YRC Issue 21

Issue 21 / SGD 7.50

ISSN: 2010- 1376

YRC Investigates

SINGAPORE’S OLD PLAYGROUNDS AND PLAYTHINGS

CORE 101

ENJOYING YOUR CHILDHOOD

Featured Stories

TO DEVELOP YOUR WRITING SKILLS

I Can Write, So Can You

RELIVING YOUR CHILDHOOD

Nur Eva Alisha Our Featured Author of the Month

“Playing is important to me.”

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Building the Next Generation of Thinkers & Writers

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NEW TITLES IN 2013 Tales to Warm the Heart Tales of Mind and Machine

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YRC TEAM Managing Editor/Publisher Catherine Khoo Editor Carlo Venson Peña Circulation Manager

Christina Del Mundo Designer

Lim Soo Yong Editorial Assistants Natalya Thangamany, Brian Lee Editorial Advisory Board

Catherine Khoo, Vijay Chandran, Noel Chia Contributors

Ruth Kan, Paulina Lee, John Mark Illustrators

Adeline Lim, Natalya Thangamany YAC Core Contributors

Kenrick Lam, Lee Tat Wei, Theresa Ellsworth, Ron Yap, Ee Chonghui, Woon Kaiqin, Fiona Tan For advertising and sales enquiries

6336 8985 Education Subscription Agents

ILoveReading.SG 9007 8361 Emit Asia 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.

Printed in Singapore by SC International Pte Ltd on Lumisilk Matte Arte Paper Cover and additional photos by

Carlo Venson Peña

The year is coming to a close, and 2013 is entering its final quarter. September marks another milestone among young authors as we come to the last few weeks of submission for the Young Author Awards. But just because the year is ending doesn’t mean we have less tricks under our writing sleeves!

In this issue of the YRC, we look at the wonders and wanderings of childhood and everything that reminds us of it.

Childhood is definitely something that some may miss as they grow older, or something that some don’t have because of the buzz in school or at home; one thing’s for sure though, having a healthy childhood is one sure-fire way of having an awesome life later on.

Read through the pages of YRC this month and look at how childhood memories have evolved over time, with features on the Mint Museum of Toys, kampong games, and the lost playgrounds of old Singapore in YRC Investigates: Singapore’s Childhood Memories. Catch lively discussions on growing up and remembering how it was like as a child in CORE 101, while enjoying the sojourns of a dedicated animal advocate in Professions.

Other articles like He Said, She Said and Pet Pals also talk about how awesome it is to be a child at heart, while I Can Write, So Can You features a chapter from my book that talks about growing up and learning from the growing pains.

A variety of offerings to suit every palate– children, parents, teachers and fellow writers– all for the glory of realising that truly Kids Can Write!

Happy reading!

is published by Experiences & Experiments Books Pte Ltd 442A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427655 Issue 21

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Professions

Featured S t o r i e s

YRC Investigates 23

features 8

Featured Author: Nur Eva Alisha She was in a Giordano shoot earlier this year, but even more impressive was her story that went from an entry to the Young Author Awards to a story featured in the latest Asian Tales anthology under the Young Author Club imprints. Join YRC as we talk to Eva, and discover how her fragile story came to being, as featured author of the month!

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Wandering Soul by Theresa Ellsworth A project depicting the process leading up to a main event is pointless when it simply makes a person feel guilty for choosing the wrong direction. Read through the prelude of this 28,000-word merit prize winning story from one of Singapore’s international schools and discover how it truly is to be loved.

28 Professions

Blazing through this issue is yet another featured professional whose life’s work didn’t just change his

life, but has saved lives as well, both small and tall. Meet animal advocate Kelvin Tang and discover how

you too can dream to become a lifesaver.

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He Said, She Said Two teens from each side of the spectrum share their thoughts about being teens and being aware of important issues in this breakthrough column on YRC!

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Pet Pals Former YRC health columnist Paulina Lee takes on the wild side, as she features favourite pets, their peeves, and how we can properly maintain them as our lovable companions.

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Email From Korea Beaming with radiance and smiles, read Email From’s second of a two-part feature on Korea, featuring teens living in and outside Korea. Discover how their lives, communities and school are shaped by their own culture, their environment and the people they interact with.

