Denzil Duke

High School Formal

"This isn't the end. This was a necessary part of our lives. This is just the beginning." Hear the murmur of high school peers as they gather for formal, the pinnacle of secondary education. What will the future hold for these soon-to-be graduates? Will they find

The Friendzone Is Bullsh*t

Mental torture, yes. A form of gaslighting, almost. You think the relationship is going one way, but it goes another. However, this might be hard to read, but it is your fault. Why didn't you walk away? You know your intentions. Telling the truth might foretell rejection and

Confidence: A Skill And Proof Of Concept

It's grade 5, and the school needs captains. We had to write and present a speech to our cohort for us to be voted as candidates. I had to write a speech about why the other schoolkids should vote for me. I was eyeing the top job, school

Here’s Why Motivational Videos Suck (The Truth)

Motivational videos pop up everywhere, especially on YouTube. If you browse the website, you might have seen multiple videos of motivational speakers: Jordan Peterson, Simon Senik, Joe Rogan. They’ll have the picture of the person with something generic like: “Only 2% understand this.” It’s marketing, hence why they

Social Media: Interactions, Consumption And Production

Without a doubt, nearly everyone uses social media. About 60% of the planet is on it. The evolution of technology and the invention of the internet made the globalisation of social networks possible. Social media is a double-edged sword through the help of human nature and tech. The algorithms and

The Important Lessons I Found In The Creative Arts

Throughout high school, dance has never been something I could wrap my head around. It seemed to be the only type of performance that was inaccessible when interpreting its meaning. Unlike music and art, it gets more flack. At first, I mocked how the janky idea of that meaning could

Reflecting On High School As A Graduate

"School is not the end but only the beginning of an education." Calvin Coolidge. Graduating is a bit of a strange feeling. For some, it hits hard in the real world, while others ease into it. We will certainly reflect upon these days as some of our best.

What Is My Purpose?

The first financial book I read was probably Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. The father of the owner of the golf course I work recommended I read it to get the fundamental mindsets that distinguish the wealthy from the poor. One piece of advice grasped me. "If

Why You Should Be On No Fap

One of the worst feelings that millions of young boys and men experience; is post-nut clarity. I can recall, multiple times, doing the deed, immediately like a switch inside my head, all that built-up pleasure disappeared and then replaced with guilt, regret and disgust. The most common negative thought I

Should I Get A Buzz Cut?

This was me months ago: This is my hair cut now: Why the sudden change in hairstyle? That is what this article is here about. Insecurity In primary school, I was very insecure about my weight and size towards grade 5 and even the start of grade 7. I had

School Holidays Depression

For some reason whenever it is the school holidays, there is a lingering feeling of sadness during the two weeks. I don't like the false sense of a 'holiday.' As a grade 12 student, they name the two weeks of rest as a 'study break&

More Men Should Be On Self-Improvement

In the modern age, men are more feminine than ever. Western culture moving away from its Judeo-Christian roots, rejection of biology has resulted in the boy crisis. As more single parent families become prominent, the absence of a strong masculine role model, society has to take the toll. Cultural collapse

My High School Literary Article About The Individual And The Collective

We’re always one step from tyranny. For these two texts, it’s already too late. Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (1953): a firemen’s journey to enlightenment of books, society and identity. Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Harrison Bergeron(1961): a short story of a boy who defied 2081 America’

Be A Role Model To The Generation Below

I am quite fortunate to have a reasonably great relationship with the grades above and below me. I always looked up to my superiors, then still giving my respect to my subordinates. Usually, these relationships popped up through shared interests, like playing music, or being friends with their siblings. Friendship

Stand With Your Back Straight and Shoulders Back

What do you say to the world? Because it is not what you say that contributes the most to that message, but how you carry yourself. It is not the conscious actions which are communicated; it is the subconscious. Because this is the case, I've been very conscious

How To Learn Japanese Kanji

This is for my fellow Japanese students. If you've taken Japanese classes during high school, you probably remember getting tested on your hiragana. Most of the language input given to us was watered down: words only in kana, simple grammar, no katakana. And if you moved up the

If There Was One Thing I Crave, It's Freedom

December 2019, Tokyo, Japan. My school went on a study tour to one of the most developed country in Asia. For three years, I studied Japanese by my own will. This opportunity was distilled by one word: freedom. Although we were supervised by teachers, I felt free. There was a

I Attended An International Women's Day Breakfast: Here's What I Think of It

Ok, this is where the real fun begins. Irony As a captain of my school, we all got invited to attend a breakfast at a venue celebrating International Women's Day. Usually only the female captains went, but the males came as well. After being invited, people thought it

School

I Sucked At High School English

No, English is not my second language. For the longest time in high school it was the only subject that got away from getting an A in. I'd like to think I put my all into the subject, but I still get frustrated  when I see that letter

Giving Myself Permission to Be An Imposter

I sometimes find it hard to write an article or script for a video without the looming doubt of being a voice of authority. It's quite ironic, considering the passionate spiels I give out in real life. (It's actually why I sometimes get called 'arrogant&

I Attended A Business Workshop

So we all know I aspire to be wealthy. My school uploaded a post about a university holding a workshop about students in Grade 11 and 12 interested in the fields of Business, Finance and Law. You know, I said, "fuck it," wrote the application form and emailed

The Briefcase: Why I Carried A Business Symbol

If you noticed, that's in the past tense, and for a good reason too. When first stepping into senior schooling, things were different. The shirt we wore, the ties we tied, the belts we tightened, an expectation rested upon our skin. With the switch from polo shirts to

How Food Sparked My Inevitable Entrepreneurship

When it comes to food, I am a scab. Only amongst friends, I might add. At school, it's a hustle. Most days, I come with mostly nothing. The term for muesli bars, package food; it's 'the rations' as I would put. I don'

School

"Why are you Smart?": An Interpretation on Academics

I get this question a lot in school. As a supposed intellect, people hold assumptions and expectations in high regard. It had me questioning how I have attained these results. I don't study to the extent where I should be achieving. If I studied more deliberately in my

Pursuing Truth: Learning To Listen Vs. Debating

Grade 9 March 8, 2019, a Friday. First break had just finished, and we started lining up at our Japanese class. In that morning, some of the female students attended a breakfast with other like-minded women around the city on International Women's Day. You might know where this