YRC 13

Issue 13 /

SGD 7.50 ISSN: 2010- 1376

YRC Investigates: Singapore Youth’s Pressures & Pleasures

3 Amazing Stories to Indulge in!

Great Stories to Inspire You

Singapore Insights How to Handle Peer & School Pressure

I Can Write, So Can You Writing without Pressure

Live Life!

Chocolate is Good for You

Lee Tat Wei “Play out stories and write them out!”

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers3 Issue 13

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E-BOOKS. WORKSHEETS. E-MAGAZINES. BLOGS & MORE!

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Vol 8. 2011 /

YRC Online provides blogs and reviews by young authors about issues and topics that concern the youth of today, while giving opportunities to maximise the YRC experience through e-books, worksheets for students and teachers, and e-magazines!

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SGD 7.50 ISSN: 2010- 1376

Breaking Boundaries: Cambodia

2 teachers and 1 village with a dream

YRC Investigates:

Singapore’s Lost History

Discovering memories & more

Health Matters

Celebrating World Milk Day 2011

Fierce Facts

Cool things about pizza

3 Fascinating Tales You Can’t Resist

Jennifer Yip, Maybank 2007 YAA Awardee Our Featured Author of the Month

Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers3 VOL. 8 2011

TEAM Managing Director / Publisher Catherine Khoo Editor Carlo Venson Peña Lifestyle Editor Terry Paduit Circulation Manager

Nannette Cruz Designer

Lim Soo Yong Editorial Assistant Natalya Thangamany Editorial Advisory Board

Catherine Khoo, Vijay Chandran, Noel Chia Contributors

Jimmy Lee, Tan Sok Ngin, Paulina Lee, Jeannette Xavier Illustrators

Gibson Les Paul, Adeline Lim, Shaun Sager YAC Core Contributors

Kenrick Lam, Sharon Skariah, Emilyn Foong, Theresa Ellsworth For advertising and sales enquiries

6336 8985 Education Subscription Agent

EmitAsia 6372 0330 Email: info@youngreaderclub.sg Website: www.youngreaderclub.sg All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Call 6336-8985 for back issues.

Cover and additional photos by

Carlo Venson Peña

is published by Experiences & Experiments Pte Ltd 442A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427655

LETTER

FROM THE EDITOR

Halfway through 2012, and the stage is now set for one of Singapore’s most pretigious writing awards for young authors. By the end of May, Janus Education and our hodgepodge of supporters and sponsors commence the finale for the annual Young Author Awards (YAA) 2011/12, our regional writing competition for under 18s, in conjunction with the Asian Festival of Children’s Content, organised by the National Book Development Council of Singapore.

Out of 50 shortlisted finalists from primary and secondary schools in Singapore– local, independent and international– 20 merit prizes and three top prizes would be drawn. This being a selection process that in itself is pressuring enough, even more pressuring, in terms of logistics and planning, is the launch of the next round of YAA for 2012/13, also in May. As this issue of YRC Magazine focuses on pressures that you our readers are well aware of, we look at a variety that it takes form– peer, academic, filial, and social, among others. Find out what types of pressures Lee Tat Wei had to go through when he joined the Young Author Scheme and the YAA, in our Featured Author section. Read our three featured stories and understand the pressures they had to go through, like the search for answers in Muhd Luqman’s The Tomb of Drugam; the Legendary Alchemist of Serafina Siow; and Heroes and Teachers of Simon Ang. Shedding more light to pressures we face is YRC Investigates, with its take on peer pressure among Singapore’s youth, and see how experts and teens like you cope and approach these growing pains; Singapore Insights, on the other hand, gives a background on tiers of pressures experienced by our three damsels of the quill.

With new departments under Education and Lifestyle, YRC Magazine is moving forward and is heeding the pressures of the coming months, as we see more schools using the magazine as supplemental reading materials in their EL classes, as well as Civics and Character Development. Truly, this dragon year is giving us tons of things to be grateful for, and we would like to enjoin you, our readers, to enjoy the journey with us, one big step at a time.

For enquiries and subscriptions, email the Circulation Manager at books@catherinekhoo.sg or call 6336.8985.

Happy reading!

Issue 13

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features

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H YOUNG AUTHORS H

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Featured Author

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Resilient and burly rugby man Lee Tat Wei is more than just

another sports enthusiast. He is also the author of Chains of Fate, one of YAS’ longest stories ever written. YRC Magazine

catches up with the hale young man and talks with him about

his plans of writing sequels and more novels.

