Written By: Gui Yu Xin 3/7

More often than not, a straight-A student is viewed as the brightest and of having the greatest potential. However, can we really just depend on the students’ grades to measure their ability? I strongly believe that examinations are not accurate in measuring a student’s ability because his or her performance may not be his or her usual standard due to test anxiety. Also, examinations do not assess abilities in talents and soft skills. Furthermore, some students may do well on paper but have no real understanding of the content tested as they just simply memorised the content.

Many students experience stress or anxiety before an examination. Sometimes, this distress, also known as test anxiety, becomes so excessive that it actually interferes with the students’ performance in an examination. These students are so nervous that they blank out and become unable to answer even the easiest questions. No matter how hardworking they were, paying attention in class, taking detailed notes, reading every chapter, or even going the extra mile to attend extra study sessions after class, they would still lose marks due to their carelessness from panicking. Even though a student has grasped the concepts of the materials well, his test anxiety could still cause him to be unable to perform well, therefore, making examinations an inaccurate measure of a student’s ability.

Abilities can range from sports to soft skills. Most of the time, these are considered unimportant and are not tested in examinations. Some students do not have quickness in understanding certain material and an ability to apply knowledge and skills at a high level. However, they are able to excel in non-academic areas that examinations do not assess. For example, a student who failed his Mathematics examination can still be an Olympics gold medallist in the future. Even those who do well in examinations can lack leadership skills or the ability to ask difficult questions and solve them. Some of them might lack presentation or communication skills too, and they are often viewed as a well-performing student only because they were able to do well in examinations. Hence, even though a student excels in examinations, he may not have abilities in non-academic areas and vice versa.

Examinations only test and assess the ability to recall facts. A majority of students regurgitate facts they spent hours memorising and do not actually understand any of the concepts. This causes students to only focus on specific examination questions rather than the topic as a whole. Studies have found that in recent years, students believe that achieving good grades is more important than a firm understanding of the material. Students only study the information that will be tested and disregard any other information as unimportant. If a student cannot apply the material learned, then this particular student does not have ability in that subject since he does not understand the content in reality. Hence, examinations cannot be true indicators of a student’s ability if only his memory power is all that is being tested.

            To conclude, examinations do not measure a student’s ability. A student’s non-academic ability and test anxiety should not be easily overlooked. Moreover, doing well in examinations just by memory work without actual understanding does not simply mean that they have a flair for those subjects. Perhaps, schools can incorporate performance-based assessments into examinations as an additional measure of testing a student’s understanding.

Written by: Lucas Cheung 2/5

My bedroom is my favourite part of my house. It is a safe haven for me, a place where I can be myself. As an introvert, my room is the only place for me to relax and have some alone time, as well as recharge my energy after a long day of school. I chose it as my favourite part of my house because its design, layout, and decor were all chosen by me. If someone were to walk into my room, they will be able to figure out my personality.

When I first heard from my parents that I wouldn’t have to share a bedroom anymore, I could not believe my ears. I had asked for my own room for an extremely long time. My eyes lit up with joy and a broad smile broke out across my face. “Am I really getting my own room? Am I?” I asked them enthusiastically like a puppy. My father smiled and nodded while I was lost in reverie. “I can’t wait!” I screeched, almost causing the walls to shake and vibrate like the tail of a rattlesnake. Gushing with exhilaration, I almost smothered my parents with a tight hug.

Swirling in exultancy, I scampered to my future bedroom which at that point in time, was filled with flotsam and jetsam. I envisioned a minimalistic theme and set out to make it a reality. I made sure to have the classic, neutral black, white and grey palette as the main colours for a sense of juxtaposition and tranquility.

After the room was prepared for me to shift in, it only contained a bed, a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe. To some people, that would feel extremely dull, but to me, it was perfect. There was a veneer twin bed with a woolly blanket that was as soft as clouds, pillows which resembled squishy white marshmallows where my delicate head could rest in peace and dream. My bedsheets had an aromatic scent of laundry detergent. Together with the desk that had drawers with recessed pulls, and the dark wood wardrobe, my bedroom was exactly how I envisaged it.      

