Monthly Musings

For the month of August, our theme is Independence. Hence, we asked our writers two questions: –

What type of independence affects you the most?; and

When did you feel the most independent?

Here’s their take on it:

As July’s theme is Unity, we asked our writers the following prompt: 

“What is the biggest sign of unity that you’ve seen in your life?”

Here’s what they had to say:

“I think the biggest sign of unity would be any form of protest in society. Like the Black Lives Matter movement. Or pride walks or any walk for women’s rights/equality. I just think it’s so incredible how people in this movement are together, and that they stand united no matter how violent it gets. Especially with the Black Lives Matter movement, I’ve seen how white people use themselves as shields against the police force to protect black protestors.”

Prompt: If you could turn back time to before the MCO, what would you do?

As most of us are aware, classroom learning has been shifted to online learning (e-learning) ever since the MCO was in effect. 

A benefit from this new learning style includes being able to wake up 30 minutes before classes instead of having to wake up at an ungodly hour just to avoid the morning traffic (also, to get a parking space in the basement). However, e-learning just doesn’t really feel the same as F2F learning. Take the jokes our lecturers share for instance, it feels especially less amusing.

– Joey Yap

Prompt: What item do you own that you think best reflects you as a person?

 

 

Blushing shells from ocean caverns in Musandam. 

Inky black pebbles from a remote village in the mountains of Khasab. 

Sediments of sunsets from an ocean of pink rock in Sharjah.

Curlicues of white stone from the shores off Brighton.

Shards of earth to call my own, 

when home is far, 

I hold them close. 

-Zafra Usman

Prompt: If you could send a message to a particular person whom you love/loved, what would you say?

He was humble and kind. He cooked for me. He played with me. He raised me.

I love you and I still do. In fact, I really miss you. A lot; more than you can imagine.

If only you can see me now. I hope you’re proud of how far I’ve gotten. Please continue to watch over me.

For 11 years, you’ve held a special place in my heart — you still do to this day — which nobody else can replace.

– Joey Yap

To readers old and new, thank you for joining us for a fresh new year of curious content brought to you by bright, young writers from Sunway University and College. Monthly Musings introduces Echo Media’s theme for creative articles each month and poses a question to our team of creative writers. Writers’ answers are compiled and published to get the month’s content rolling. 

As such, 2020’s first month talks about Endings and Beginnings as we enter not just another year of existence but a whole new decade. We’ve come far and while there’s much to celebrate, there is also plenty to leave behind this year — fast fashion, usage of single-use plastics or paper, discrimination, to name a few — and start afresh. 

We asked our writers — 

 “What is the one thing you are letting go/welcoming in 2020?”