PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY SENIOR HIGH PUBLICATIONS
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Publications Timeline / Pg 4 /
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Take Five — Our Areas of Progress / Pg 10-11 /
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夜幕下的九点钟 / Pg 16-17 /
2&3
二三事 — 采访陈葆佳学姐
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Four House Captains Interview / Pg 7-9 /
/ Pg 5-6 /
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6 Years in Dunman High — The Dunman Highway / Pg 12-13 /
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At Crossroads 十字路口 (Chinese & English) / Pg 18-19 /
7 &8 生活中的七上八下 / Pg 14-15 /
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Trickle Down Advice / Pg 21-22 /
The PUBS Team / Pg 23 /
Publications started out as a student-initiated CCA in 2008, with the vision of being a student magazine“created by the students, for the students”. Throughout the years, it has matured to become a platform of self-expression for Dunmanians, for them to pen reflective pieces on the school life and the world around them. The issue that you are holding in your hands is a very special one. This year, we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Publications, with this issue marking the birth of Publications 10 years ago! As such, we are excited to show you the changes that have been introduced in honour of this occasion. We chose to number our articles from 10-to-1, with the numbers being the design premise for each article as well. In addition, the main theme is adorned in the Dunmanian colours of red and blue to symbolise our identity as our school’s student magazine. We hope these are fun and interesting additions for the issue and we invite you to count down with us, whilst appreciating the meticulous efforts of our designers. The theme of this issue is“Expedition”, representing both the journey of Publications as a CCA, and that of Dunman High as a family, of continuous progress. This issue seeks to reflect upon a number of topics that are close to our lives as Dunmanians and as individuals. It features interviews with our school’s very own President Scholar and the 4 House Captains, as well as articles covering issues ranging from the identity and progress of our school, to the struggles of and lessons learnt by students. These articles have been tirelessly composed by our writers, and we sincerely hope for you to gain fresh insights, and perhaps even learn a thing or two. Signing out,
PUBS EXCO, 2017
The Publications Timeline 2008
Started by a group of Y4 students
Vision: To provide an exclusive platform for Dunmanians to speak out and participate in school-related commentary. • Starting with bite-sized articles and frequent publications. • Example: 2008 Beijing Olympics feature (Chinese issue)
2010
Sample Articles • Opinion piece on Haiti earthquake and relief efforts • Interview with alumni on studying overseas or locally for tertiary education • Evolution of CNY superstitions
2014
Our online publication platform Hoot! went live and March Campaign was implemented.
• March Campaign: A school-wide campaign “#Feel-Good-March”was initiated to provide Dunmanians with a post-exam morale boost. It has since evolved to become Publication’ s yearly tradition of March Publicity Campaign to promote the CCA.
• Sample Topic Covered: Featured Miao Miao, the stray cat that wandered into our school and was subsequently diagnosed with a terminal illness. 2015
Reduction to less frequent publications and more fleshed out articles.
2016
Sample Topics Covered: The ’Secret Canteen Menu’ , featuring lesser known food items and beverages sold in our canteen.
2008-2017