Returning to the present moment, my room is largely still the same, albeit with a few additions such as a laptop, occasional piles of schoolwork and even snacks such as salty potato chips. The laptop helps me to reduce stress through applications which I can use to keep track of assignments and set a timetable to follow but still be able to edit when there is a need to. This means that I can complete all my work on time, thus making me less stressed. Furthermore, there are websites and video games which help me to relax especially after completing all my work.

 Ultimately, my bedroom is my favourite part of my home because it is where I feel most at ease.

Written by: Lucas Cheung 2/5

Approval for an outdoor learning journey to Sky Greens

I am Samuel from class 2/5. Being the ambassador of Riverside’s Green Society, I am writing this letter to seek your approval regarding an outdoor learning journey to Sky Greens for the Secondary two students.

The learning journey to Sky Greens will take place on 29 May 2020, from 10 am to 2 pm. Sky Greens is the world’s first low-carbon vertical urban farm located in Lim Chu Kang. It uses green urban solutions to achieve the production of safe, fresh, and delicious vegetables, using minimal land, water, and energy resources.

The main purpose of this learning journey is to enrich students with environmental knowledge and at the same time, allow them to learn more about the technologies used in this day and age. At Sky Greens, advanced technology is used to monitor the plants. For example, vegetables are grown on 9m-tall towers made of tiers of planting troughs rotating around an aluminum frame. With each rotation, technology ensures that plants receive uniform sunlight, irrigation, and nutrients. In addition to the technologies used at Sky Greens, I chose this place because many of my friends from other schools’ green society had been there before. They were extremely satisfied with the workshops and recommended me to plan a learning journey there if possible.

During the learning journey, students will participate in two activities. The first activity will be the Hydroponic Experience. In this activity, students can learn how farmers carry out day-to-day duties like transplanting and harvesting. I feel that this workshop will be an eye-opener for all students, as it will allow them to get to know more about traditional farming. Moreover, students always have a tendency to overlook and stereotype farmers, thinking that their jobs serve little purpose in our society. Thus, I feel that this workshop can allow them to more appreciate farmers and indirectly appreciate the food they eat. Knowing that harvesting is an extremely strenuous job that requires a lot of resilience and patience to complete, this will benefits the students by inculcating in them the value of empathy in their daily life.

The second activity will be Traditional Soil Farming Production. This workshop allows students to see the automated seeding system and nursery. And how to maintain plant quality and pack with the help of an automated packing machine. I chose this activity as I feel that it can expose students to modern-day technology and simultaneously teach them how to use it.  Nowadays, many students are engrossed with mobile phone technology like voice activation that they often omit how good other modern-day technology is. It can make your job more convenient, make it less strenuous or it can take over your job. I feel that this activity can benefit the students immensely as they would be able to fit into society better when exposed to the working world. How? In the future, technology will be advanced as ever, from automated cars to self-flying planes, the world is currently in the phase of development. Thus I feel we should be exposed to technology from young in order to keep up with the rapidly developing world.

This learning journey will definitely be an eye-opener to the Secondary two students, allowing them to gain more environmental knowledge and awareness to the world around them. I will like to meet you in person to share more about my plans.

Thank you for your time in reading this letter and I look forward to your favourable reply.

Yours sincerely,

Samuel

Yuh Tyng

Class 2/5

Everyone has their preferred place to relax. Some might prefer the neighbourhood park while some enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned, quiet library. Being an introvert, I enjoy being cooped up in my room all day as I am alone and no one can disturb me. Furthermore, I can be in my pyjamas all day because I would not need to go out at all. There are many aspects to this room that helps me relax and unwind from a week’s worth of school and tuition classes.

