by Maasha 15A03A, Valerie Yap 15S07D and William Hoo 15A01E
Yesterday, we explored the counsellors’ responses to some of the tough questions about going for counselling, stigmas related to counselling and even counselling as a profession. Today, we bring you the ‘lighter’ side to the counsellors!
MEET THE COUNSELLORS
(from L to R) Gary (Head, Y1-6), Mei Hui (Resident Psychologist, Y1-6), Jeffrey (RI, Y1-4)
(From L to R) Zull (RI Y1-4), Kah Hwee (RI Y5-6)
(From L to R) Aggie (Art Therapist, Y5-6), Liren (RI Y5-6)
Q: Who’s your favourite music artiste/What’s your favourite song?
ZULL (Z): ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams
JEFFREY (J): Almost all of Andrea Bocelli’s songs. Italians are cool.
MEI HUI (MH): Autumn Leaves. By Ella Fitzgerald.
LIREN (L): John Mayer. His songs have pretty awesome lyrics. Like ‘Slow Dancing In A Burning Room’. Love it.
AGGIE (A): I thought of one! ‘甜蜜蜜 (Tian Mi Mi)’ by 邓丽君 (Teresa Teng)! I’m old so it is a Chinese song.
KAH HWEE (KH): ‘Blessing’ by Laura Story? Air Supply too!!
GARY (G): All things Frozen. Oh, and ‘Everything Is Awesome’. My kid listens to them a lot so I’ve taken a liking to them.
Q: What’s your favourite movie?
G: ‘Brave Heart’
J: ‘One Age’
A: ‘After Shock’
KH: ‘Dead Poets Society’! Oh oh oh, and ‘Lord of the Rings’!
Z: ‘Twelve Years A Slave’
MH: ‘Up’! I cried (laughs).
L: Les Mis! The recent one. But, you know right, Russell Crowe can’t sing for nuts (laughs).
Q: What’s your most unusual habit?
G: Don’t have any… Nope.
KH: Every time I take a flight, I need to drink coke with a slice of lime, lemon or salt. It’s a soothing drink for me.
L: I sleep talk and have recently found out that I also sleep walk. My wife told me that I stood up in the middle of the room and… flagged a taxi. She also says that she can have normal conversations with me when I’m sleep[talking].
MH: I always bring a bottle wherever I go. I’m quite fussy when it comes to this ‘cause I don’t want to just drink tap water.
Z: I always put my shoes on before my shirt.
G: Ya, before you put your pants on also right?
J: ALL THE MENTAL IMAGES! (laughs) But yes, I don’t think I have any either!
A: I don’t think I have any also but let me tell you something else. My kids always used to say this to me, “Muuuuum. You so clever, you always undo the computer!”
Q: What’s your pet peeve?
Z: Pet peeve? What pet? I don’t have any pets.
A: The lizard in my office.
J: You better get rid of it! Later no one comes for counselling how?
A: Yes yes. Recently cleared so tell everyone to come! (laughs)
KH: People who cut queues. Hate them. It gets so annoying sometimes!
J: I’ve got a few actually. Cars that cut in front of other cars, rude drivers, people with punctuality issues.
Z: People who spend more than two minutes at the ATM!
MH: My pet peeves? Drivers who take up unnecessary space or drivers who drive slowly in the wrong lane. I mean, there are a few lanes for a reason right! I hate it when they drive slowly in the fastest lane. Like, hello, people who’re trying to get somewhere are right behind you waiting for you to move? Oh, also people who drive irresponsibly and cause one lane to be closed down. Like this morning’s jam. Annoying.
G: For me? People who are late.
L: Same here. Huge issue with punctuality. Just a bit back my wife was late for thirty minutes and I was just like, stares at watch. Hmmmm. Don’t really appreciate people who come late.
Q: Would you rather be attacked by 100 duck-sized horses or 1 horse-sized duck? Why?
J: I’D FIGHT THE HORSE SIZED DUCK. MORE PEKING DUCK SKIN OUT OF IT!
Z: 100 duck sized horses. I would rather die of cuteness.
G: You sure a-not? They’ll nibble you to death.
J: More like they’ll tenderize you!!
MH: 100 duck sized horses of course! It’ll be easier to defend myself.
L: I’ll help Jeff wrestle the horse sized duck. We can share the meat.
A: Horse sized duck. Because I can run faster and there’s only one (laughs).
J: Later it stomps on you how?
A: I can run faster!
KH: 100 duck sized horses. Why? Quite simple for me. I just don’t like birds.
G: Looking at it from a different perspective right, horses are symbols of freedom. They’re hard to be controlled. On the other hand, ducks are friendly. So I’d go with the horse sized duck.
You can reach the RGC team at 6354 9105, or simply email them at rgc@ri.edu.sg. Students can also come by the Underground for a chat with the counsellors without prior appointment (or leave a note at the little mailbox outside and they will get back to you as soon as possible).