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Gradual shift from journalistic, student participation-based content to reflective, opinion-based content.
二三事 采访： 黄旭 张悦容
Q
陈葆佳学姐
在大学排名方面，中国大学普遍排在英、美、新三国大 学的后面，请问你选择在北大就读的时候，是否面对了 反对的声音？如果有的话，又是什么让你最终还是选择 了北大？
所谓选择，必然有利弊之考量、反对和支持的声音，没 有的话，那它其实就不算是个选择，而是一个自然甚至 是必然发生的事情。
至于为什么选择了北大（我觉得首先你要非常清楚你 从大学生活里想得到的是什么），其一是个人兴趣：高 一高二时，我修读了华文文学课（CLL），对中华文化产 生了好奇心。但当时的我中文水平仍不是很高，所以希 望通过大学去研究和探讨中国历史文化和语言。其二 是因为觉得这是一个让自己能贡献社会的方式。新加 坡政府各部门内，在中国念了本科的公务人员向来比 较少，因此去北大的原因是希望自己可以在本科阶段 更好地认识中国，以便为政府决策者提供不同角度的 观点。当然，这里背后的假设是我相信中国在这个世纪 里将成为新加坡和全世界不可忽视的一个力量，一个 国际和区域的贡献者。
是德明第一届直通车（IP）毕业生，也 是一名总统奖学金得主。
Q
申请大学的时期即将到来，可以与我们分享你当时的 申请流程吗？对于现在的高二学生，你有什么想说的 吗？ 第一，要清楚自己的兴趣和强项，例如如果真的喜欢某 一个科目，可以考虑往学术界发展。如果对国家政策制 定过程感兴趣，可以考虑申请奖学金。当然，兴趣和人 生规划可能在大学的时候有所变化，这个也是很自然 的。 第二，选择大学的时候，环境也很重要。因为这是你将
要居住三四年的地方，所以要多了解这个城市。还有就 是学校文化，是不是自己喜欢的氛围等等。可以询问校 友，不要害怕，尝试请教他们，很多人很是乐意分享的。 第三，最重要的，要有自信。德明的价值观是很被外界 认可的，在面试时，既要谦虚，也要把自己的成就展示 给他人。
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Q
是否可以与我们分享你在国外读书时最意想不到但又 美好的经历？ 本科：在北大的意外收获是真诚的友谊。虽不是专属于 北大的特点，但是这是在陌生环境里感到不安和忐忑 的时候显得更加宝贵的收获。 硕士：世界观的扩展。因为美国和中国年轻人的价值观 有比较大的差距，再加上斯坦福有很多来自别国的同 学，大家都对世界的看法和对时事的反映都不一样，对 自己价值观的冲击比较大，从而让我的视野扩大了很 多。
Q
在国外孤身一人，你有撑不下去的时候吗？如果有，是 什么支撑着你？在大学求学期间，什么方面对你来说是 最具有挑战性的? 我觉得其实也没有什么克服不了的困难，要相信有志 者事竟成。例如在国外的时候一定会感觉到孤单，但只 要有毅力和勇气，相信你自己就可以克服一切困难。德 明有“诚信勇忠”的校训，我觉得“勇”在国外是最重要 的。要有勇气面对困难，面对自己的缺点和不足，从而 学习、不断求上进，遇到困难时就不会觉得自己的处境 不可解决、不公平，给自己留下遗憾。要从容、冷静地面 对一切困难和考验，理性地处理事情，这么一来，就能 比较轻松地面对重重困难。
Q
你在国外读书时，是否观察到其他国家的人对新加坡 学生有什么印象？ 人们大致上对新加坡人的印象是比较好的，觉得新加 坡人适应能力、应变能力都蛮强。美国同学会觉得亚洲 学生成绩很好，新加坡人都很刻苦。唯一的负面印象是 会觉得新加坡人比较死板，不会见机行事。
Q
你的第一份工作是什么？走出校园投入工作，最大的挑 战和体会是什么？ 第一份正式工作，是一家叫龙洲经济咨询的驻北京美 国公司。当时我的角色是一名宏观经济分析师，主要分
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析中国的债劵市场和影子银行市场，然后给例如淡马 锡、Soros等投资公司做投资分析。最大的挑战可能是 用简单和清晰的语言跟别人解释比较专业性的分析， 并了解别人需要的是什么。这对于一个学生第一次进 入工作环境是比较大的挑战，因为学习的时候通常是 一问一答，而工作时更需要注意别人问题背后的出发 点，才能比较好地给客户设定方案。另外，也必须非常、 非常认真地对待你的工作。
“
学生时期可能觉得“拿90分就算不错了”，但 工作的时候大家关注的不是你给的90分，而是 你失去的10分，如何影响了自己的产品。
面对客户时，是一点错误都不可以有的，因为这关系到 了你的公司和你自己作为专业人士的声誉，也象征着 你对工作、客户的认真度。最后，在公司里与别人相处 的那种微妙的关系和学生时代跟同学的关系是不一样 的。这也是学生开始工作后需要处理、了解和琢磨的。 最主要的是要有德明人的那种谦虚，求上进的态度，不 要有任何对别人的偏见，也不要觉得自己什么都会。
Q
关于我们如何为将来的人生和事业做准备，请以你的 亲身经历给当今的学弟学妹一些建议，好吗？
我觉得这个说起来容易，做起来难：需要不断地摸索并 反思自己的兴趣爱好，自己的价值观。要找时间静静思 考自己到底要成为怎样的一个人，自己要如何贡献于 社会。当然，我们做人也不应该死板，自己的理想不是 一个不可变的东西，因为当你接触、了解的东西更多 了，机会来的时候，这个“未来”是无法预测的。你唯一 能控制的是你面对人生的心态，以及看事情和做事情 的态度。在这个话题上，我觉得我们德明“诚信勇忠”四 个字其实包含的不仅是四个不同的价值观，而更深的 一层是说你身为一个社会人士的状态。例如“勇”不止 说的是要有勇气做事，也是代表着有勇气包容自己和 别人犯的错误。再如“信”，是说要有“信用”，这包括对 朋友的诚实，也代表着与别人惺惺相惜、不害怕别人的 批评、坦然面对自己的缺点等等。在追求事业或学习的 成就时，常常被忽略的是一种自我反省。但往往，思考 周围发生的事情，认清自己的信念，想清自己想要的是 什么，才能坦然理性地面对种种困难，并在自己能力有 限时还能做出最优的、最不会让自己后悔的选择。
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OUR HOUSE CAPTAINS Interview of the four House Captains Bennu: Edisa Joycelin Yeo Homa: Keane Wong Drakon: Gaston Goh Kirin: Koh Zhe Wei Collated by: Edisa Joycelin Yeo
bennu || homa || drakon || kirin
Q:
What made you want to run for House Captain?
Edisa: It was partly a readi-
ness to take on a leadership role outside my comfort zone but mostly it was to have something fun to look forward to in the extremely demanding and rigorous Senior High life.
Gaston: I was really amazed
by how the houses had initiatives set up outside the auditorium when I was in Y3. I went to find out more and realised it was a really fulfilling and interesting role. So I decided to give it a shot and took up the challenge. I felt even more certain about my decision after oriand entation here I am today! 2017 Ben-
[BOTTOM] nu House Committee's encouragement initiative for Year 6s during March CTs
Keane:
Things that House the Comm. do really interest me . T h e
opportunity to try out something not offered in Junior High really pushed me to step up to experience such a role. Running for House Captain also allows me to look out for people, be it my House Comm or the House in general.
