Operation:

Because I have terrible self-image (especially in the physical appearance arena), I'm going to make a list of my positive physical attributes which I usually ignore in favour of weeping over other things. They are not very plentiful.

1) Hair
- My hair is so straight my friends think I had it re-bonded.
- In the sun, the individual strands of my hair shine like burnished copper.
- The shape of my hair is uncommon when I plait it.

2) Face
- I have a nose bridge (which one of my friends is insanely jealous over).
- I have eyebrows. Although they do look more like angry, hairy black caterpillars.
- I have a relatively slim face.
- My teeth are naturally aligned nicely, even if my incisors still have a curly edge as if they'd been cut by a child's patterned scissors.

3) Body
- I am fairly well proportioned.
- I have a relatively slim and long neck.
- I am not missing any body parts or internal organs (YES!).
- My body-fat ratio is consistent with an athlete's even though I haven't exercised outside of stipulated PE lessons and weekly ballet lessons since I was 12.

4) Arms
- My fingers are narrow. They are, in fact, bony, which is my preference, but some people don't like them that way.
- The nails on my fingers are large, long, and taper elegantly into an end.
- My nails look beautiful without nail polish.
- My wrists are thin and bony. Again, my personal preference.
- I have slim upper arms despite being an artist and writing many essays.

5) Legs
- My ankles are bony and the tendons at the back are prominent-ish. Once more, personal preference.
- There is very little fat content in my calves; they are predominantly muscle and bone.

6) Miscellaneous quirks
- I'm certain there are more moles on my right arm than the rest of my body put together. This is possibly only interesting to me.
- One of my canines is conical, which strikes me as highly unique.

The Colour of Starbursts

Student wearing their school crest: pride.

Raffles Institution students wearing their school crest: elitist.

Society makes it hard for me to be proud of where I am. They almost make me feel ashamed of being where I am on account of my efforts. They make me feel ashamed of having worked hard. It feels as if I am being punished for achieving by my own merits.

It is very likely that this very stigma against RI students is what further isolates us from everyone else in an effort to be with those who do not influence us to be ashamed of ourselves, of putting in our best. We may go as far as to don masks to avoid becoming vulnerable to attacks on our person, become the very person others think we are, the very person whom we may not be proud of, just to protect ourselves.

Why can't I wear my school crest, school name and school badge proudly and not feel like it is something I should be ashamed of?