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Heroes and Teachers by Simon Ang If you think your teacher’s a monster, think again. Bob, Gwen and Steve were in school, when they were thrown into a world with bloodthirsty teachers, a deranged principal and tons of monsters. Read on to know more!

24 The Tomb of Drugam

by Muhd Luqman

The year is 2034. Eighteen explorers have come to search for treasure in a cave that was once known as a town named Tangefanze, whose people have drowned in their own blood of greed. Things get worse when the explorers start dying from traps, a psychotic demon and a mental robot. Care to know what happens next?

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The Legendary Alchemist by Serafina Siow

In the year 1960, there was a prophecy about a legendary hero.

In 2010, the League of Alchemists are expecting him to come from the Takashi family, as mentioned in the prophecy– but the family has not had a son in over 70 years! Will they ever find him?

departments

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H E D U C AT I O N H

44 YRC Investigates: Singapore Youth’s Pressures

It might seem like everything’s spiffy, but many young Singaporeans are pressured at home, in school and inside their circle of friends. All hopes are not frayed though. Read to find what youths like you and our partner-contributors have to say in preventing addictions and pressures.

49 Singapore Insights

Three people, three lives, three insights on one country’s education system and beyond. Catch YRC’s newest department and see why Singapore is on the verge of a paradigm shift.

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57 Parents Ask, Teens Answer

Everyone gets pressured right? A little of it can boost confidence, improve diligence and inspire people to do better.

But what if everything goes overboard? What is a teen and a parent to do if you just have too many pressures in your hands? Hear what the experts have to say!

71 Resources

The YRC is more than just a magazine. It’s a useful tool for learning better English comprehension and writing. Tap these useful guide questions for your next group discussion in class or at the student study area.

H SCRIBBLES H

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Letter to the Editor

What do our readers say about the magazine? Do you have thoughts to share as well? Tells us here!

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CORE 101

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YAS contributor Sharon Skariah talks about the pressures she experiences in her life as a teenager, and how she copes with all the expectations that come with it.

I Can Write, So Can You Wanting to write without any pressure at all? Some people say it’s impossible to not be pressured, especially if it’s a paper for PSLEs or O-Levels. Here’s what veteran author and editor Catherine Khoo has to say.

57 That’s it! I want to make hamburgers that are as delicious as the ones I ate in America!

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Janus Events We are almost there! The stage is set for one of Singapore’s premier writing awards for young authors. Add that to new people on-board our editorial board, and the programmes that we run, and we’ve got a full mid-year ahead of us!

H I N S P I R AT I O N S H

53 Different Strokes

YRC resident contributor and educator Jimmy Lee gives us

his take on pressures that affect teens and even adults nowadays through the photos he takes.

60 EUREKA! Ideas that changed the World

Ever had a great idea that you think can move the tides?

Catch a glimpse of this innovative comic series drawn by renowned Japanese Manga artist Ryuji Fujii and see how great ideas can take flight!

64 Live Life!

A new addition to YRC Magazine, let us make your mouths

water with our first lifestyle feature: a homage to chocolate mania!

64 Issue 13

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A

Primary 4 student sends us a letter for this issue of the YRC, and he’s got more to say other than just thoughts on the magazine!

Dear Editor, I find Young Reader Club interesting as there are many interesting activities taking place. The heartwarmers are very touching. I think the students do learn a lot from you.

I think you are the “best teacher“ when it comes to writing.

I enjoy the many activities and many things that I have not learnt before. I have learnt how to use good vocabulary and phrases that make up my story.

I have also learnt words that I have not heard of before and not forgetting how to describe the behaviour and physical attributes of the characters.

These are the main things that are very important to make up a story, which I learnt from you.

Thank you for teaching us these, YRC! Sincerely, Arshof Editor - Thanks, Arshof for sharing your insights. You get a copy of the Aliens & Angels Anthology and a $10 voucher from our sponsors and the YRC Team. You may claim your prizes at the YRC Office, 442A Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427655. Please call 6336-8985 and look for the Circulations Manager.

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Featured Author ...Young writers of today

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tubby young chap when we first met him three years ago, Tat Wei has grown into a soft-spoken, intelligent and stocky teenager who is a prop (that’s like the support for the main players) of his school’s rugby team.

By Natalya Thangamany Photos by Carlo Venson Peña *Full interview and transcription found at www.youngreaderclub.sg.

Now fourteen years old, Tat Wei studies at Anglo-Chinese School Independent and is hoping to venture further into the creative writing field. As we sat down with him, we discover that there is more to this teddy-sized junior rugby player than meets the eye. Within that wide-boned frame is a wide-eyed writer brimming with ideas and creative ambitions.