Zhe Wei: What really inspired me
to step up and run for this position is because of what I saw during orientation and from our inter-house games. The pride that everyone had in Kirin and the moments when we stood by one another really gave me this heartwarming feeling and a sense of belonging to Kirin. I felt my house's spirit every step of the way as we ran from station to station in Kallang wave, during the cheer battle or during inter-house games. Collectively all these memories formed my impression of Kirin and gave me a new perspective on what it’s like to be part of this House. I am finally proud to call myself a Kirinmon after all of that, and I hope that one day each and every Kirinmon will feel this sense of pride and belonging too. That is why I wanted to run for the position of House Captain, to be able make new changes in my House and serve my batch to the best of our abilities together with my House Committee.
Q:
How has being in Committee changed you?
House
Edisa: Besides all the personal in to
development, I think being House Comm allowed me better appreciate school ini
tiatives and events, especially those heavily planned by students.
[TOP] 2016 Kirin House Committee Members at the 2016 Senior High Sports Carnival held at Temasek Polytechnic
Gaston:
It certainly helped me a lot in my time management. Prioritising time well is very important, especially in Senior High and House Comm has helped me with it. It has improved my leadership style, in a way that I learnt how to adapt to different leadership roles. The way I do my things now has become more systematic and organised. Lastly, it has definitely enriched my Senior High life!
Keane: House Comm has certainly
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Q: What is something most people do not know about House Committee? Edisa: That taobao is our best
friend and you will definitely be more effectively bilingual after having to search all the products you want to prepare for the various initiatives in Chinese. Also, there are a lot of behindthe-scenes work that you must be prepared to commit to if you intend to run for House Comm.
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Gaston: What most people see is the ra-ra part of House Comm,
Keane: Even though House Committee members are a really dedicated and devoted bunch, it is unfortunate that sometimes while we might have put in lots of effort, the end result might not fairly reflect it. But over and above the idea of image, house committee is more than just being up there in front of everyone to display talents and look good. Many things are only possible due to the efforts and time devoted to planning and behind the scenes work, which most people will fail to see.
Zhe Wei: House Comm may seem like a lot of fun but in reality, lots of work goes behind the scenes. Proposals, emails, logistical issues, carrying out events and setting up booths are some of the work. These tasks are not easy and you will have to learn how to accomplish these tasks while working with 4 other team members. These things that you do for the House are no doubt taxing and take up a lot of time, so knowing how to balance your commitments will be of utmost import a n c e.
age team wor
House Comm has certainly not been very smooth sailing. First, getting to know my team and understanding the dynamics of each team member is very important. I had to figure out what I could do as a leader to glue my team together and really improve our chemistry. This has made me question my leadership style on multiple occasions and pushed me to ponder over how I could have done things differently and how I could have led my team better. And as a student, the workload we face when we take up heavy commitments like these will definitely increase exponentially. Coupled with the intense academic rigour of Senior High, balancing my commitments also posed as a huge challenge in my journey. However, gradually, I find myself to be adapting to this new environment and learn how to better manage my commitments.
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cour
Zhe Wei: My experience in
the fun part. However, a lot of planning and proposals are going on behind the scenes. Getting proposals approved definitely isn't an easy task and moreover, to make the initiative more engaging and fresh, a lot of hours are put in place. Managing commitments to your studies, House Comm and CCA isn't an easy task, which is why good time management is key. The offload system can be very stressful but is really helpful in ensuring our studies are kept in check. The bulk of House Comm is a lot of background work, which many may not know.
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assio n
taught me to be more responsible and thoughtful, as initiatives are executed after thorough consideration of the well being of House members. It also allowed me to appreciate the work done by people in such roles regardless of whether they are in House Comm or not. Lastly it gives me a sense of belonging and something to look forward to, especially in Senior High where the work gets tough and mundane.
rk f un
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[TOP] All four House Committee members celebrating a sweet ending to the 2017 Sports Carnival -- Requaero, held at Sentosa in July. [FAR LEFT] Homa House Committee (missing Sheryl) stacking up in a human tsum-tsum.
[LEFT] Bennu House Captain, Edisa Joycelin Yeo at the opening ceremony of Senior High Sports Carnival [BOTTOM FAR LEFT] Drakon 2016 and 2017 House Committee members with the house trophy [BOTTOM LEFT] 2017 Kirin House Captain Koh Zhe Wei showing off his swagger (or was he trying to get 'em ladies?)
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TAK
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The world is obsessed with movement. Survivorship had driven the migration of the Homo erectus out of Africa while faith and desires for riches resulted in the mass immigration of young Eastern and Southern Europeans to America. When a loved one stumbles and fails, we sagely encourage them to“move forward”. When a loved one leaves and is lost, we are often gently nudged to “move on”. And so onward and forward we trudge, progressing along life’s journey. But progress is not just a painkiller for heartache; nor is it simply a product of human impulse. Since its formulation in the 17th century, it has been systemized, permeating politics, communities and the economy today to form the backdrop of every successful society. Its omnipresence can be felt through the dominance of polarizing issues in the media these days. Progress is agreed, almost unanimously, to be desirable. But the division arises upon the question of how to achieve it. Depending on where you are on the political spectrum, “progressive”can be both a gibe and a title of pride. This kind of tension can be similarly observed in our school. When our students call for changes that clash with the school’s traditions, where do we draw the line between what is considered a regression, and what is rightfully a progression?
