t oi t se p h e me r a lp r e s e n c e . Ye s -a f t e r d a y sa n dmo n t h sa n dy e a r so f s l e e p l e s sn i g h t s , Al l e nwa sf i n a l l yf a l l i n gp r e yt of a t i g u e ’ sl i f e e a t i n gp o i s o nt h a twa ss u p p o s e dt oh a v ec o n s u me dh i mal o n gt i mea g o . Wh e nh ewo u l dn e x twa k eu p , n oo n ewo u l dk n o w.
Kat e l y nY au
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A Life Told in Poems A Collection of Poems by Yap Li Yan
A Life: Told in Poems 24
Parting Ways A Routine A Collection of Poems by Yap Li Y It's a horrible feeling when you already know how things turn out, and you can do nothing but watch.
I stay as I was, knowing moving suddenly might light that fire again. When I feel safe, I stretch out my limbs slowly. There are always new bruises colouring my skin.
Every day, I come home after school, I clean and wash and make sure everything is perfect in hopes of changing the somewhat inevitable. But then, my mother comes home at seven o'clock in the evening. Her steps: limping and slow (She had been caught in a horrible accident a long time ago, she told me before, saying, “If you’re so curious, how about I try to duplicate the effect for you?”) Her breath reeking: a disgusting mixture of liquor. Her eyes are clouded, barely aware of her surroundings and actions.
This one is purplish, the other is greenish, that one is a darker purple. When I was younger, I would pretend my mother wanted to colour me because she loved me, and wanted me to look better: just like those colouring books she bought me. I hoped they were signs of my mother’s nonexistent love. I hoped so hard that I was told that I was delusional, and by God, were they right.
Soon enough, her rough hands (a result of her hardworking youth and poverty once upon a time) find me no matter where I try to hide. Her eyes are no longer clouded; they see me - her source of misery; her eyes are fiery.
I stopped crying about it; what point is there? I just make sure I can move - walk or crawl, it's practically the same. She doesn't pay any more attention to me. Until tomorrow. And then it starts, all over again.
I close my eyes, embracing the inevitable. When I open my eyes again, they are met with hers; that fire is gone, there is only disgust (at me) left.
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Parting Ways
We simply grew apart. There is no romantic, poetic rhyme or riddle. We simply became our own people. That’s what happens in real life: we just… stop. It’s like death, it merely happens to us. Just like love, it happens inevitably. Exactly like this, we grew apart. It wasn’t intentional. it happened, just like this. They told me I’ve been rescued. They worry for me. Suddenly it hits me: what she did, what she said those were not actions of a mother. They were nothing less than a monster. “A Devil,” they murmur, “only a Devil would be capable of this,” when they think I’m fast asleep.
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I Reached My Limit When I was younger, I burned my fingers playing with fire; that didn't stop me from playing with it again. When I was a toddler, I fell down and scraped my skin; that didn't stop me from learning how to walk. When I was a child, I almost drowned in a pond; I never let that stop me from swimming. When I was a small girl, I was isolated; I never let that stop me from trying to make friends. When I had no one to talk to, I was lonely; I never let that feeling suffocate me. When I wanted to die, and felt like the world was crushing me bit by bit, I didn't let that stop me from striving for a better life. I wonder when did I start being a quitter?
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Through A Storm Everyone goes through storms. We have all, at one point in our lives, went through one. Some storms, we go through alone. Others, we can't. The storms that we can't go through alone are very important, because that shows us the people that we can rely on; it helps us bond. To unite, sometimes we have to weather storms and break. But we can all agree, that after a storm, we start repairs, we see clearer skies, we feel better.
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An Elder’s Woe I see people pass me taking everything in their stride. How easy they make it seem. While I, try my hardest to catch up to them. Once upon a time, I was the same as them. Easily walking, rushing. I see those little ones carrying heavy school bags while running along, laughing and talking. While I, can hardly lift my own weight on some days. Once upon a time, I carried more than school bags. I had to make money for my family, even as a small child. I ask my child to read me the menu when we are in the restaurant. she rattles the items off the lists; I struggle to even hear her above the noise. I try to read it by myself, but words seem to have started blur out, whether I wear my spectacles or not. It has been too long since I could manage by myself. I have forgotten how to be independent. I reminisce more often, these days. Oh, what a whimsical twenty-something-year-old I was, thinking being old and retired would be so grand.
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A Privilege
Death is the privilege of the living. Those who do not live, do not die. Those who do not die, do not live. Thus, the fear of death is absurd. How do you live and fear death? Are you living at all, if that is the case? "If you fear death so much, do not live," I say to those contradictory beings. It is our destiny, in fact, to move and rove on, evermore. As of now, I experience this blessed privilege.
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J a d e l y n n
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J a d e l y n n
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On the 24th of February, Tenby held its first ever Poetry Slam competition. Organised by Tenby Sixth Form’s very own Rachel Ng and Shinissha Kaur, the event featured a variety of poems which were all written by the poets themselves. The TenbyZine Team would like to congratulate all the participants on their empowering and thought-provoking poems. The following poems are from the winning performances of the night. We hope you enjoy reading them as much as we did!