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Am I Really Who I Am? by Nur Eva Alisha When Japanese soldiers attacked Singapore, the only way for Ah Mei and Ah Teck to save Mei Lin, their little princess, was to give her up to a Malay family. Melati grew up as a Malay girl, not knowing her true identity until she experienced many encounters related to everything Chinese. She was puzzled until one day she found a shoebox which held many clues. Read on to find out how the story unfolds!

national education 23 YRC Investigates Singapore’s Childhood Memories

We all need to grow up sometime, but it doesn’t mean we should forget how it was being like a child–

innocent, forgiving, adventurous, unafraid, tactful and brave. This month, read to discover the different

games people used to play, the toys they’ve cherished, and the places they considered the seats of their childhood.

CORE 101

30 He Said,

She Said

4 0 Different

S t r o k e s

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Parents Ask, Teens Answer Children grow up eventually but parents become weary that they might be growing up too fast for their age. How do you handle a teen who wants to immediately become an adult? Parents, this is a column that’s definitely worth the read!

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I Can Write, So Can You Veteran author and editor Catherine Khoo takes you on another writing journey that leaves you inspired to write snippets of your own sojourns.

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Breaking Boundaries: D.O.T. A Singaporean discovers more than just beautiful sights and sounds in a trip to India, and realises where her real passion lies: helping other women to become more independent and self-sufficient. Discover the Daughters of Tomorrow in this feature on the plight of young girls and mothers.

66 Resources

The YRC is more than just a magazine. I t ’s a useful tool for learning better English

comprehension and writing for both primary and secondary students. Tap these useful

guide questions for your next group discussion in class or at the student study area, which

are coupled with resource sheets available for schools and parents!

inspirations 40 Different Strokes

YRC editorial assistant Brian Lee takes on the lenses and challenges us to remember our childhood once again.

CORE 101: Teens’ Voice We all grow up at some point or another. But with the hustle and bustle of life, part of us oftentimes wish we could turn back the clock and become younger kids again– when times were full of folly and no worries. How important is it to stay connected with one’s childhood?

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Remembering Childhood by Woon Kaiqin, Canberra Secondary School

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Preserving Childhood by Ee Chonghui, National Junior College

CORE 101: Points of Views How do we preserve the innocence and wonder of childhood in ourselves without jeopardising maturity and logic? In this day and age, can we stay critical and yet open to probabilities, like a child?

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Only 90s Kids Will Remember by Lee Tat Wei, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

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An Antithesis of Things by Fiona Tan, Singapore Chinese Girl’s School

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

YRC Magazine recognises the talents of our regular co nt r i b u to r s a n d writers. For article, illustration and photo contributions, please contact the Editor at info@ youngreaderclub.sg or call 6336.8985.

Adeline Lim Educator / Illustrator What Adeline did for this issue: Featured Stories Ad e l i n e L i m i s a n illustrator, designer and visual artists educator who is currently residing in Singapore.

Experienced in both physical and digital mediums, Adeline has worked as a layout artist for magazines, as well as a broad range of illustrated work in ink, watercolour paints and digital collage for children’s stories.

Paulina Lee Student, University of Adelaide What Paula did for this issue: Pet Pals Pu r s u i n g a d e gre e in health sciences in Australia, Paulina used to be the health columnist for YRC m a g a z i n e. N ow a l l grown up, she spends most of her time on her studies and in documenting travels she often goes to.

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Ron Yap YAC Core Member, Zhong Hua Secondary School Wh a t R o n d i d fo r this issue: He Said, She Said As a budding writer, Ron started his stint with the Young Author Scheme, becoming a merit prize winner in the Young Author Awards. Now at 15, Ron aspires to be a travelling author, in pursuit of his ultimate inspiration to write his bestseller.

Ee Chonghui Student, National Junior College What Chonghui did for this issue: CORE101 Herself a merit winner in the Young Author Awards when she was still in primary school, Chonghui is now currently contributing to YRC magazine and pursuing her studies at the National Junior College.