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S RES G O R g OF P S Zhan A a E i t R e A Lucr a Yu Xin OUR u & Ch
Let us take five, from the everyday hustle, to pause and reflect thus far upon the steps we’ve taken as a school.
A change that can be most directly observed in our daily school lives would be the allowance of coloured track shoes. When this change was put into effect two years ago, contention on whether this is progress ensued. Did the progress made towards satisfying students’ preferences lead to the compromising of what is beneficial for the school? The move was to encourage more students to wear track shoes for better protection of their feet, and it can be seen as a step forward in improving the welfare of the student body. To us students, we are one step further from the rigidity of the school uniform attire, and perhaps one step closer to being able to express ourselves through the way we dress.
moving forward ----------------------a necessary evil?
lives outside of it and has to inculcate some degree of discipline in us. Is this progress, then, if there is advancement in one area but regression in another?
Then again, followers of world politics and even sporadic spectators such as ourselves of the Singapore elections would be no stranger to the utilisation of pretty campaign promises to win voters over. Borrowing from the former Daily Show host, Jon Stewart, it is all too typical for leaders to campaign with such ferocity and“audacity”only to Surely this is beneficial to us all, and substitute those with legislative warrants our excitement and dissemi- “timidness”. Needless to say nation of this good news… or does it? however, this quote is an overOur school holds value and importance simplification. For most of us, in our image presented to the public, we would be largely unaware and this‘progress’has elicited back- of the behind-the-scenes of the lash from some of our alumni. Some Student Council. The decisions students may also see this‘progress’ made by the Council are largemade as a possibility for the school to ly democratic, but it is also oballow greater flexibility in the Code of vious that the decision making Conduct, and call for more changes to process remains a black box to be made. Recall the questions raised us. We would have been clueduring the Dialogue Session held by less about the various ideas the Student Council last year regarding proposed with the intent of inthe different aspects of the acceptable spiring progress but ultimately attire. The implementation of these shot down because of red tapes, changes will certainly grant the requests budgetary concerns and the of many students -- however, do they like. This tug-of-war between actually benefit the school? After all, the idealistic and the practical we are still only students in this secure means that every step towards campus that has to prepare us for our progress is a balancing act.
What about changes that have been put in place, well-intended to bring improvement into our lives, and yet the outcomes don’t line up?
Cue the lively and groovy tune of ‘Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride’, and let us reminisce the memory where we were first taught the dance moves to this song. Amidst dissatisfaction expressed towards the strength of our school identity in comparison to other schools, D’Boogie, also known as the Dunman Dance, was introduced to the school three years ago and was an attempt to address the issue. The choreography was deliberately simple and easy to follow, and had incorporated the element of fun to allow greater hype and enjoyment. However, the implementation of this mass school dance was met with a somewhat lack of enthusiasm; efforts to embed familiarity towards the dance through sessions held in the parade square after the usual morning assembly evoked some reluctance. Something so intangible as the forging of a school identity is not an easy task to accomplish, but it is not a Sisyphean task. While there are bound to be futile attempts made that had little advancement towards the end goal, let us consider the successes along the way.‘TGIF’aptly describes the anticipation we have towards Fridays; besides the joy towards the ending of yet another school week as well as the enjoyment of an additional hour of sleep, we are also able to don a more casual attire, that deviates from the standard formal school uniform, with the DHS Polo T-shirt. The very presence of this common understanding of what Fridays entail to us Dunmanians highlights a shared school experience, and contributes to the forging of our school identity. The question will then be: is this enough? Progress is a laborious journey. It is not a spontaneous event that surreptitiously occurs. Every
inch towards the goal demands the in-pouring of dedication and sacrifice from the individual, and it should be acknowledged as such. These tireless endeavours come at the price of proposal writing sessions deep into the night, with fatigue eating them away the next day. This job, however need not be thankless. As beneficiaries of these efforts to improve the school, our affirmation that their contributions have added on to our school experience can go a long way. But at the same time, it would only be responsible to be discerning about the implications of what has been done in our effort to strive for progress. Ernest Hemingway astutely noted, “Do not confuse movement with action”. While we applaud the well-intentioned ideas behind every proposed initiative, it would be wise to distinguish between intent and effect. To earn the label “progress”, the movement should be one with direction, one that is meaningful.
PROGRESS IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT CHANGE, AND THOSE WHO CANNOT CHANGE THEIR MINDS CANNOT CHANGE ANYTHING.