Eyes Wide Open Ever since he was little, Tat Wei had already learnt the concept of ‘inspiration’, being surrounded by countless sources rich with ideas. Whether he was watching television, reading books or flipping through manga (Japanese comics), everything he came into contact with was like finding a treasure chest of stories. “I get all my stories from constant daydreaming,” he explains. “I keep on visualising and the stories play in my head.

I can write better because of that; it’s always with me, the idea, the stories are always with me when I write anything.”

It was because of this that he managed to churn out his 27, 000-word winning tome, Chains of Fate, a feat usually considered impossible for eleven-year-olds. This story masterpiece landed him in third place at the 2011 Young Author Awards, something that he himself did not expect. “I was really excited and happy, because I can say I have never thought of being in the Top Three,” Tat Wei recounts.

“I didn’t exactly think that my story was one of the best but I put a lot of effort into it. So I was really happy I got into the Top Three.”

Anyone who has been in our Young Author Scheme can safely say that the minimum word limit is 3,000 words, already too daunting for most young writers. But for Tat Wei, it was an entirely different story.

“When I first joined (the Young Author Scheme) in school, it (the word limit) seemed like an Issue 13

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PROFILE

Simon Ang, 15 Magic & Fantasy

Raffles Instittution I have been writing for the past five years, and have dabbled in many other forms of literature since then, such as poetry, play writing and graphic novelisation. Through this extended period of writing, I have discovered my own unique style, which leans toward the fantasy and the surreal, reflected in my work “Heroes and Teachers.” This is a story about three children who find themselves in an unlikely situation: trapped in a school and chased down by their mutant teachers. I hope you enjoy it, and that it will change the way you view the world around you. After all, I used to think school was boring too, that is, until I wrote this. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Heroes and Teachers Written in Primary 6 at Catholic High Primary

After School Bob was strolling down the corridors of Catholic High School, the mid-year exams were over and he was totally relaxed. As the holidays drew near, nobody was worrying, even though Prelims and PSLE would soon follow. If doom was imminent, there was no point worrying about it until later…

“Bob! Hurry up, will you?” Gwen called.

Bob’s cousin, Gwen, was waiting for him so that they could walk home together.

Normally they would not want anyone else to know that they were related as they both knew that it would mean shunning from their friends for being related to that ‘annoying freak’. However, today was different. Their mothers had insisted that they do so because the mothers do not want to take any chances after the kidnappings that had been happening in the past month. Of course, Bob and Gwen did not believe them. However, did they have a choice? Obviously, NO! “Can Steve walk with us? His mom says that he needs ‘protection’ too,” Bob replied.

“Fine, grab him and hurry! We don’t want to miss trivia-night on TV later!” Gwen shouted back.

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Illustrations by Adeline Lim

Bob was off in a flash. He knew exactly where Steve would be. Punt! Bonk! Punt!

Bonk! The rhythmic beat of a ball connecting with his foot and slamming against the wall was familiar and yet strangely soothing.

Steve soon found himself nodding along to the beat.

A familiar voice sounded around the corner, “Come on Steve!”

“Who goes there?” replied Steve, sounding slightly clichéd yet still getting the message across.

“It’s me, Bob! Hurry up or Gwen will get all crabby and starts complaining!” Bob cried. By this time, Bob had reached Steve.

Steve picked up his ball, “Gwen? I thought you said that we were going back without your goofy cousin!”

“Sliiight change in plan,” Bob laughed nervously.

“Fine…” Steve grumbled, but the slight unhappiness was forgotten in the adrenalin rush as they raced back to the porch.

“Excuuuse me! You took more than a minute,” Gwen complained.

“Sorry,” Bob replied as if practiced.

“What do I call her?” Steve whispered.

“Just Gwen is fine, although ‘infernal dweeb’ works too,” Bob chuckled.

Flit! Flit! It sounded like… bats? Inside the school building?

“Yesss… It will give us power…” a hoarse voice said, “the PSLE answer booklet will give us power…!”

Talking bats? Impossible right? Bob, Gwen and Steve looked at each other in utter shock, what was going on in there?

Suddenly, the answer flew past. It was covered in brown fur and two lethal fangs curved from its mouth. A pair of leathery wings stretched from its wrist to its side and its ears were pointed, protruding growths from 10

the sides of its head. Then, it turned around and for the first time, our heroes had a good look at the creature’s face. It was Madam Rita… or rather, which was Madam Rita before something happened to her– something that had required thousands of volts of sheer power. Its features were horribly twisted in a sneer. Saliva strings hung from a panting mouth and even in the dim light, its fangs were glinting like knives. Everyone gulped.