Kenrick Lam Student, AngloChinese School International Brian Lee Jun Wei Student, Nanyang Technological University What Brian did for this issue: YRC Investigates Shifting from BioMed to English Literature was not a difficult decision for Brian. His love for the written word, coupled with the passion to write, fuels his desire to one day become a published author.

What Kenrick did for this issue: Parents Ask, Teens Answer The most senior of the YAC Core, Kenrick is a romantic at heart and an objective writer by training. He won second prize in the 2007 Maybank Young Author Awards and has been writing for the magazine since its inception in 2010.

Theresa Ellsworth Student, Occidental College What Theresa did for this issue: He Said, She Said Even before winning a merit prize in the 2 0 1 1 / 1 2 Yo u n g Author Awards, Theresa has shared her writing dexterity to YRC in snippets of contributions that underline her love for writing and her dream of becoming a published author in the future.

Lee Tat Wei Student, Anglo-Chinese School Independent What Tat Wei did for this issue: CORE 101 A senior member of the YAC Core, Tat Wei wrote his first book of 27,000 words when he was 11. Now in secondary school, Tat Wei is a football goal keeper at school, but is just as hard-hitting as a columnist for the magazine.

Carrie Tan Founder, Daughters of Tomorrow What Carrie did for this issue: Breaking Boundaries A Singaporean social entrepreneur, Carrie has been closely working with women and young girls in India and Indonesia, equipping them with livelihood skills that make them more independent and productive members of society.

Fiona Tan Student, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School What Fiona did for this issue: Core 101 As a merit awardee in the Young Author Awards, Fiona wrote her first story under t h e Yo u n g Au t h o r Scheme when she was in Primary 5. Now in SCGS, she writes feisty commentary for the magazine.

Ruth Kan Content Strategist, Youth, Focus on the Family W h a t R u t h d i d fo r t h i s i s s u e : Pa re n t s Ask, Teens Answer As the Youth Specialist w i t h Fo c u s o n t h e Family Singapore, Ruth has been involved in the development of No Apologies and I t ’s UnComplicated program, and has been interviewed by the media on relationships and sexuality issues. A vibrant and passionate individual, she also regularly speaks to young people and has inspired more than four thousand students from secondary and tertiary institutions in the past six years.

Woon Kaiqin Student, Canberra Secondary School What Kaiqin did for this issue: CORE 101 A finalist in the 2012/13 Young Author Awards, Kaiqin is currently a student in Canberra Secondary School.

At YRC Magazine, we ensure that stories are kept at their most original form, yet there are times that content is abridged to suit the magazine’s readership.

Stories featured in YRC Magazine are abridged as necessary, to fit page constraints. The YRC is a literary magazine that conforms to the reading palate of 10-16 year olds.

Once a story is featured in the magazine, it is at the discretion of the editor to copyedit articles to a certain extent, to suit the target audience.

The views and opinions of the contributors do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of YRC magazine and its staff.

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Letters to the Editor

I like the magazine because it has special concepts that are very exciting, as well as interesting stories that come from young authors.

I like that it also shows difficult words that we don’t know but we can use eventually. I wish there were picture cut-outs though.

Leigh Dominique Zaragoza 11 Innova Primary School

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YRC Magazine welcomes your comments, suggestions, and anything that you wish to share with us! Here are letters we received from students like you.

Send yours to info@ youngreaderclub.sg or snail mail it to our address!

I like the Young Reader Club magazine because it has a lot of content and topics.

I love the way the stories are included inside, since my hobby includes reading books. One thing I hate about it are the teenage stuff inside; I think there should be more stuff inside for nine-year-olds.

Andrea Suela Frederick, 9 Canberra Primary School

Featured Author ...Young writers of today

Interview by Natalya Thangamany Photos by Carlo Pe単a

Nur Eva Alisha >> Am I Really

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PROFILE

Theresa Ellsworth, 18 Occidental College Heartwarmer

I like to tell stories through eyes that are not my own, to experience everything through the eyes of my characters. I want to go through, pain, happiness, sadness, anger, frustration; I want to be outgoing, pretty, nerdy, powerful, shy, honest, fake; I want to be a ballerina, a firefighter, a musician, a doctor, a fortune teller, a witch, a baker. And at the same time I want to be a me. I’m a scuba diver, a singer, a black belt, a listener, quiet, talkative, friendly, optimistic, happy– for the most part. My story is one of a regular girl, created from my mind. She’s me, but she’s not, at the same time. In my opinion, that’s one of the most powerful tools of writing.