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When we think of a highway, the first image that pops up in mind is a wide, straight road leading to nowhere. Beginning our trip on the Dunman High-way, the primary goal most of us would have in mind upon reaching the end would be A levels. Being an IP school, our roads are paved to be longer and more arduous for us. Dunman High introduced our Integrated Programme in the year 2005, a one-way ticket down the highway straight to A levels at the end of our 6-year journey. For that, we perhaps missed out on opportunities other secondary schools were able to provide for their students. Being one of the rare schools in Singapore offering the Integrated Programme, we students have the chance of going through both our secondary and our junior college years in the same school. On the outside, it seems there is nothing much we can deem to be“special”or“exciting”about our journey at first glance -- perhaps we are so used to the same faces, walkways and meals. Yet what not many realise, is that we were gifted with extra time, and it is this time that will eventually come to be the most memorable. The extra 2 years we get to spend with our batchmates gives us an opportunity to forge the closest relations with them, which is something students in other schools might never get the privilege to enjoy.
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Some may argue that perhaps keeping us within the same social circle of friends prevents us from making new friends over the years, and we become what they call“more sheltered”. There is an ounce of truth within this claim, for we cannot deny that we are protected from the outside world within the safe confines of this 6-year journey. We face the same group of friends daily - even those whom we are not friends with we come to see them along the corridors and can eventually become acquaintances. It seems almost redundant that we are given such a long time frame when we already know just about the whole batch by the end of 4 years. Despite this, this shelter will eventually come to serve as a home to us. The special 6-year journey does more than familiarise us with the same old faces; it hands us the time for us to forge close bonds with friends as well. It is easy to say that time is subjective, but 6 years worth of time is an ample highway to travel to eventually walk out with a close-knit family of friends. We get busier and busier with each passing year as we make our way closer to the end of the highway, yet with all these friendships we have come to forge in the last 6 years, we can always rest assured that there are close friends that are there with us every step of the way. They say time flies, but I say I am grateful for it taught me how to fly with it as well. The time we spend together gives us opportunities we cannot find anywhere else, a journey where we learn and experience the bulk of our youth, the Dunman High way.
Written By:
Dorothy Quek Lauren Ong
-n-
y...
What our Alumnni Sa
Firstly, my Dunman High life, especially in Senior High, was extremely busy. Hence, it taught me hard work and its importance as a work ethic. Today, I take this diligence with me in whatever I do, be it school work or non-academic related work. What makes DHS unique will be the warmth we have within the Dunmanian family, both students and teachers, which is such a privilege. My friends from school still remain very close to my heart even after graduating and living abroad. -Olivia Ong, DHS Batch'15 President Scholar