Firstly, from my room’s window, the bleak golden sun could be seen starting to rise above the clouds every morning. The city is starting to be filled with people dressed in their office-wear. They are mostly packed at bus stops like sardines. The sun gives off a strong golden hue, which spans across the numerous flats and roads, signalling the start of the day. My window is wide, encased in a black metal frame to complete the modern look. It allows the sun to light up my entire room as a whiff of fresh air enters my nose. A plot of green land could also be seen from my window. Tall trees dominate each other as if there was the tallest tree competition taking place. The view from my window is a sight to behold with a combination of a concrete city and wildlife. Looking out of my window gives me a break from my busy lifestyle and allows me to unwind. This view from my window has slowly grown on me over the years.

Secondly, my room has a bookshelf positioned beside my desk. The bookshelf has a fascinating wood grain texture. It is filled to the top with different types of books, ranging from fantasy books to encyclopedias. On the very top shelf, I display my favourite and only collection of toys, Legos. I find other toys very boring to play with but the variety of creations I can make using Legos are so diverse and different that up till now I still play with them. Legos are in different shapes and colours, allowing me to build virtually anything. Once in a while, I would build another Lego creation if I feel stressed or troubled. Building a lego creation to me is a mindless task and I can let my imagination run wild. My favourite Lego creation is based on a scene out of the movie, Checkered Ninja. The main character is dressed in a pink coloured top with a pair of jeans. He is also wearing a blue jacket to complete the look. He is styled in a way that makes him appear like someone weak and easy to pick on. On the contrary, the ninja is in a checkered pattern clothing with his ninjato by his side, ready to battle. They are placed in the scene of an abandoned construction site with leftover materials. This is where they built their training facilty and obstacle course. This creation of mine was completed when I was 12 years old and preparing for the Primary School Leaving Examination.

Because of my hectic life, coming home to my room is always a relief to me. With a space of my own, I can unwind and relax. This space also enables me to imagine and be a child again.

Bevan Poh Class 4/6

 The topic of happiness, or more specifically how people can achieve happiness, has been a problem that has plagued humanity ever since its inception. Many great philosophers have attempted to tackle this issue over the course of history, and all of them have arrived at wildly varied conclusions. The ancient Greeks, led by Socrates and Plato, believed that fulfillment of one’s role in society could lead to contentment while the buddhist monks concluded that making peace with one’s surrounding environment was the way to go. Despite all this, no one is exactly sure how one person can go about attaining happiness and the consensus is categorical – there is no one thing that can solely lead to happiness. However, I believe that there are still some fundamental, universal requirements that one has to meet in order to be happy, and one of these such requirements is that people need to feel that they are being treated fairly.

  First and foremost, being treated fairly by others fulfills a very foundational need of the human psyche. Homo Sapiens are an extremely social species. In fact, we might very well be the most social species to ever exist on Earth. No other species thus far has managed to achieve what we did so naturally – form large-scale, complex mega-societies that colonised our home planet, as far as we can tell. There are some notable species who seem to possess some inkling of higher intelligence, but all of them fall short of humans in one way or another. For example, corvids have been observed in the wild to display eerily human emotions, such as grief over the loss of a loved one and excitement over receiving food, and are capable of solving abstract puzzles when put to the test in laboratories. However, these birds have never been observed to coordinate and cooperate with each other, be it hunting for food or building shelters, despite living in large communities. Even the great apes – a species lauded as second in intellect only to humans – usually live and travel in small groups of no more than 15 members. Our affinity to communicating and cooperating with others is what allowed us to form complex yet cohesive societies and triumph over the rest. Interacting and working with others is an integral part of human nature, and the basis of this cooperation is the mutual respect between fellow humans. This is arguably what makes us human – respecting and being respected by others. It is only through this cycle of respect, where we acknowledge each other’s needs and wants, that we can live harmoniously with others and fulfill an intrinsic part of our psyche.  As such, being treated fairly by others is the same as being treated as a human by others.