Wandering Souls Written at Sec 3 at Singapore American School

Prologue A project depicting the process leading up to a main event is pointless when it simply makes a person feel guilty for choosing the wrong direction. The thing is, it always feels like it’s one person’s fault. One wrong decision and the whole game is over. There is no turning back in real life; everything is a ripple effect. Yet I never knew it until after the inevitable had happened.

The world came to a staggering end in June, year 2090, triggered by a nuclear war. People claimed that the Cold War had reached a conclusion in the late 1900s when Mikhail Gorbachev came into power and the U.S.S.R. fell. It had subtly been hinted at countless times on the news that the second Cold War was amidst us. But nobody likes to face reality, especially when it’s so harsh.

I try to think that it’s not my fault. I

Illustrations by Adeline Lim

try to think that I couldn’t have done anything. I try to think that my condition is not a punishment for the wrong-made choices in my past. But it’s hard when everything I go through from here on out feels so much like a consequence. A consequence I have to pay with my life.

Chapter 1 Just take deep breaths, I told myself.

That was all I needed. The world was black and my mind was spinning but I knew a deep breath would be all it took before everything went back to normal, because it had to. It just had to.

The feeling was too vivid to be a dream, but it had to be, otherwise I was crazy, mental, or having delusions in a drunk stupor. All three had to be wrong. I imagined eliminating the three answers off a multiplechoice question. One was left—one was al-

Due to the length of the story, YRC has created an abridged version of the story. Catch the full story at www. youngreaderclub.sg. under Resources.

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STORY TRIVIA

REMEMBERING THE COLD WAR

Dated between 1947 to 1991, the Cold War was an era of both intrigue and mystery for many who still remember it. A sustained state of political and military tension, mainly between the USA and then USSR (now Russia).

The war was named so because of these two superpowers. Although each possessing nuclear weapons and threats of ‘mutual assured destruction’, they opted for amassing global influence and engaging in psychological warfare and indirect confrontations.

The term ‘cold war’ was first coined in the British newspaper Tribune by English author and journalist George Orwell. Published in

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1945 in his essay You and the Atomic Bomb, he used the term generally to ask readers to contemplate about living in a world with the threat of nuclear weapons.

Aside from the obvious conflicts set by both camps, among other countries who comprised the West bloc (the US and its allies) and the East bloc (Russia and several countries in East Europe), the Cold War also saw the birth of the space race and the goal of sending a man to the space. Russia was first to launch Earth’s first artificial satellite in 1957, Sputnik 1, which orbited the planet for two months. Years later, in 1969, the US finally was able to send a man on the moon, capped by Neil Armstrong’s epic moon walk.

...Understanding how the world works

Singapore’s

By Natalya Thangamany With additional reporting by Brian Lee Full article on www.youngreaderclub.sg

Playgrounds have a bigger role in Singapore’s past than most people might think, especially for our parents’ and grandparents’ g e n e r a t i o n s. I n t h i s issue of YRC, we look at the past playgrounds a n d p l ay t h i n g s t h a t we’ve grown up with and how they h ave a f fe c te d u s a s individuals and as a country.

Playgrounds & Playthings The very first playgrounds in Singapore were constructed by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) in various districts during the late 1970s.

The designs were based on animals, fruits and even common household objects like clocks. To reflec t Singapore culture, some o f t h e s e p l aygro u n d s we re d e s i gn e d b a s e d on boats, attap houses a n d r i c k s h aws. S a d l y, most of them have been demolished and redeveloped to be re p l a ce d w i t h p l a s t i c constructs too similar to one another.