The Dunman Highway
regarding their Dunman High journey -- lessons learnt and memories forged. or me, DHS really taught me how to juggle my commitments and manage my time well. In Senior High, I was part of the House Committee and this meant that I had a lot on my plate. In addition to studying for tests, I also had to attend weekly House Committee meetings and organise various events. Even during the holidays, I had to make my way back to school to settle logistics or finalise our ideas. With so many things going on at once, I really learnt how to plan things out so that I could maximise my time and not lag behind my peers. -Cen Yu Yang, DHS Batch '16
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脚下突地卡了一下， 地铁停了， 我的心一沉。 果然， “叮咚” ： ” Due t o at r ac kc i r c ui t
f aul t ,pl eas eadd Ri s . ”
mi nst r a v e lt i mef r om J ooKoont oCl ement it owar dsPas i r
“我的天！ 为什么地铁每天都会出故障！ ” 我烦躁地继续用手机， 在社交媒体上向朋友
抱怨。 I ns t agr am上的照片渐渐被刷完了， 换另一个应用程序继续刷。 我掏出耳机， 却发现 它们紧紧缠绕在一起，我翻了翻白眼，把耳机丢回包里。 又过了几分钟，地铁迟迟不动。 车 厢内越来越热， 怒躁的分子在我周围撞击得越来越快。 我深呼吸， 想要平复情绪， 又再次掏
出耳机， 耐着性子把耳机捋顺⸺ 当我认真想要完成一件事时， 心情竟忽然变得不那么烦 躁了。 在听到音乐的那瞬间， 我的心情更是平静多了。
我开始观察周遭的人 我开始观察周遭的人们。 远处， 一个孩子坐在母亲的腿上， 胖嘟嘟的双臂抱着一个玩
具熊，时不时奶声奶气地对它说说话。 想到一个孩子在闷热的车厢里尚且可以冷静、不哭
闹， 我顿时对刚刚的情绪有点脸红。 在另一个方向， 一个老奶奶正捧着一本书安静地阅读， 似乎周遭发生的状况都与她无关。 对啊，周围许多人的情绪似乎都没有太大起伏，那我为
什么要惹自己生气呢？ 我打开了手机中下载后就从来没有打开过的读书应用软件， 静下心 来， 打算好好阅读。
地铁在轨道上多停留的这段时 地铁在轨道上多停留的这段时间， 也就短短十几分钟。 开始的几分钟非常难熬是因为
自己的情绪； 之后的十多分钟轻松多了， 也是因为自己的情绪。 短短的时间让我感触颇深， 也意识到我已经很久没有找时间感受周遭环境， 或多了解自己了。 为什么不放慢脚步呢？ 慢慢来， 说不定会有意外的惊喜。 地铁延迟？ 多大点事嘛！
慢慢来
黄旭
学校中的 七上八下 陈舒丹
人们常说， 人生中难免会经历种种颠簸， 只有以积极的态度面对各种挑战， 才能迎来
更美好的未来。 然而， 如今的校园生活却让我感到深深的困惑： 说好的偶尔才出现的挑战 呢？为何每天面对的都是层出不穷的难题？ 刚开学， 老师就开始不断强调个人简历的重要 性： 不但成绩要优异， 其他各方面的个人发展， 如课外活动， 甚至深广课程， 也样样都要涉
及⸺ 简直是鱼与熊掌都必须兼得， 还不忘要携上 “凤爪” 。 还处在假期状态的我被这突如 其来的无形的压力压得有些郁闷： 果然， 美好的高中时光什么的， 都是浮云。
于是， 我开始在追求光明未来的道路上奋力奔驰。 我尝试抓住所有的机会， 参加各种
活动。 然而，我所面临的却是一次次的失败，让我渐渐失去自信，甚至开始质疑自己的能 力。 紧随而来的学业压力更是让我每天都有一种说不清道不明的疲惫感，在不知不觉中 迷失方向， 感觉自己失去了奋斗的目标。 面对如此颓废的自己， 我开始反思自己不断失败
的原因。 冷静思考过后， 我意识到， 自己一开始追求这些机会根本只是为了拥有更养眼的
简历， 而不是因为自己真的对此有兴趣， 于是在毫无热情也缺乏了解的情况下， 伴随着过 去的失败带来的挫败感， 恶性循环， 造成了屡屡败绩。 于是， 在总结经验之后， 我重新拾起
积极乐观的心态来面对下个学 积极乐观的心态来面对下个学期。 果不其然， 拥有了明确的目标和正确的心态后， 我顺利 地获得自我提升的机会， 恢复了原有的自信。 同时， 成功所带来的喜悦也冲淡了学业的压 力，让我以精神饱满的姿态面对新的每一天。 即使之后我一直在学业和课外活动之间忙 得不可开交，每天早出晚归，劳累又费神，内心却对这样充实的生活感到十分满足。 更何 况， 我所做的事都是自己所热爱的， 这给予了我不少的动力来面对种种挑战。
人生的道路就如走钢丝一般， 即使心里如有十五个吊桶打水⸺ 七上八下， 但只要学
会如何平衡，就能够化挑战为助力，化忐忑为信心，顺利到达终点。 我们应以乐观的态度 看待事情， 在 “人生钢丝” 上勇敢自信地踏出每一步。
晚上九点钟，夜空中的卫星如勤劳
个人的脸上都洋溢着微笑，似乎是在为
它的“视野”里，原本蔚蓝色的星球如今
长龙的最后，时不时地抬起手腕看表，拿
的工人，兢兢业业地守着自己的岗位。在 被暗幕笼罩，但其美丽却丝毫不减。无数
的灯光汇聚成夜晚地球上的星星点点， 其中有一颗格外的明亮⸺ 新加坡。
九点，牛车水一家旅行社的铁门准
时被拉下。女人拿起她的包，向商场门外 走去。商场外，卖食品的商铺仍然灯火通 明，顾客也还络绎不绝。一间生煎包店外 排着一条长龙，时不时能听到几声“两个
今天生意这么红火而高兴。女人排在了 到生煎之后，立刻抬脚往地铁站走去。
地铁上，下班后的工作者享受着短
暂的放松：他们有的脑袋后仰，靠在窗上 休息；有的闭着眼睛，沉浸于耳机里的音 乐；还有的低头私语，与友人们交谈。外 籍劳工在自己泛黄的工作服上抹了抹双
手，拿起手机，编辑着短信。他皮肤黝黑， 手上布满了老茧，触碰屏幕时手指不自
猪肉生煎”， “四个韭菜包子”的点菜声。
觉地颤抖。 那个手机，连接着大洋两岸的 觉地颤
顾客的账结了，又急着拿下一位点的东 顾客的账结
又接起了一个电话。她单手掩面，小声地
服务员们忙得脚不沾地，匆匆把上一位
西。她们脸上泛着红晕，喘着粗气，拿完 东西忍不住捏一下僵硬的肩膀。但是，每
一家人。女人打开手机，发了几条短信， 和客户确认明天的旅游行程，似乎是不 希望打扰他人安宁的睡眠。
地铁到站，门上“勿洛”的绿灯变成
闪烁的红灯。女人背起包，拎起装生煎的
丈夫一个，儿子一个，女儿一个。
九点钟的夜晚，虽然每个人都有自
袋子走了出去。下楼的扶梯摸着烫手：皮
己的事做，有人疲惫地收工，也有人刚开
社工作的女人一样。到了她家楼下，眼前
让夜的黑暗也多了一丝温暖。
带已经运转了数十个小时，如同在旅行
是一个游乐场，小孩子们还在那里嬉闹。 他们沿着梯子攀爬上去，又从滑梯滑下
来，仿佛不停旋转的陀螺一般，一刻也不 肯停歇。女人忍不住笑了起来。她的眼角
已经有了皱纹，笑时眼尾微微下垂，露出
一丝疲惫。但她的眸子却异常明亮，似乎 是透过那群孩子在看其他人。
到了家门口，门没锁，灯没关，她刚
开门便被一个十岁左右的小孩扑了个满 怀。小男孩刚刚写完作业，迫不及待地扔
下笔来迎接自己的母亲。隔壁的房间里， 他上高中的姐姐正抓耳挠腮地和同学视 频通话，讨论着做专题作业的方法。女人
打开装生煎的袋子，里面有四个：她一个,
始工作，但“情”依旧紧紧地维系着人们，
也许，在另一个平行宇宙里，我们都
限在四周的屏障封锁起的狭小空间里，看
不我们脚下道路的尽头，也看不到其他道
路上的情景，为了早日脱离眼前的困境， 我们只得坐在道路交叉的十字路口苦思 冥想...