If Madam Rita was indeed this creature, then what had happened to the other teachers?

“Hush,” Gwen whispered, “I read some-

PROFILE

Mystery & Adventure

Muhammad Luqman bin Mohd Isa, 16 Orchid Park Secondary School I think that the Young Authors Scheme really helped me develop my interest in writing, and now I’ve written my first script for a competition that my drama club’s taking part in. It’s been five years since I’ve written or even read the story, and the only thing I can remember about it was that it was a really simple story to understand. It was a horror story, but with very heavy fantasy and action themes to it. Something only the mind of an 11-year old could conjure.

The Tomb of Drugam Written in Primary 5 at Naval Base Primary School

The Exploration “Ladies and Gentlemen, observe the lost tomb of Drugam. Our cavern explorers found it two days ago,” Max Charm explained while pointing to a hologram that showed a tomb.

“I want you men and women, to get the treasure that rests inside the place of Drugam.

Don’t worry team, the rest of the team is waiting outside. Oh, and of course, my mysterious son and assistant, Don, will be in charge.

I’m warning you; do not play games in that cave. Take care of them, Don.” Don nodded. After the explorers left, Don stayed back to have a last-minute chat with Max. “What if they die?” Don asked.

“Please, don’t let them die. I don’t care if you don’t get the treasure, just, don’t let them all die.”

Don gave a short sigh and left.

“Yo,” Billy said.

“So, you all went to the same high school? All four of you?”

Don replied, “You got that right Shaggy, I mean Donny. My name’s Billy, she’s Crystal, Valerie and he’s Freddy. We went to high school together and we have been best

Illustrations by Gibson Les Paul

friends ever since then.”

“Well, come on everybody. Did you all bring your equipment?” the pilot asked. Don looked back and nodded.

“Well, get on the chopper!” the pilot said.

“Oh! And I would like to tell you one more thing. It might get a little queasy during the ride, so there’s a doggy bag at the side of your seat if you all need it.”

Thirty minutes later, the chopper arrived.

“Pretty desolate, pretty and desolate,” Billy sarcastically said.

Suddenly, the pilot, James, got a phone call from Max. He tried to reach the others but they’re too far in the cave. As he ran, he tripped over a wire. The wire was a trap and caused large boulders to topple over him leaving him in a bloody mess.

As he looked up, he saw that the boulders had blocked the entrance and trapped everyone inside. The oil from the chopper leaked through the boulders. A boulder fell behind and knocked down the chopper.

“Come on! Get out!” Billy said, while pulling the hand of the pilot.

“It’s too late, we have to go.”

Disclaimer: Due to the length of the story, the editor has decided to create an abridged version to maximise the space. Catch the full story in our e-book platforms.

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Billy said excitedly upon seeing the contraption that Don had.

“Dude, it came out two months ago, you know, like, June 4, 2034? Ah! Here we go– the logs, oil and lighter,” Don said.

He then took out all the things for a campfire, including the lighter, from his Hold4rs watch.

“Here, I’ll set up the wood,” Crystal said.

After setting up the wood, Don splashed oil around the wood. He then used the lighter to burn it. They all decided to gather around the campfire and tell ghost stories, even though they had seen their fellow explorers die earlier. Finally it was Don’s turn to tell a story.

“A long time ago in this cave, people said that a time-traveling demon named Drugam came in the past to hide all his riches. He did. Making sure that no one could get it, he set up traps to kill anyone who came here. Hundreds, thousands of police, and SWAT came, following him here in the past, only to die in this cave. It has been told that 26

Drugam’s ghost inhabits these caves and sets up traps once they’ve been used. Two explorers reached the tomb, but they died.”

The fire went out and everything became dark. Suddenly, they heard a scream.

“What was that?” Crystal asked.

Don switched on his torchlight and said, “Probably nothing. Now go back to sleep.”

Everybody went back to their tents as Don just sprawled on the floor, his eyes never closed.

The next day, Don woke them up at around 9 a.m. “Dude, I got to piss. I’ll be over there if you need me, pissing,” John said while he was yawning.

The others woke up and ate their food.

John was very relieved to notice that he had urinated on a wire– a very thin wire that was almost invisible to the naked eye. He finished by washing his hands with the water from his bottle.

“Everybody get down!” Billy shouted.