  Secondly, being treated fairly will help make people feel content and happy with themselves. If one feels that their peers are being given more affection and attention than themselves, this can set up a spawning ground for negative, and possibly destructive, emotions such as envy, inadequacy and frustration within them. The presence of these emotions might discourage people from being content with what they have, encouraging them to overexert themselves in order to receive validation even well into their lives. In the worst case scenario, it might even completely divert their attention away from the joys in their life, steering them deeper and deeper into their self-conceived ocean of negativity. Several separate studies on the long-term effects of childhood emotional neglect observed that participants who reported feeling emotionally maltreated by their parents, especially in the presence of a perceived more-loved sibling, have lower levels of emotional intelligence, emotional cohesion and greater psychological distress later on in life. Such emotional developments can easily result in later symptoms of depression and social anxiety and cause them to harbour negative emotions towards those around them, including family and friends. As such, being treated fairly by those around them contributes to the emotional wellbeing of an individual.

  Lastly, being treated fairly creates an environment where people can feel like they belong. Home is where the heart is, and the heart can only belong where it feels like it is appreciated and cared about. Being treated fairly fosters a sense of respect and appreciation among individuals, making people feel like they are welcome and loved in their environment. A place like that, one where people feel like they truly belong and are appreciated in, can greatly contribute to one’s happiness. In today’s fast-paced and competitive society, not to mention our country’s aging population, people are increasingly expected to be continuously working and competing in order to be a productive member of society and to earn a living for themselves. In times like these places of belonging can serve as a space where people can relax and unwind, a place where they don’t have to be constantly working and fighting against the current to stand out. It creates a home where people can return to and rest whenever the weight of their everyday life becomes too heavy for their weary souls to bear. As such, being treated fairly by others provides people with a place where they can be themselves.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

 All in all, happiness cannot be achieved by fulfilling only a single requirement, However, being treated fairly by others can greatly contribute to helping one attain happiness by making them feel safe, respected, appreciated, loved and human, lightening their emotional burden and enabling them to more easily navigate their way to happiness.

Comfort Christabel Class: 4/3A

Traditions, cultural practices and language are some of the few things that make every family unique. In Singapore, living peacefully amongst people of different races and religions is greatly celebrated. Many of these traditions and practices were passed from generation to generation, and some have modernised over the years. Although most families, like mine, do not religiously practise any tradition, we still have things we do and partake in that hold significance to us.

One family tradition that my family practises takes place during Christmas. Every year we would gather with friends and family members to pay my relatives a visit. It would often end in gifts being exchanged, with some fun activities and games played by the younger ones. My family loves this time of the year as it when we are able to catch up with old friends and relatives we rarely meet, and have a meal together.

Another tradition that my family practices is one where once a year during the school holidays, we would go on a picnic together with my relatives. This tradition is particularly my favourite as we will always have a Frisbee tournament. My family will play against our relatives, and we will keep going until one team gets tired. My parents told me that this annual picnic is something their parents used to have when they were children, and decided that it would be a good idea to continue the tradition. My parents also explained that doing these outdoor activities will put anyone who is down in a better mood. It is also a way to get some exercise, instead of staring at mobile phone screen all day. If my parents were to have more free time, I would like to go on those picnics more frequently.

Having these traditions to always look forward to help me stay motivated through the difficult times in my life. These traditions encourage me to keep pushing for my goals, as they act as rewards for my hardwork. Not only are these traditions a motivation for me, they hold a sentimental and significant place in my heart. Without these traditions, I will not be able to spend time with my relatives and friends as much as I would like to. My relatives take days off from work just for these events, just so we can spend time together as a family.

All in all, these traditions have helped to strengthen family bonds, build cooperation and trust, and serve as a motivation for me. I would not have such a close-knitted family if not for these traditions.

Iris See Yun Ye       Class: 3/7        

COVID-19: The Frontline

Written By: Iris See

Editor of Riverside Magazine

Surviving a disease outbreak was perhaps not on anyone’s list of New Year’s resolutions but things change. On December 31 2019, news of an unknown strain of pneumonia in Wuhan, China surfaced. Since then, things have not been quite the same.

