Debunked: The Rafflesian Myths and Stereotypes
Raffles Institution — the school that has honed countless notable entrepreneurs, government officials, and high-flying members of today’s society. Scores of alumni move on to secure spots in prestigious courses like Medicine and Law. However, with the extraordinary amount of prestige comes limelight, and hence from such, preconceived beliefs that undeniably underwrites the Rafflesian identity.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. Author’s PreambleDebunking Stereotypes
1. “Rafflesians are snobby, arrogant and elitist.”
2. “The IP-JAE divide is too big. I won’t be able to fit in as a JAE.”
3. “Rafflesians are muggers/nerds.”
4. “It’s hard to get a leadership position as a JAE.”
Author’s Preamble
The 2021 ‘O’ Levels granted me a solid score that could guarantee me a place in RI. Throughout secondary school, I most definitely did not have the slightest inkling that I was capable of a school like that, nor did I bear interest in entering one. All I had aimed for was any mid-tier Junior College because I had perceived their environments as more ‘chill’ and potentially more ‘familiar’, since I had my roots in a neighbourhood secondary school. Nevertheless, another part of me wanted a challenge: for me to traverse beyond my comfort zones and try a different environment, so I went for it.
I had expected RI to be many things. Listening to the horror stories left and right from my peers, the older generation that bore mixed impressions, and my current seniors that showered praises about the school. Every perspective seemed so different, and I wondered, who was right?
A few months into life in RI and I have come to understand where everyone’s frame of mind lies. Some of them stem from ancient stereotypes, and others are just plain truths. This article aims to debunk several stereotypes and myths about RI, and to shed light on the true identity and culture that lies in the Rafflesian spirit.
Debunked #1:
“Rafflesians are snobby, arrogant and elitist.”
I believe that this is one the most popular statements that lies on the tip of everyone’s tongues when they think of Rafflesians, but I assure you that this is 100% a myth. Some people may associate Rafflesians to elitist behaviour following infamous news articles concerning a few bad eggs. However, the public should seek to understand that the Junior College section itself easily houses over two-thousand students. A handful of miscreants are — and will never be — representative of the entire student population. In fact, I have never come across someone fitting this description ever. Sure, you would see a large proportion of students coming from relatively more affluent households, but most of them never seek to flaunt their wealth. The fellow Rafflesians I have met are extremely open, bright, and considerate. Subjects concerning wealth or socio-economic status are rarely brought up anywhere.
Debunked #2:
“The IP-JAE divide is too big. I won’t be able to fit in as a JAE.”
This posed as one of the greatest obstacles for me when I was contemplating my school choices. The biggest reason as to why I initially refused to consider upper-tier schools was because of this — the shunning of the JAEs. I saw myself as socially inept, and knew for a fact that I would not be able to cope in JC without stable social support. Nevertheless, I took the leap of faith anyway. Why? Because I found out that a third of the 1200-student-strong cohort were JAEs, the rest being Raffles Programme (RP) students who were coming in from the RI/RGS feeder schools. That would make it easier to find friends.
A typical class would have about 25–30 students, and a third of them would be JAEs. In the initial days of class, you would see the RGS/RI/JAE students naturally gravitating toward one another. People like familiarity. It’s not that the RP students are unwelcoming, rather they prefer to interact with someone that they somewhat already know. You would do that too, because it’s human nature. The RP students would never intentionally shun the JAEs. In fact, even in non-IP JCs, students from the same secondary schools tend to mingle with one another more.
Eventually this IP-JAE divide dissolves in class, although the time taken varies from weeks to years depending on the respective class cultures. Some say that everyone forgets whether you were an RP or JAE student, but I think that this is not true (for the people around me at least). People do remember, although it’s not so much about forgetting, but looking past it because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter at all.
Outside of class, this segregation dissolves even faster (or is non-existent!), especially if you join a CCA that is less on the competitive side or smaller in size because it’s hard to tell whether someone is an RP/JAE unless they are explicitly asked.