Everybody did except John who was still

PROFILE

Serafina Siow, 13 Magic &Tales Fantasy Animal

Bukit Panjang Government High I like reading fantasy and mystery books, playing computer games and listening to my two sisters play the piano. My CCA in school is fencing and training is tough so I sometimes have to force myself to go. I also like Literature and English among the eight subjects I have to take. I don’t like people who skive off doing class duty such as cleaning the classroom as I have to keep reminding them to do it. The story I wrote is about people called alchemists who can manipulate the five elements fire, water, wind and earth and god’s power. The alchemists must find a boy who is from the Takashi family who will fulfil a prophecy, and will decide the fate of humanity. Read on to find out what will happen in the story.

The Legendary Alchemist Written in Primary 5 at Yuhua Primary School

Illustrations by Adeline Lim

The Great Prophecy

Ryoma

In the year 1907, a great war raged around the world between the Alchemists and demons. This war would decide the world’s fate; whether the world would be lost to the demons or be saved by the Alchemists.

In the end, the Alchemists won, but that was just the start of a horrific future…

In 1960, there was a great prophecy:

In 2010, all the Alchemists were expecting him from the Takashi family, but they had not had any sons for the past 70 years. Unbeknownst to the rest of the family, one of the family members had a secret – Shisake Takashi had had a son 11 years ago but his son had gone out one day and was never seen again….

In fifty-five years’ time, One Alchemist shall answer the call He shall decide the fate of all To be good or bad, he must walk one path The good bears arms to the path of life and The bad bears arms to the doors of death

In America, a boy called Ryoma was at school. That day was going very strangely for him. He was stuck in a fire on the way to school.

“Fire!” he shouted in Japanese and the fire went out. “Weird!” he thought.

He was a gangly 11 year-old; daring, agile and wily. After school, he went to the beach to swim in the sea. He could swim very well but for some strange reason, he found himself drowning. As soon as he called for help, he stopped drowning in the sea. After swimming to shore, he was picked up by a gust of wind.

“A gust of wind cannot take you up into the sky but it is happening! What’s happening to me today!?” he thought to himself as

There was also a prophecy on how to find him: He will have great power A member of the family of Takashi Strong in power and with great courage First stuck in fire, Then drowning in water.

He shall be carried by a gust of strong wind And lastly, found in the heart of a maze.

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a council member. Only two people could be in the list. The first was Ryoma and the second was Seichii.

In the end, Ryoma won. Seichii was bitter of his rival’s victory and left bringing some Alchemists with him. The River Rohr was very powerful and granted the people who survived its deadly currents with immortality, strength and power. Seichii survived and gained that. He was so powerful that he formed an alliance with the hated demons.

Seichii rose in power very fast and many 38

Alchemists supported him because of his promise of giving them power. Seichii changed his name to Akuma.

The Council of Elders tried to prevent this from developing further but to no avail.

Sumire suggested a way of defeating Seichii (now Akuma): to go to the River Rohr and survive as only an immortal could kill another immortal. The Council said that she had gone mad but they knew in his heart that she was right.

Singapore’s Youth

By Natalya Thangamany Young Author Contributors: Sharon Skariah, Emilyn Foong, Lee Tat Wei, Jezreel Castro Full interviews, side bars and articles on www.youngreaderclub.sg 44

YRC Investigates

...Understanding how the world works

I

t’s a typical school day and everyone is rushing their revisions for the next big test. As you near your group of friends, they start telling you about going to the Internet cafe after school for some rounds of ‘Left 4 Dead,’ urging you to join them. You pause, remembering that a difficult test is on the next day.

And you know that ‘some rounds’ can eat up hours of precious studying. On the other hand, you are very close to your friends and it is not harmful to shoot some zombies together, just as long as you are ‘relieving stress.’ So what would it be then: friends or studying?

Hands up if you have ever been in such a situation, where you ponder over following the crowd or making your own choice.

Sometimes, even making a choice may cost you your friends.

This kind of situation can be linked to peer pressure. It happens when your friends are doing something and they either urge you to join them or you take the chance to do something to catch up with them, whether it is aloud or subtle. Peer pressure comes in many shapes and sizes and is anchoured on the social influence that a peer group exerts on its individual members.

Let’s admit it, you can’t escape peer pressure. It plays a vital part in changing your life, for good or bad.

So Why Do It? Don’t follow the crowd; be yourself.

That’s a phrase we all know and love, and a phrase we all like to live by. Won’t it be fabulous to live your life by this motto, with no care in the world and the freedom to express yourself? But the truth is, it’s easier said than done.

At certain points in a person’s life, he or she may start asking questions to himself or herself. Such questions include finding out one’s identity and where he or she belongs.