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NATIONAL EDUCATION

YRC Investigates

Professions

...Understanding how the world works

Kelvin Tang, Operations Executive Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Full article on www.youngreaderclub.sg

YR C M a g a z i n e m e e t s K e l v i n Ta n g, a n eager young man in his twenties, who is an Operations Executive at the SPCA, or the Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, an organisation renowned locally for their dedication to animals, helping out abused or abandoned creatures, raising awareness on animal welfare and educating people on caring for their pets.

Being at the SPCA and handling plenty of responsibilities was no coincidence for Kelvin; it was because from young, he had always loved animals and nature. “I have always been interested in animals, (and) in animal welfare in Singapore. Also, I am a nature-lover and I like to go out there and take walks, and look at the animals here in Singapore. There is actually a lot of wildlife here that people do not know about and I have always been interested in wildlife. So that was how it all started,” Kelvin shares with a smile.

His love for animals is evident as he brings YRC around the shelter, greeted by excited dogs jumping up and barking. He gently calms a large frisky dog down, stroking it gently on 28

the head as he poses for photos with it.

“They get very excited when they see people,” he explains to us. “They just want to come out and play.”

The dogs, cats and other animals such as hamsters and rabbits are kept in cages around the shelter, which is open to the public on certain days for them to come and visit the animals. Kelvin and his colleagues take care of the animals by feeding them, giving them water, taking them for walks and giving them medical attention.

Working Hard, Raising Awareness Kelvin has been working at the SPCA for the past two years; during that time, his work scope had included handling cases of cruelty and abuse, rescue mission, conducting adoption drives, ensuring work safety, and mediation between pet owners and the public.

“It can be quite heart-wrenching at times,” he said. “But most of the time, the rescues can make you feel proud of what you have done, especially the rescue of animals as they make you feel like you have done something for them instead of letting them be stuck in a sticky situation.”

He Said, She Said The Voices of Teens Today...

GROWING PAINS

We all grow up at some point or another. But with the hustle and bustle of life, part of us oftentimes wish we could turn back the clock and become younger kids again, when times were full of folly and no worries. How do we preserve the innocence and wonder of childhood in ourselves without jeopardising maturity and logic? Our two teens share to us how they deal with life’s pressures as growing adults.

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Pet pals

Taking care of pets better

As a child, I have always wanted a Bambi of my own, watching him prance around in my enormous imaginary garden with lots of water fountains and roses! Well, here in Australia, that dream can actually come true with an alpaca!

Story and pictures by Paulina Lee

Many of you would not have heard of the Alpaca but I am sure you have heard of a Llama from the movie, The Emperor’s New Groove!

They are actually the same species, just slightly different.

An alpaca would make an unusual house pet but if you had a huge garden here in Australia, and by huge I mean hectares huge, then why not! They definitely can’t be kept in Singapore but here is some information for those that just want more details to keep dreaming about them!

Herds Alpacas are usually herd animals so just keeping one by itself would be cruel, it is important to keep them in pairs at least. They actually act as guardians for herds of sheep in the farms here since Alpacas would kick fox and produce loud noises to warn the herd!

Maintenance Alpacas are actually really easy to maintain because they tend to do their business at one spot, hence it is easy to clear it.

Alpacas need to have their nails trimmed every half a year but it would not be an easy task because they do not like to have their feet handled. Be prepared!

Uses Alpacas’ fiber is really warm and can keep you cozy during the winter. The fleece can be made into blankets, pajamas, and even woolen shoes Issue 21

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By Lee Tat Wei, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) We’ve seen it being referenced so many times on social media and pop culture – the memes and the posts about how the current generation of teenagers are “cool” because they ’ve lived through a period when floppy disks dominated CDs and when the shows on TV were arguably way more entertaining than this current day. Our resident columnist tells us more.

No doubt it was a period mixed with genuine joy and childish tantrums, but nonetheless it is a period long sought for by the goal-driven individuals of today. The office workers, the last-minute exam crammers, the professors, the construction workers, the hawkers. From all walks of life, each and every one of them all dream of their carefree childhood. But is this part of our lives simply a memory to look back upon, or is there a wisdom in naivety that was lost as we matured?

