Mean Girls..Growing up pains as a teenager in Singapore

Growing up in Singapore as a teenager can be quite scary.

From young, you are brain-washed by the society (and your parents) that the key to living life is to excel in everything, everytime.

As soon you as you reach two, you are enrolled in some nursery; three, you start learning ballet; four, the abacus; five, playing the piano or violin; the list goes on.

During Primary/Secondary school life (or Junior/Middle for the US), you are expected to score distinctions for all subjects and to be top notch in your ECAs (read: activties you do during your remaining free time except for lessons, sleep, eat and toilet/shower breaks)

No wonder we are ranked one of the most hard-working or stressed nations amongst the world in a recent global survey.

And in an attempt to escape from being labelled as an all-round achiever but individualistic, lone-ranger (or some would call nerds), many young boys and girls form cliques of their own and determine their own codes of conducts which dictate the habits, lingo, culture, and preferences of the youths in the group.

The better ones or 'atas' (high class or society) types would be like those in the Lindsay Lohan movie 'Mean Girls' - classy, pretentious and aloof.

The not-so-glam ones would be what many would call - the LV, Gucci and Prada brands-adoring Ah Bengs and Ah Lians, fashion victims of colors gone wrong but full of comaradie and justice for the brood.

But did anyone ask why is there the popularity of forming these cliques, in Singapore and everywhere across the universe? These could be some reasons, I guess.

1) Our animalistic instincts tell us that being in groups are good. Or at least by nature, we are better acustomed or work better, being together.

2) All the peer pressure of having to be in a group with same interests and virtues contributes to this phenomena. It's like how many women worship their Jimmy Choos or Bottega Veneta. It's literally the same.

3) The fear and insecurity of being alone and feeling all-powered up like some powerpuff girls or superman when they come together in a group.

To me, this is all part of growing up. Many of these youngsters will grow out of this phase when they emerge in their twenties, get into universities or embark onto their working lives. Soon enough, they will realise that they have grown to like themselves better, and to accept who they really are and be comfortable in their own skin. Many did. Well, I did. But for some who don't, hmm.. let's just give them a couple of more years then.

Life is all about having fun, so don't get too serious.

Stanley