It is subtle, how our awareness of this disease works its way into the minutiae of everyday life – through bottles of hand sanitizers on the front desk, and in moments of hesitation glancing at elevator buttons. Suddenly, we become hyperaware of our shoulders bumping a stranger’s on public transportation and the incessant feeling of fear when we hear someone cough.

However, even as we scrub off yet another layer of skin after touching a vaguely unsafe surface, there are still people out there who have it worse than us – healthcare workers. As the situation rapidly worsens and evolves in ways that we cannot foresee, hospital staff – doctors, nurses, paramedics, cleaners, drivers and more, are kept on their toes. Their work does not end after hours. They work round the clock, often sacrificing what should have been personal or family time, with time at work instead.

What should have been a badge of honour has turned out to be a mark of disgrace for many healthcare workers. As tensions rise, scrubs have become an unspoken object of taboo amongst Singaporeans. There are numerous stories of healthcare personnel being shunned on public transportation and being denied service, such as having their private hire drivers cancel on them upon the former finding out their line of job, or being turned away outright by stall owners. The situation is ludicrous, especially so when accusations of healthcare workers’ uniforms being “dirty” are completely baseless. When treating patients, staff don protective gear and equipment – masks, gloves, caps, goggles – if only as a precaution. In the current climate, it is tough being a martyr, but someone has to do it.

It is without a doubt, that every soldier needs something to fight for. Behind every comrade on the frontline, is the support of loved ones – tangible reminders of why it is worth the fight. After a grueling twelve hour shift, doctors and nurses alike return to their humble abodes to reunite once again, with the very people who spur them on. Alas, being in close contact with infected persons is not a choice that affects on the individual. As the disease can transmit even before symptoms show, family members have to be extra vigilant at all times, taking precautionary measures like washing their hands more often and sleeping in different rooms to prevent possible infections.  

However, it is not all gloom and doom for our healthcare workers. As of February 28 2020, the government has announced its decision to award an additional month of special bonus to public officers battling the virus on the frontline to recognize and reward their efforts in this difficult time. Monetary compensation is but a small way to thank these heroes of the sacrifices they make daily. A little more graciousness and empathy from fellow citizens, will go a long way.

Charmine Tan Renbao, Class 4/7

As the saying goes “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you”. This humble saying encapsulates the idea that people would not be content if they are treated poorly by others as it undermines their self-worth. Even though this applies to the minority of people, I believe that the majority will be happy through other ways. Most people can find happiness from holding onto precious memories of good encounters and achieving their goals or dreams, while some feel blessed if they can lead a fruitful and meaningful life.

Proponents of the idea that people can only be happy if they treated fairly claim that the feeling of satisfaction and joy from being treated fairly overrides all other emotions such as anger or sadness. People will usually reciprocate the same type of treatment to someone if they feel that the other party deserves it. However, this “an eye for an eye” mentality is flawed as most people would not dwell too much on such things and prefer to look at the bigger picture of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the person instead. This, in turn, will not cause people to feel disadvantaged or disappointment if they are not treated fairly.

To add on, people are often satisfied if they have a notable achievement that they can recount to their friends and relatives alike. Feeling proud and reaching a milestone in one’s life allows one to be able to create precious personal moments that he can hold on to for a long time. For instance, the athlete Joseph Schooling grinned from ear to ear when he was awarded the prestigious Olympic gold medal for his outstanding record in the men’s 100-metre butterfly event. In an interview, he mentioned he felt that all his hard work had paid off when he received the award representing Singapore in the international arena. From this, we can tell that happiness can stem from intangible sources and make one feel as if he was standing at top of the world.