Personally, I believe that buried in our childhood are gems and treasures that we have failed to bring with us as we walked the path to adolescence. When I was child I used to think I was some sort of superhero– that I was destined to save the world, a dream I believe many shared when they were young. Without a doubt these daydreams were influenced by many TV programmes at the time– but the important thing about these childish ambitions is the innocence and belief in them.

“What is that man’s ulterior motive for suddenly treating me so nicely? Why did she suddenly have a change of heart?” These are a couple of questions we might ask ourselves in our everyday lives as we observe our surroundings. We question, we doubt, and we become skeptics. And although doubting isn’t always a negative thing, it is through this that we also lose the ability to truly trust, as an innocent child can.

As we grow up our innocence fades and maturity takes over. But is maturity always a Issue 21

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I N S P I R AT I O N S

CORE 101... Points of View

Email from...

Korea YRC presents the second of a two-part feature on Korea, with a international Korean student currently studying in Singapore, as he gives his own perspective of living outside his motherland.

Name: Shin Han Guk

Age: 14

Hobbies: Playing musical instruments, such as piano and trombone; Difficult calculations in Math.

My country is South Korea, where K-POP and Kimchi comes from. My town is Seoul. Korean culture is very interesting, because of the polite manners. For example, Koreans do not eat their food, before their parents start to eat. Also, Koreans always bow to their parents and teachers.

I like the economic and technological environment in my country. Also, transports in Korea are very fast and cheap. I also like Korean food, which is usually spicy, although I feel that Singapore is much cleaner and safer than back home, because of the very strict laws and green environment. Here in Singapore, I like to go Esplanade Hall to watch and listen to classical music with my friends and family, because many of my family members and friends play at least one instrument, and like to listen to music.

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Different Strokes ...A picture paints a thousand words

“When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.�

- Patrick Rothfuss, Contemporary American Author and Blogger

Photo by Brian Lee Jun Wei

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CORE 101... Teens’ Voice

R emem b ering C hild h ood

W

hen we were all just children, the world was a place of joy and happiness . There was nothing worth worrying about.

Whenever I cried, somebody picked me up. When I did not like to sit alone, I would have an army to keep me company. Childhood is like a weekend without a week following, living in a big playground made of roads and cement and playtime everlasting.

While you are a child, one would always only remember the good things in life. Only later on, would remember the bad. The simplest thing, like waking up on time for our favorite cartoon in the morning, or even a game of “What Time Is It Mr. Wolf?” with our friends would make us so happy for the rest of the week.

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By Woon Kaiqin, Canberra Secondary School

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

Mdm Wong from Compassvale writes: It is natural for parents to feel that their children are their babies. In my case, I have an only daughter and I do have a tendency to become over-protective of her. Now that she is 16, she is becoming more and more independent. Last summer, she decided to get her first part-time job. I was happy to see her get all excited about the job, but a part of me is afraid that she might grow up too fast. How do I help my child transition into the adult world without her losing touch of her innocence, while at the same time douse my parental woes?

Our resident counsellor from Focus on the Family, Ruth Kan, starts the conversation. She says any good parent, by nature, will try their best to protect their children from the dangers of the world and help them get ahead. However, being overprotective can stifle a child’s pursuit for adventure and curiosity.

Worse still, you can end up provoking them instead; especially in the adolescence years when they are becoming their own person.

Over-parenting, she says, can also create irresponsible and immature children.

It is a fine line between being protective and being overprotective. Teens should feel safe but should not feel so insecure that she never wants to step out to do things independently, Ruth adds.

It is part of a parent’s responsibility to shield their children from unpleasant or harmful situations. But too often, the parents’ desire to protect their child supersedes the greater need to prepare their child for the world in which they live. Children must have the freedom to learn from their experiences in situations 44

I Can Write, So Can You

by Catherine Khoo

I come from Singapore, a place where resources are limited. My father came down south from Penang, a picturesque town where we speak a kind of sing-song Hokkien dialect. I think my grandfather migrated from Fujian in China, settled in Malaysia, then for some unknown reason, decided to move down south. I don’t know anything else about my paternal grandparents.

Daddy never spoke much about them. But Mum used to tell me that my grandmum ran a gambling den in Geylang. And because he saw how the many men who walked through the doors of Lorong 27A Geylang came out a financial mess, Daddy swore off gambling! I wonder if I’ve inherited my grandmother’s streak....