While trying to seek answers to who they are, where they belong and why they are on this planet, they look to people around them and experiment with various things they encounter in order to find that identity.

These questions of finding oneself are a factor when it comes to pressure, particularly peer pressure. Child psychologists point out that people can start conforming or fit into ‘please’ those around them, as a form of finding their identity. Sometimes, when making choices, the results of these choices may stick with the person for life, shaping them negatively or positively.

So why do it and bow to negative peer pressure? Over the years, child psychologists have racked their brains and explored young society to figure out what makes us vulnerable to such pressure, and in many cases, yield to it. YRC Magazine interviews Focus on the Family counsellor, Miss Alicia Boo, and she gives a few reasons why young people like you Issue 13

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Singapore Insights

...Three people. Three lives. One Singapore.

3 3

Singaporeans.

Views.

Join our contributors as they talk about how different forms of pressures affect them at the different stages of their life, and how they have created coping mechanisms for them.

Issue 13

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Different Strokes ...A picture paints a thousand words

“When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and that diamonds are made under pressure.�

- Peter Marshall, American Preacher

Issue 13

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CORE 101 ...The future is now

Of

Pursuits to Perfection Young author Sharon Skariah sends out a solid message to teens her age in this edition of CORE 101. She looks at how many of our pursuits to perfection might not lead into perfect endings after all.

Pressure is the idea/person/thing that jumps at you and pushes you to the edge to make you someone you are not. It comes to you with many different faces. If today it’s your exams tomorrow it’s the pressure to be perfect. But the most harmful pressure to children of today is peer pressure. Peer p re s s u re is not a new concept or idea born in the 21st century. It’s been a social behaviour that has prevailed in society since the dawn of time.

pressure. It’s something everyone at every age has to deal with— even adults.

Making decisions on your own is hard enough, but when other people get involved and try to pressure you one way or another it can be even harder. People who are your age, like your schoolmates, are called your peers.

When they try to force you to make decisions that are not your own then it is called peer

I myself face peer pressure every day of my life. From what I must wear, to who I must talk to, to lying to my elders to get away from the trouble that I might get into because I did something just to fit in with the norm. It’s nothing to open your mouth wide and say, “Oh my goodness, how could she?”

Most teens and children give in to peer pressure because they want to be liked, they want to fit in, or because they are scared of the consequences of not going along with the group. Others go along because they are curious and because everyone’s doing it. This makes the child leave his reasoning, judgment, morals and values behind. What we must know is that no child is immune to pressure, just like how no adult is immune to the pressure to earn lots of money, to have a good face in society, to have a great family and to be accepted amongst friends.

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Parents Ask, Teens Answer ...Linking teens and parents together

For full articles, drop by www. youngreaderclub.sg and catch more of our regular contributors!

Due to the highly active and

busy

schedules of today’s teenager, it is common for them to get easily stressed out.

Peer pressure is something that a lot of teens and young adults experience. But for some parents and teens, it is an issue that is should be persistently addressed.

For this issue of YRC, we have a question from Mr Qui from Marsiling who asks,”My son always looks very stressed when he gets back from school. He is irritable all the time and we’ve seen his grades fluctuate from time to time. Is it just school, or is this also home-related? What can I do to help my teen cope with all the stress?”

In response to the query, our resident YAC Core columnist Kenrick Lam gives his side of the coin, “Stress can come from many areas in a teen’s life. Of the different kinds of stresses, physical, mental and emotional stresses are the most prevalent especially

during the teenage period. These problems have many causes (from home or not) and need to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.”

Physical stress, he says, is the easiest to identify. It can be seen outwardly as tiredness and lack of energy. Due to the highly active and busy schedules of today’s teenager, it is common for them to get physically stressed out on a regular basis. Kenrick gives a variety of methods of handling this kind of physical stress.

For one, he says, setting aside a regular rest schedule is important. As much as teenagers nowadays try to be performanceoriented and complete as many tasks as they can within as little time possible, it is important to know the limit to what one can do. Second, setting aside time to spend with loved ones should be emphasised. Emotional Issue 13

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EUREKA! I’ve got it!

...Ideas that changed the world

In 1971 a large U.S. hamburger chain entered the Japanese market.

Seizing this chance, Satoshi Sakurada, founder of MOS burger, created a hamburger that suited Japanese tastes, after repeated trial and error. Later he created the “teriyaki burger,” with its own special recipe, and the “rice burger,” which substituted rice for bread as the buns of a sandwich. They were big hits. Up till today, MOS Burger still follows the policy of preparing the product after receiving the order, ensuring a delicious fresh taste. in cooperation with MOS FOOD SERVICES INC. Illustrations by Ryuji Fujii

Let’s have hamburgers.