Besides, people can easily find meaning in their humble life, be it through pursuing their passion or living a stress-free lifestyle. For busy white-collared workers working in a big corporate company, they would inevitably feel pushed into a corner every day as they are pressured to meet the high expectations of their bosses to earn their good favor in return. For these people, ‘stressful’ and ‘happy’ rarely appear in their list of go-to vocabulary. This is no surprise to anyone working in that same stressful situation. However, for retired blue-collar workers, who choose to move to the quiet countryside to spend their better part of their retirement lives in, experience many encounters of being happy and enjoying life to the fullest. For example, they could find contentment by planting crops and ploughing it to eat or admiring the scenery in front of their houses. As seen, people will be more joyful if they can escape a routine life and turn to a more ‘stress-free’ and ‘happy’ lifestyle compared to their city counterparts.

We can choose our source of happiness if we look beyond ourselves and appreciate the things we have around us. In a nutshell, I do not concur that contentment can only be achieved if people are treated fairly and that there are other more meaningful ways to search for it. After all, would it not be nice to always feel happy as life is too short to be sad?

Chan Si Ting, Class 4/7

Imagine a scenario where people of different skin colour are treated differently from one another; those with lighter skin tones getting more privileges than the darker ones. The lighter toned ones get to sit at the front of the bus whereas the darker toned ones are forced to sit behind, the lighter toned ones get to reserve a table at a popular restaurant while the darker toned ones need to queue for hours before getting a seat. You all might be thinking, “Isn’t this unfair?” Yes, it is and that is why people all around the world fight for equality amongst all races, skin tones and genders. However I think that being happy is not limited to fair treatment alone. Fairness, however, does bring us satisfaction, allowing us to live a better life.

Throughout history, people who think that they are superior to other communities have subjugated them to torture and cruelty. As an act of opposition and defence, those who are being oppressed rise up against their ‘superiors’ to fight for their rights and freedom. World War Two was a fantastic example of this. The Nazis back then had placed the majority of the Jews in Germany in concentration camps to annihilate the Jews in the country as the Nazis think that the Aryan race is the ‘pure’ one and the Jews are impure. The remaining Jews, in retaliation, sheltered other Jews and to go so far as to give the other Jews jobs. This shows that people will never rest until there is equality and fairness for everyone. In retrospect with the plentiful examples of oppression happening in history, people all around the world are trying to make a change, a change for the better by promoting equality, standing against their governments. Therefore, people can be happy when there is fairness in the world.

However, fairness is not the only thing that makes people happy. Happiness can be found in the smallest of acts, the wildest of dreams and the simplest of company. Let’s say on your birthday, you got something you long wished for, a kitten, from your parents. That moment of delight when you stretched out both of your arms, carrying that kitten, isn’t that happiness? Though that moment may be fleeting, it is not as transient as it seems; it is etched in your memory forever. When you are feeling down because of personal problems, simple words of encouragement and comfort from your closest friends might pull out of the ditch you are in, letting you see the fact that not all is lost and allows you to propel yourself forward. As simple as the words may be, they pulled you out of your misery and allowed you to feel happiness again. Hence, striving for fairness is not the only thing that brings happiness in people.

Besides, people have different views on what is fair and unfair. For example, in order to be fair, my parents gave my older sister and me the same monthly expenditure. As my sister is older and is pursuing a higher education, she would be spending more money on educational needs like textbooks. She would then have little to no money left for other daily expenses. As for me, I do not require a large amount of money as compared to my sister for my educational needs, hence, I would have more money on my hands and will be able to spend money on daily needs. This results in my sister being unhappy about the money that she receives and I would be nonchalant about the amount of money I received. Equality is subjective and even if you treat others fairly, it does not mean that you treat them right. Each person’s desire is different from one another and hence, we should accommodate what their wants and needs by treating them right. Hence, fairness does not ensure everyone’s happiness.

In conclusion, despite equality being often touted as the final puzzle piece to attain individual happiness, global peace and harmony around the whole world, one can still find happiness in life from the tiniest of things. With friends and family to be there for you whatever endeavours you embark on, with the support that you receive from them, happiness is wherever you believe it to be.