Final(?) Destination

No. This isn't about the movie, though I must say the movie was rather gory and extremely artificially coincidental.

No. This isn't a light-hearted post, not one made for you to laugh.

And I guess you'd know what I'm going to write about next.

3 days.
2 deaths.
Both suicides.
Both 17 and 18 years old like you and I.

I guess most of you all should know the first guy. A very outstanding student from among our midst. Perhaps too outstanding, that's why he couldn't bear the stress.

The 2nd guy was my classmate for 2 years in VS. I wasn't exactly close to him. But yes, I did know him.

Why then? I guess most of us are looking for the answer to this question. Some people call them stupid. Stupid to end their lives when they could have looked for a solution to whatever problems they have. Some people feel that its a waste of youth. Some people just feel sad.

And its frightening, its creepy, even more so when we realise that they are just like you and me. Just like you and me.

I guess for 1, its stress. Stress of being pressured to do well in exams. Also, there could be strained family relations, or failing relationships.

But my take? Most of the stress would originate from school work, exam stress. Especially in JC, we have our CCAs on top of all the school work to grapple with. For some, there are even more activities. We may not have time for our hobbies even. And then, if one is not so academic proficient, it means even more work, more tuition, more studying to be done if he wants to thrive in this results-obsessed society. Add on unhappy relationships with family. Add on having no true friend to confide in. Add on other problems.. and finally, with no one to turn to, no God that he knows to turn to.. I guess that's why such tragedies happen.

Its no surprise that Singapore has one of the highest suicide rates in the world and most of them are students. Before this, I knew a friend who had a sister who committed suicide too. She was only primary 4. An outstanding student.. to the point of being a perfectionist, and I guess that sheds some light on the stress she must have been through.

And then you read about other suicides in the papers and also hear of others in your school. I remember I heard about a suicide in VS when I was in sec 1 or 2. Apparently over O'level results.

Why then? Why choose to place so much importance and emphasis on academia and exams? Or rather, why choose to be bothered so much by such stress? Whether it be from exams, school, CCA, family or even relationships? I've always had one thing to say to those lamenting to me over poor results: You can do badly in school but that doesn't mean you'll do badly in life. Different people have different talents and some are better in academics, which is no surprise. So find your talent and do well in life.

And yes, life is so much more than results on a slip of paper. Or money. Or career.

But well, the dead has passed on. They are no longer here. Death might not be their final destination, depending on what you believe in. But at least it is for this life.

But the dead's gone. And what's left is the living. And I feel that all of us, we can all help make this society, this school a better place by just showing some extra concern for that someone who seems sad today. Just a word of encouragement will do. It may bring some light to someone's day. Perhaps that guy whom you have outcasted before, invite him to join you this time. Friends.. Treasure them.

And for all of us who are feeling stressed out over results, common tests and schoolwork. You know you should not.

All in all, I"m just gonna sum up with 2 quotes of what my fren told me. And I hope you feel the same way too.

"i tell u im gg to make it my private mission to help anyone who's my fren
i wanna be there for ppl and not let this kinda stress affect them"
"suddenly im like gg to be v unaffected by wadeva results ill be gettin ths comin week"

Yes S44, lets be there for each other during stressful times. Help one another out. Work together and play together. And as long as we've tried, leave our results to The One up there and don't worry so much about them. If we do not do well, then try harder next time.

Wilbur came, saw, blogged