I’m hungry, aren’t you?

Let’s make it MOS Burger. It tastes so good! Did you know that MOS Burger began in Japan?

Really?

1965. Satoshi Sakurada (28) quit his job at a securities company and started working for a leather wholesaler.

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Sho Yoshino (22) and Kazuo Watanabe (21) made their moves along with Sakurada.

This is great!

The only way to do the kind of work we want to do is to be independent. Let’s form a company!

Five years later, they all quit that company too.

LIVE LIFE!

...Taking it a treat at a time

S weet. C reamy. T asty.

S crumptious. D elicious.

Mouth-watering.

The list goes on and on, but one would not find enough words to describe how a chocolate tastes like. Simply put, it’s the best happy food ever. Here are some of the other uses of chocolate that you might find interesting.

CHOCO WACKO

By Terry Paduit Photos by Carlo PeĂąa Contributions by Emilyn Foong Full article found at www.youngreaderclub.sg

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I Can Write, So Can You

by Catherine Khoo

... Becoming the writer that you are Let’s talk about pressure. Pressure to write.

Pressure to write better. This begs the question: so what is better?

YRC Magazine’s Core Member, Emilyn Foong, had the opportunity to speak with Jack Heath, who was recently here as part of the National Arts Council Words Go Round programme in Singapore’s schools.

Here, Jack speaks of his writing career, which started when he was a teen, and now coming a full circle after six books and only a mere 25.

Incidentally, the ever-gregarious Jack was in town with his recentlywedded bride.

So, who says writing is a gloomy career? There is no such thing as writing better. You write for a reason. You write because you want to communicate. You write because it needs to be written. Make sense?

Let’s hear from Jack.

YRC: It says on your site (www.jackheath. com.au) that you started writing at age 13 with a 40,000 word draft which you later edited to 90,000 words then shortened to 70,000 words. Forty thousand words for a 13-year-old are rather intimidating!

JH: It is! I think when I first started writing, I didn’t really understand how long a novel was supposed to be. I knew how long it was in pages but not in words. I thought it was the kind of thing, when I was 13, I figured I’d be able to write the book in maybe 2 weeks, get it published in 1 week, and the week after that the movie would come out, and then I’d be a millionaire! And of course I didn’t finish it till I was 17, so really I had bitten off more than I could chew as far as that was concerned. But I think it helped that it wasn’t just that I wanted to have written a book, I was addicted to the writing process itself.

YRC: What started you on this writing process?

JH: First and foremost I love books, and I’ve always loved books my entire life. I’ve been trying to keep a record I’ve ever read, and every now and then I remember another one and add it to the list. No one really knows when you’re a teenager where you’re gonna be in ten years: what am I gonna do for money, what’s going to be the point of me, what’s gonna be the meaning of my life. And in my 68

case the only thing I was good at was writing and music and nothing else.

But I wasn’t the sort of kid to relax and think, “Well, things would work itself out!” I figured, okay, I need to get started early. So I started writing my first book because if you want to be a musician you need an instrument, if you want to be a film maker you’ll need a camera. But if you want to be a writer, you can start right away!

YRC: And who was your inspiration? I know you wanted to write books but what gave you the idea, or was it somebody who you looked at and said, “Hey! I want to be like them.”

JH: There were few people actually. There was a writer called Robert Silverberg who wrote sci-fi stories for the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s … till today actually! He’s very very old! But he wrote a lot of books that I really admired. I think it helped also that when I was a little boy there were always movies that I weren’t allowed to watch and games I weren’t allowed to play. But I was allowed to read as many books as I want. So I wasn’t allowed to see Aliens or Terminator but I was allowed to read the books that were written about them.

Then when I got a little bit older and I watched the movies and I’d go, “Man, the special effects were better in my head!” And the books were actually better even in circumstances when the movies came first. When I was about 10 years

old I had a really bad ear infection that lasted almost a year. I missed a lot of school but the school librarian would give books to my friends and so I spent day after day at home reading with an awful pain in my ear and with nothing to do but read.

YRC: And your parents?

JH: People ask me if my parents were writers and I’m like, “What?” They’re both academics.

My father taught English and History before I was born in a school in Melbourne. My mother taught Philosophy at the University of London.

So I lived in a house that was full of books and where I was very much encouraged to ask questions. And I think that’s one of the things about novels as opposed to newspaper and coursework. Novels aren’t supposed to give answers, novels are supposed to ask questions.