Running a gambling den needs guts, gumption and a whole lot of people management. Mum used to tell me during Chinese New Year, whenever she visited the Khoo family, the angpows were especially huge. You put your hand into this huge bowl and whatever coins you could grab were yours. I think Grandmum was trying to teach a very important lesson: it’s yours only if you can handle it.

He told me once, right after dinner, when I was just eight, that he would sleep atop his scooter on warm nights. There if you look up, you have the chance to see the stars do magic things. What magic things, I would ask. It would tell you stories... you see, Daddy would say, people die and then they become stars. So, if you look hard

Childhood memories are indeed worth remembering. Catherine Khoo shares a snippet of her childhood through her latest book release in this installment of the YRC.

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CORE 101... Points of View

I N S P I R AT I O N S

By Fiona Tan, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School

The

Antithesis of

Things From the point of view of a teenager h ove r i n g b e t we e n t h e f i n e l i n e s o f childhood and adulthood, I feel that being connec ted to one’s childhood is ex tremely impor tant because the childhood mentality is one of admiration.

“Grown-ups are c o m p l i c a t e d creatures, full of quirks and secrets.”

(Roald Dahl) The innocence and innocuousness of children allows the feisty to venture out in pursuit of their dreams and ideas, without being saddled by today’s judgmental society.

The child in a person brings out the spirit and the life of his being. It paves the way for laudable ambitions and exciting adventures.

It makes for a sprightly demeanor and gives vitality to an otherwise jaded soul.

On the contrary, many adults are almost antitheses of children. Guarded and often following conventions strictly, adults lose the audacity to try new things because of social norms and social expectations. Many lose the sense of awe that once had mesmerised them in the years bygone. Take for example a child racing out towards a new ride without a care Issue 21

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Breaking Boundaries ...Learning without borders

By Carrie Tan, Founder Daughters of Tomorrow Learn more about Daughters of Tomorrow at www.daughtersoftomorrow.com

Carrie with the women of India

The Best Prayer Session of My Life Today I was showered with flowers, hugs, blessings and love from a group of old ladies who have been abandoned and shunned by societ y and who had no love to live on for a long time.

For the past 500 years, widows in India begged to sustain a living in Vrindavan.

Often driven away from their families, being considered a burden as well as bad luck, they lived miserably for the rest of their lives once their husbands die, begging around the temples. When they pass on themselves, they suffer worse indignity, their bodies cut up and disposed of without any rites.

It only takes a little love and dignity to transform these women’s lives. Yet for 500 years nobody did anything for them until August 2012, when Dr Pathak and Sulabh International was asked by the Indian

government to step in to help feed the widows. Beyond just the two meals a day asked from them, Dr Pathak decided he will give them everything.

They are now given a monthly stipend, and religious celebrations are held for them, which they were previously denied paticipation in since the day their husbands died. They are given opportunities to learn reading and writing, and provided tools and materials for craftwork. Proper cremation rites are also provided for them when they pass on.

Food, shelter, security, a sense of belonging, worth and dignity– the fundamental needs of human beings, denied them for half a millennia.  Amidst the music, chanting and dancing of the prayer session, I felt the joy emanating from the hearts, faces and voices of the widows. Caught in the swirl Issue 21

51

We are in

full bloom, as we enter the last quarter salvo of 2013!

The Deadly Decision

by Lee Pei Wen

A Grandfather’s Story

by Mohd Imran

A young man tells the story of his grandfather, his triumphs and struggles as a young man, and discovers how the two of them are not that different as grandfather and grandson. Catch this award-winning story from the Young Author Awards in the next YRC!

It all started as a vacation. Now, Ericia is all alone. As she meets two friends, she discovers the truth about herself. She has to save her friends and win a battle against her enemy, Nayumi. She needs to choose from two deadly decisions.

Which one will she choose?

PLUS OUR NOT-TO-BE-MISSED COLUMNS AND DEPARTMENTS: National Education * YRC Investigates * CORE 101 * Email From * Pet Pals * Inspirations * He Said, She Said * Professions

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