罢 了 ，我 打 断 了 自 己 这 一 番 白 日
梦——何必要一个真真切切的迷宫？在这
现实世界里，我们不也常常被围困在自己 错误的选择所造成的窘境里么。又何必要
高耸的屏障？即便了解了不同的道路上所
E H T DS Y T A TA A RO TINA S US J S O R
包含的风险与机遇，我们做出的选择依然 常常令自己遗憾或后悔。
口与重
路之轻
是在迷宫中行走的灵魂。我们的视线被局
字论选择
滢
李
滢
“选择”这件东西，似乎可以放在一
把天平上测量，有的轻，有的重。 那些轻的，比如在琐碎的
小事上，为避免瞻前顾后而浪
费时间与精力，果断做出决定。 那些重的，则如在千钧一发的 时刻，一纸文书则家国倾覆，一 箭离弦则血肉化为白骨。
C
每个人似乎各有一把不同的天平。对于一个人极重
做某一种选择，自然要依据当时面对的具体情况而定。
的选择，在另一个人那里也许轻得微不足道。这都是由于
这两种选择，也无高下之分。但不论在哪一种情况下，我们
担的风险的不同。
逃避的责任。有时旁观者未必清，他人对我们的选择的评价
每个人所看重的东西的不同，和每个人做出选择时所承 那一念之差的份量，因为时间再也无法倒回这一
刻。一旦选定了方向，在自己选择的道路上，所有的鲜花 或是荆棘我们都必须同样面对 。诚然，前方还会有分岔 的小路，或许我们还能沿着它逐渐转变方向，走上自己真 正期望的道路。但是这样一来，绕远路所带来的疲劳和辛 苦便是不可避免的了。
近来逐渐感悟到，人们面对选择时的情况，往往有
两种。一种为了一个明确的、切实的目的而做出选择，于
是在那之后若是出于某些原因无法得到预期的结果，便
难免要后悔自己的决定；另一种为了追求一个信念或把 握一个机会而做出选择，于是即便到头来事与愿违 —— 或是没能达成希望的，或是要付出未曾预料到会付出
的——也许仍不后悔当初放手一搏。前者比如商业中的 投资，后者则比如在政府压制下顽强进行的人权运动。
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做的选择所带给自己或是他人的后果，终会成为我们无法 往往片面而有失公正。做出选择时所面对的压力和受到的
影响只有我们自己才真正了解。于是或许，在面对多条道路 踌躇不定时，只有我们自己的心才是最精准的指南针吧。
跨越无尽的时间与空间，千千万万的人，站在属于自己
的十字路口上。试问，你会走向何方？
In life, we experience a series of changes and come across significant milestones, also known as“turning points”. At certain points in our lives, we find ourselves in front of a crossroad, fretting over which path
to take. Perhaps, for us, we have to make decisions about which subject combination to take, or what CCA to join. Later on, we will have
to decide on what university course to enrol in and which career path
to take. Some turning points are conscious, others less so; some may be imposed by family or other influential people in our lives. But all
involve turning away from one path for another – a certain trade-off is made every time we make a choice. All these choices ultimately shape the way we live our lives and define who we are, as people.
For some people, they know what they want and thus making decisions
is not a big deal for them. But for others, making decisions, big or small, is a huge challenge. They agonise over their potential choices for ages and second-guess themselves even after deciding on a choice. Here are a few strategies for making the right choice: t choose it simply because it’ s the norm. Many of us tend to • Don’
just“follow the crowd”when we cannot make a decision. Maybe it’ s because we find safety in numbers, or maybe it’ s because we
are scared of being the“odd one out”. But what’ s right for others may not be right for you. Choosing something unconventional may result in something remarkable.
• Trust your gut. This may sound airy-fairy, but experts have said
that trusting your gut is trusting the collection of all your subconscious experiences. The gut holds insights that are not immediately available to our conscious minds, but they are all things that we
have learnt and felt. In the moment, we may not be readily able to access specific information, but our gut has it at the ready.
• Don’ t be afraid of failing. In making decisions, we often consider the prospects of failing rather than the prospects of succeeding, resulting in fear and indecisiveness. But we must remember that no calm sea ever made an expert sailor; only with failures are we able
to learn and grow from our experiences and create more opportunities for success.
Being at crossroads is part of the process of life and uncovering one’ s potential. Sometimes, we feel overwhelmed, frustrated and fearful, but
learn to trust yourself and the decisions you make. Think through your options, do your research, define what’ s important to you and what you want, and take the step when you are ready.