Some advice I would share is that…
- You should try to be more socially proactive in class/CCA etc. Having socially active classmates (including you!) allows the class to be more bonded and break times would be a thousand times more enjoyable.
- Don’t worry about them being more knowledgeable in the topics that you’re learning just because they’ve been through the IP syllabus. Most of them barely remember the content, and even if they do, it’s only a small portion of what the JC syllabus covers. The fact that you’re in this school shows that you are as academically capable as they are.
Debunked #3:
“Rafflesians are muggers/nerds”
People usually associate high achievers with muggers and/or nerds and that’s entirely understandable. After all, you can’t possibly bag straight As without studying unless you’re extraordinarily gifted. But I wouldn’t think that most Rafflesians spend their lives toiling over academics. Most of us know how to strike the balance between work and play; even if you had stepped in without knowing how to, you’ll soon find out by pacing yourself academically with your peers. Most leave RI with an unimaginable amount of self-discipline, as the school forces you to take charge of your own academic life. Lectures and materials are released punctually on the school’s online platform, and you are expected to complete your tutorials at home by the stipulated deadlines. Not watching them would ultimately mean that you were digging your own grave and most are aware of this fact. Moreover, Wednesdays are designated as “Gap Days”, where there will not be any lessons. These days are where students work on their hobbies, CCAs, catch up on sleep or lectures, or attend Wednesday Enrichment Programmes*.
It’s not uncommon to see Rafflesians after school inviting their friends to catch movies, grab lunches or even play a quick game of pool just like any other teenage group. During lunch breaks you would have boys crowding around their class’s foosball tables, cheering and yelling, or girls discussing the latest gossip or trends. The student council and some CCAs also frequently organise activities unrelated to academics — free for everyone to participate in like House Week, Raffles Got Talent, or an internally-held Relay For Life. “Council Hits the Streets” or Raffles Press also offers frequent updates on student welfare and daily life.
However, I will not deny that the pressure to do well in RI is quite significant. Flunking class tests and finding out that your fellow classmates are scoring full marks may trigger your imposter syndrome or utterly demolish your self-esteem. Beyond academics, there is also a strong hustle culture of everyone trying to beautify their portfolios, enrolling themselves in multiple VIAs and competitions or even fighting tooth and nail for EXCO positions in more competitive CCAs. This peer pressure and constant comparison may lead to burnouts, so I think that this is a crucial point to keep in mind when considering so-called ‘elite’ JCs.
(* Most students choose to attend WEPs to explore the relevant areas that they are interested in. Application opens at the beginning of J1/Y5. Interviews are held and students are shortlisted. WEPs occur every Wednesday afternoon, and it continues until the end of J1/Y5. Some examples of WEPs are the Business Leaders Programme (BLP), International Service-Learning and Leadership Elective (ISLE) and the Peer Helpers Programme (PHP).)
Debunked #4:
“It’s hard to get a leadership position as a JAE.”
This is true to some extent but should not be a serious cause for concern. In running for council, you might feel that you aren’t appreciated or voted for enough during the campaigning season but do be rest assured that the school sets aside spaces for JAEs in leadership. Moreover, there are other leadership positions available like Class Exco or in CCAs where there are many roles open for self-nomination. However, it is important to understand that acquiring CCA leadership is harder in more competitive CCAs (namely, sports) which have members coming in from the RI/RGS teams.
If you are looking for leadership solely to build your portfolio and can’t seem to land a position, that’s okay as well because the institution offers countless other ways to do so, including the Wednesday Enrichment Programme (WEP), the opportunity to start your own student-initiated project (CE01), or even A*STAR-RI research attachments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, RI isn’t all about academics. The students here know how to effectively balance work and play, and the school spirit is very much alive. The institution offers all students — equally — multitudes of opportunities to progress holistically, and the ball is in your court to choose which supports your educational journey best. Additionally, JAE/RP segregation or discrimination is strictly kept to a minimum by the school, and eventually the entire school comes together to form the undying Raffles Family.
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