Marianna Cao

We could do better: The Fading Beauty of Roman Ruins

Standing amid the ruins of the Kaiserthermen, I was struck by the Romans’ commitment to architectural magnificence. The massive stone walls, the labyrinthine corridors beneath the arena, and the remnants of the heated chambers were puzzle pieces of an era when these baths were not just places for cleansing but also hubs of social interaction… Continue reading We could do better: The Fading Beauty of Roman Ruins

Titanic: Movie Review

I don’t even have a picture of him. He exists now only in my memory. ” — Rose The Titanic is one of the, if not the most, iconic works in film to date. Wikipedia’s summary of the film writes, “Seventeen-year-old Rose hails from an aristocratic family and is set to be married. When she… Continue reading Titanic: Movie Review

Dawn Will Come

This goes out to the little girl who I nearly crashed into on the street and her mother. I was going for my nightly jog, in a very light drizzle, and was just desperate not to feel alone and so unanchored and so unwanted. I had a really bad day, or rather a really bad… Continue reading Dawn Will Come

This is How to Write

Fluorescent lights magnified the smell of sweat and the noise of rowdy banter. I stood at the entrance, wishing, yet again, that Mom would just drop me off a little later. The bell never rang, never saved me from sitting alone on newly refinished gym floors. At least I had my book: a young adult… Continue reading This is How to Write

Masking My Insecurities

Thank you masks for the freedom you have given me. Masks have played an important role in stopping the spread of Covid-19 and suppressing the number of new cases in Singapore. As we progressed through the phases of re-opening, we regain certain freedoms. Personally, I have gained a particular freedom I never knew I sought… Continue reading Masking My Insecurities

Sunrise

The first notification I received upon waking up today was from my Aunt. It was a six and a half minute long video of the sunrise. My first reaction was to question how she had the patience to stand by the window for six and a half minutes and my next, why I had never… Continue reading Sunrise

Opening the Cracks

For a very, very long time, I believed that feelings had to be repressed. Feelings were not for me. Emotions were for ugly people, as Willam Belli once said. If I’m being truly honest, I thought that they were synonymous with weakness; I thought that a feeling was a crack in a foundation and too… Continue reading Opening the Cracks

A Happy Poem

you asked why i don’t write happy poems. because, happy words are big and fat. they’d never fit in this room. they’re round like the moon that erases the suffocating darkness. because, i would have to dive deep into the darkness and fight through the troubles i tried to drown in the sea to pull… Continue reading A Happy Poem

MINDS Volunteering Reflections

The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) is a social service agency serving Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and their families across life stages. MINDS advocates for beneficiaries’ interests and causes, preparing for their participation and integration into society. There are many volunteering opportunities available, for individuals, schools and organisations. Anyone is welcome to join the… Continue reading MINDS Volunteering Reflections