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Trickle Down Advice
By Nadya Low & Boh Duang Sey
Going back in time to advise your past self, or travelling to the future to
seek advice from your future self might not be possible with current technology, but we can certainly gain insight from the experiences of others
1
who have trodden similar paths. Here are 6 tips from our seniors to survive our 6 years in DHS!
MAKE MISTAKES
A sentiment commonly echoed by teachers, school does serve as a platform for you to test the waters and learn from your mistakes firsthand. Got that math question wrong? Try again. Friendship problem? Figure out how to amend ties. Yes, your teenage ego may seem to get bruised and beaten temporarily if you make one too many mistakes compared to your peers, but learning and growing from your errors will definitely make a better and more resilient version of you. The soft skills that you would pick up, such as communication, will benefit you in the future. Note that it is not just about falling endlessly, you have to stand back up too!
Tip: For studies, copy friends’ answers less and attempt questions yourself more! This saves you time when you are revising for exams and tests, as you immediately pinpoint problematic areas and focus on improving areas you are weaker in.
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4
DIVIDE AND CONQUER
Tasks may seem intimidating at the start, but breaking what seems like a far-fetched goal up into smaller segments may help motivate you. Each milestone can serve as a stepping stone towards the next, as a checkpoint to keep track of your progress. In this aspect, time management is crucial, as following a specific schedule will ensure that you stay on task. That being said, don’ t be disheartened if you find that you have poor time management skills because that is a common struggle faced by all! Cut yourself some slack, but always remember to get back your next mini task.
Tip: Treat each assignment and quiz given throughout the year in class as stepping stones towards the major exam at the end of the year. Study and revise each topic as it is taught, instead of pushing them away till shortly before your papers. This reduces the chances of you being overwhelmed by the large volume of content that you need to study right before the exam.
EXPLORE YOUR INNER SELF TO FIND YOUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
“Look how much you’ ve changed!”The transition between childhood to adulthood is a huge one. From puberty to adversities, the teenage years are crucial in discovering who one really is. As you grow up, do not fear that you have lost the person you once used to be, nor question why you changed. After all, change is the only constant. Instead, embrace the new you as this is the one that underwent more life experiences than the old you. However, this does not mean undergoing a 360 degree personality change. Simply appreciate your growth and maturation as you progress to become an adult.
Tip: The countless personality tests and assembly talks may seem boring, but they still do allow you to understand yourself a little better, so try to stay awake a little longer! Trying out something new, such as taking on a leadership position or trying out a new hobby may reveal a side of you that you have not discovered too!
STRIKE A BALANCE
The onslaught of homework, tests, CCA and many more would turn many of us into study machines with little regard for other activities, much less indulge in what we want to enjoy (did someone say sleep?). Getting rid of the distractions (no prizes for guessing, your phone) during your study sessions will free up ample time for you to partake in what you love. Also, engaging in more useful activities such as exercising can help you focus better. It is important to maintain a balance between work and play so that you remain motivated in the long run and not get drained by the constant work you are doing.
Tip: Plan! No need for flashy, aesthetic planners, just a will to stick to what you have planned out for yourself. From setting up a to-do list, to drawing up a monthly plan, the different ways to keep yourself on task may vary from person to person, so do play around with what suits you! This can let you take note of the possible free time you have for yourself. To stay away from your phone, consider using the Pomodoro technique (do work based on a set time period instead of task by task so it is less daunting, and you will be less inclined to use your phone!) or use apps such as Forest to keep those itchy fingers at bay.
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STAY ACCOUNTABLE
While making goals is part of the process, keeping to them might be a whole other story! Having the discipline to stick to our original goals made in the heat of the moment may be tough, especially closer to hectic periods where everything just seems to be piling on top of one another and falling apart. To ensure that you follow through with your plans, enlist the help of physical planners and reminders, as well as friends. We’ re all in this together, and the mutual support would do everyone good.
Tip: Study with friends, whether in real life or via video calls. The presence of someone else could be the peer pressure to make you more focused (provided you don’ t end up chatting too much!). Study dates can also motivate you to enjoy the sweet break of chatting when you and your friend(s) are done (hopefully in the productive way rather than being exhausted out of your wits).
SLEEP SUFFICIENTLY
Studies show… yes, we all know what studies show. And while the cliche of getting enough rest may seem like only a luxury for those who can afford it, sleep is really extremely crucial for us to function and grow. The brain requires the sleep to consolidate information, so cramming without getting enough rest may actually adversely affect your ability to retain what you study. Sleep rejuvenates our bodies, including our minds, allowing us to focus and process better the task at hand.
Tip: Take 15 to 30-minute power naps between studying if they help. Sleeping earlier and leaving the work to the next day when you are in a clearer state of mind will help, as you will naturally be more efficient when you are recharged. You might save the time you would have spent groggily trawling through an assignment half asleep, and instead absorb the content you read more quickly and effectively.
The Publications Team Writers
Boh Duang Sey Chen Shudan
Dorothy Quek
Edisa Jocelyn Yeo Huang Xu
Justina Tay Yu Xin
Lauren Ong Huiru Li Yingying
Low Hoy Kay Nadya Yang Yueshan
Zhang Yue Rong Lucretia
Designers Chua Yu Xin
Sheng Hongyi Yeo Xuan
Zhang Yifan 23
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