By Luvya Gambhir and Alexander Kuo

Dear Year 1 Juniors,

It’s been a few weeks since you first came to RI. You have been going for CCA auditions and trials, learning new subjects and trying to cope with the increased load. Confused about how to adapt? Here are some tips!

Find a sense of belonging 

Feeling a sense of belonging can be challenging. Your orientation camp was the first step towards bonding with your classmates. However, it still can be difficult adjusting to a new school, with new classmates and a new environment. Perhaps you’re longing for your primary school life? Or you’re looking for a group of friends to fit in with? 

1. Participate in activities with your classmates

Many enjoyable activities are organised after school hours by the school’s prefectorial board to increase camaraderie among Rafflesians. You can participate in them and get a chance to know your classmates better and build friendships. You can also create small study groups to revise together before tests and End-of-Year Examinations, help one another in areas you are weaker in and clarify one another’s doubts. You can also rally your class together to participate in Inter-class Competitions such as the Class Decoration Contest (replaced in 2025 with the CNY AI Image generation contest), and NDP Lip-Sync Battle. 

Pictures from 1L 2023’s Lip Sync Battle Video and Class Decoration Contest 

Classmates engaging in fun activities together (Image source: https://www.ri.edu.sg/learning-at-ri)

2. Embrace the Rafflesian Spirit

Engage in school events, ceremonies, and activities to feel part of the Rafflesian

community such as the Inter-house Track and Field, Founder’s Day or Dramafeste. Show pride and enthusiasm for the school, and contribute to its vibrant culture by embracing leadership opportunities and contributing positively to your classroom and CCA environment.

3. Find your niche

You should also discover your passions and interests, and pursue them with dedication 

and enthusiasm. To help you along the way, there are over 150 programmes and CCAs that may interest you. For writing enthusiasts, I would recommend the Writers’ Programme. Additionally, you could participate in the Literature Festival or the Inter-class Poetry Slam that takes place at the end of each year. For Science Lovers, you can not only join the Science and Astronomy Club, but you can also sign up for enrichment activities hosted by the Science Department. For the avid artists and musicians, aside from Aesthetics lessons, you can also sign up for the Art Elective or Music Elective Programme. Through these activities, you will meet new people and establish new relationships, aiding in your sense of belonging.

Academic Adjustments

1. Time management

You will be flooded with tasks and homework to do as you progress throughout the 

year and near your examinations. That is why you must learn to prioritise tasks, create schedules and balance your academic work with extracurricular activities. I would recommend that you write a list of homework given after each class along with the due dates like a to-do list. Tick off these assignments after you have completed them. Alternatively, make a timetable similar to the one provided by the school and allocate time for recreation and homework accordingly. You can also make a list of all the tasks that you have to do the following day before you go to bed. Additionally, do not procrastinate! Set screen time limits if necessary and stay motivated to finish your tasks on time. This brings me to the next point—staying motivated.

2. Stay motivated

Stretching yourself beyond your limits is an essential skill for a Rafflesian. You may not 

be able to grasp concepts easily or may face difficulty juggling your academic work with your CCAs, but you should never give up. This is where motivation kicks in. You may not feel dedicated to what you are doing and may even question what use studying has in your life. That is why you should set realistic academic goals and expectations. To boost your morale, I suggest that you place motivational quotes in your study room and remind yourself of the goals and targets whenever you are feeling demotivated. The quotes below are just some examples.

3. Seek help

Adjusting to a new routine can be overwhelming and stressful. You have 3 additional

subjects from this year onwards compared to when you were in Primary Six. If you need someone to talk to, don’t hesitate to ask parents, teachers, peers, or the school counselors for guidance. Remember, your teachers and the counselors have a lot of experience and they can suggest the next course of action, help you manage your emotions or find solutions to these problems!

Self Care

Too much homework? Exams coming up? Feeling stressed? Don’t worry, here are some tips to help you.

1. Seek support. 

You can always talk to someone like your trusted friends, family or even school counselors about your troubles and concerns. If you follow their advice, you’ll definitely feel better and less troubled. For example: I’m really stressed about my upcoming exams and my National School Games (NSG). Your friend advises you to focus on one thing at a time so that you’ll be able to do well in both your exams and your NSG. In the end, you heed his advice, and end up feeling less stressed. We can see that talking to someone and heeding their advice can help.

2. Strike a work-life balance

Don’t just spend all your time on one thing. Prioritise physical and mental health 

through exercise, meditation, or hobbies. Besides studies, there are also many things to spend your time on like sports or hobbies. After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Try to balance fun and studies to ensure that you have a fun, and productive school life. This will not only help you to destress, but also allows you to learn many new things.

3. Be patient

Adapting to a new environment takes time, so be kind to yourself. Try not to feel too

stressed or nervous, you’ll get used to your new environment eventually. And, when that happens, you’ll definitely have a great time in school! Make friends and support one another so that you all can adjust together.

Challenge yourself

1. Try to Grow Mentally

In school, you might be tempted to just stick to the familiar, and do things that you’re 

comfortable with. However, you should try to learn new things, and have more experiences in school. Keeping a growth mindset will help nurture you, and make you capable of stepping out of your comfort zone and into a new environment. Of course, there are going to be missteps and obstacles in your way, but you must be able to push through and not dwell on your failures. Persevere, and eventually, you will succeed and savor the sweetness of success.

2. Try to Grow Physically

Besides growing in your mentality, try to grow physically as well. Instead of being a 

couch potato, why not try engaging in sports and exercise? This way you will be healthy and better physically. Being healthy also helps you to be able to push through challenges. After all, how can you persevere when you’re not healthy? Exercising also allows your mind to recharge as the hormones of dopamine and adrenaline flow through you, allowing you to feel happier and rejuvenated! 

Conclusion

All in all, finding a balance is very important as you adapt to this new routine. Your grades aren’t everything; you should also spend time on your mental and physical wellness. To help yourself adapt better, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Try making new friends and discovering your hobbies — after all, the rewards are the experiences and friends that we make along the way, not achieving exceptional grades.