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3rd Place Winner
The Glare By Dhivya Shivani Raviselvan
She leaves the house in her flip flops, jeans, and tee. She browses through the shops. She munches on her snack. And just then, they see her. They strut past in their six-inch heels, blouses and skirts, With delicate purses dangling from their slender wrists. They glare pointedly at her, malicious smiles playing over their painted lips, which seemed to scream: "Her shoes make her look like a midget." "Her clothes are so ugly." "They make her look fat." The next day, she tiptoed, trembling, into the vast hall to deliver her presentation - uncomfortably aware of the clip clop of those shoes she had never worn before. The examiners gazed up from their scripts and locked eyes with her. And in that, she saw the glare. In her mind, their silent eyes yelled: "She seems nervous." "I know she's unprepared." "She has no confidence." Grown so accustomed to the glare, She saw it in every innocent glance and stare. Most would flock to condemn them They, who killed her self-esteem. Where do we find them? That's easy. They're all here. We all have been guilty of throwing the glare - who hasn't judged someone at some point? Sometimes they are just random, reflexive thoughts. What's the harm of thinking about how hideous that guy across the street's haircut is? But do we really need those negative thoughts clouding our mind? Who do they benefit? Or maybe there's more to it. Do the glares really mean: "I wish I was as comfortable with my height as she is." "I wish I had her unique fashion sense." "I wish I were as happy as her, being myself." Do we strip down others just to clothe our ego, without thinking? Sometimes it takes more courage to twist your thoughts around and turn the glare into a smile.
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2nd Place Winner
39 By Pooja Tamara, Tia Siddle, Angie Liew and Alice Jeon
I am a girl, I was born to this world wrapped in cloth of pretty pink. At three; my mother put in my hair, a big poofy bow, Five; they gave me little Barbie dolls, telling me to sit around and play. Now I am seven, doing chores whilst being silent like a mink, At twelve, I go shopping for trendy clothes and makeup to impress boys, never feeling that they would appreciate who I really was. I’m fifteen and I’m starving myself to get a new body as thin as straw… as delicate as glass… as beautiful as reality… like all the models we adore in magazines. Sixteen. Mother now keeps nagging me to cover up, so, I don’t get raped at any time But I can’t help thinking, “Isn’t MY BODY MINE?!” Now I’ve turned eighteen, and I’m told simply to find a rich spouse, I turn twenty-one. Ready as ever to be the best employee a company could find, but they only prefer men. Another year has gone by and I’m twenty-two… I’m jobless and still live with my parents, from this unjust society, I still have not escaped. But then he came to save me, and became my lifeline, bringing me life, love, and laughter. Three years later and I’m twenty-five, and I stand before my fiancé, silently praying that he’ll say: “I do” Time flies, at thirty, I’ve become the grown woman I am… But then, slowly, my life starts to fall out of place. Thirty-one; He’s finally broken,
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gone crazy and wild, always drinking and beating me around. I tried to cry out my pain but no one wanted to help me. The other men around me just laughed. And this is when I realize… I was no more than I lifeless object to him, A trophy he would carry around like a symbol of power. At thirty-six, I ran away; falling helplessly into the hands of drugs I roam hopelessly around town, pleading and begging for money to feed my addiction. Finally, I’ve turned thirty-eight, and I’m forced to face the cruel world before me. But I’ve grown so weak that I can hardly make a sound. I feel my life slowly being sucked out of me, I was all alone, with no hope, courage or faith left in my limp body, with only the truth of what has happened before my eyes. My time has come; I am thirty-nine now and I have left this merciless world, and now I lie… on my deathbed. Most people think that death is a punishment, But to me, it’s my pathway to freedom and peace… Freedom from this treacherous society This unimaginable inequality This never-ending game of monopoly Freedom from all this pain From all this horror From all this LIVING Because was living supposed to be more painful than death? And I hope, society, that you realize deaths like mine are non-fictional. This is why so many like me suffer and DIE It’s the way you’ve brought us up, it’s the way you make girls live. The way you brand us as “the weak”, the way you treat us, second best, the way you turn us into objects, and not people. You may think that we are just girls, but could you endure the horrifying ordeals that us girls go through? Put yourself in our shoes, think about what we are restricted to, think about how we are treated. Would you want to reach the end of the line…as young as thirty-nine?
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1st Place Winner
Daisies & Daisies By Pearl Hong, Amanda Milligan and Aryssa Nazir
The show will be back in 60 seconds, right after this ad! Don’t go anywhere! Daisy. There is none as delicate as she. SLIM petals GORGEOUS stamens JUICY pollen Place her by the windowsill Where everyone can see Make the other men go ooh Make them go aahh With your very own Daisy! Taking off too much of your time? Don’t worry! Just leave her at home Occasional access to sunlight She’ll be right as rain. Taking too much space in your pot? Don’t worry! Just cut the roots off Put her back to where she belongs! She should be meeting your demands not the other way around! Did we mention? She’s cheap too! Absolutely no need to worryChoose from the other 4 billion in this world! They’re all here to make your experience as satisfying as possible. Now available with special features such as: Self-Dignity! Ability to talk on the behalf of herself! Confidence in her convictions! Awareness of her right to be distinguished and independent; Because, Daisies don’t just grow in pots and home gardensDaisies grow wild in nature too, Away from your ‘care’ and ‘love’ and ‘help’ Once you’re bored with her looks you can get a new one anytime! Indulge in limited editions: Get the Daisy you’ve always wanted in an all new shade of platinum blonde! Please Handle with caution! Keep away from carbohydrates, fats, proteins and other harmful substances listed below To keep that fantastic figure light and perky! Get your own Daisy at only the low price of your morality! Terms and conditions apply.
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