YRC: You have many varied interests: from magic, to music and writing! What made you hold on to writing as opposed to all the other things?

JH: Writing is firstly, like I said, you don’t need any equipment. You just need the pen and the

paper or a computer to write on. Secondly, it’s very easy to get honest feedback from other people. You just write a short story, print it out and hand it to someone. So maybe what kept me going with the writing rather than the music and the magic and all the other things that I tried, in part it was just because I was a better writer than I was a magician!

We end this issue with a quote from Jack: “When you’re a writer, being surrounded by readers is a crucial thing; you can give them drafts and ask them for their thoughts, and [...] can be honest with you.”

Catherine Khoo, www.catherinekhoo.sg, is creator of the Young Author Scheme (YAS), Singapore’s first-ever programme that trains 8 to 18 year-old kids to write their very own book. The YAS has mentored close to 3,000 young authors since it first began in 2003.

Excellent books have been published in print and as e-books on the iPad. These tips are excerpted from Catherine Khoo’s latest book, I Can Write. So Can You, the inaugural edition of the Teach Me™ series of books.

Etutor Learning Centre Courses offered : Chinese Language tuition for Primary One to Sec Four 1 Marine Parade Central #12-07, Parkway Centre (S4499408) Tel : 63456696 Contact Person : Charmaine Tan Email : charmaine@academic-one.net Website : www.etutorlearning.com Learning Chinese need not be difficult. With our innovative teaching methods integrating modern technology of multimedia e-learning, delivered through the Internet and the traditional classroom guidance with real-life tutors, and coupled with proficiency-based teaching, you will find that improving your Chinese would be easy. Our team has over 20 years of experience in developing students’ listening, speaking, reading and comprehension skills. Our emphasis on a comprehensive balanced approach to Chinese Language learning has helped many in developing their language application skills.

Academic One Education Centre Courses offered : English, Maths, E/A Maths, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, POA, GP, Econs for P1 to JC2 students 1 Marine Parade Central #12-07, Parkway Centre (S4499408) Tel : 63456696 Contact Person : Charmaine Tan Email : charmaine@academic-one.net Website : www.academic-one.com We provide a revolutionary learning methodology known as proficiency learning. Utilising each student’s interest and skills, we enable them to master skills at their own pace. Our English programme strengthens weaker students’ language ability while allowing the stronger ones to advance to even greater heights. Our GP programme trains the students to develop coherent logical argument in their essays. Our team of dedicated and experienced subject tutors will map out the help required by each individual student to ensure that they achieve their target grades. We have a successful track record of helping students achieve their desired grades.

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Resources Get more from your YRC Magazine by using these exercises and activities in your classroom discussions! For more worksheets and teacher resource kits, log on to www.youngreaderclub.sg and click on Member’s Corner.

What type of pressures do you experience at home and in school? Who gives you these pressures? Write a short composition about it, and present this in class. Afterwards, represent these pressures into a drawing. Present your drawing to the class and explain how your drawing represents the type of pressures you experience.

A n a ly s is

Q u e s ti o n

s

Having trouble starting discussions in class?

Ask these questions and see how you can take the class interactions further.

1. Using any of the three featured stories, identify the following major parts of the story. Make sure to describe each element comprehensively: Main Characters: Supporting Character: Theme: Lesson: Major Events in the story: 1.

2.

3.

Climax: Ending: 2. If you were to change any part of the story, which part would you change? Why? 3. Can you think of a different ending for the story?

How would you like it to end?

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preading our branches to new heights and horizons in 2012!

Don’t miss these great stories in the coming issue!

The Lego Brick of Awesomeness By Ryan Wang This story is about a 21-year-old man named Josh Harmot and his college friend, 20-year-old Tim Kazuke, orphaned and jobless. One day, they receive a message from an anonymous sender. It seems helpful, but will they accept it?

The Curse By Ayden Mohan Malcolm steps into a forest shortcut on his way to his mother’s house, changing his life forever when he is ambushed by werewolves. Now he must travel to Utushark jungle in search of the vial of rejuvenation.

However, it is guarded by a fearsome minotaur. Will he make it out alive?

Accused By Ee Chong Hui When the ghost hunters receive a message saying that there is a mystery in the third floor toilets, they immediately rush to the scene. Finding ghosts, however, is not easy! They have to overcome obstacles, but with time ticking away, can they work together and unleash their powers to unmask the thief before it is too late?

Plus your favourite not-to-miss departments!

* Eureka! Ideas That Changed the World * YRC Investigates * Singapore’s Dream Professions * Singapore Insights * Parents Ask, Teens Answer * Live Life!

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