The crafted persona, a role we play with practiced ease. The armour we wear, to navigate the complexities of connection. But beneath the surface, the whispers of doubt, the fear of exposure. A constant act of becoming, of unbecoming.
Imposter Syndrome
Theres (Marketing Intern)
There was a time when every room felt too big, every achievement felt borrowed. A smile stayed on, words came out right, but inside, doubt whispered loud. The mask never slipped, but the weight of holding it up grew heavier…
Nothing made it fade; not praise, not success. Then came a moment of stillness. No more pretending, just sitting with the fear, the questions, the ache of not feeling enough. And in that quiet, something shifted.
Belonging didn’t need to be proven, it had always been there.
Beneath
Audrey Desmond (Social Media Manager)
The surface is a sliver, polished peak. What we see – a smile, a boast, a perfect picture – is just the visible point. Beneath, like an iceberg in the deep, lies the vaster, weightier truth. What’s shown is a moment; what’s hidden, a world.
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski
When reality shifts...
Matthew Goh (Company Dancer)
My favourite series, Black Mirror, is back with a new season!!
***SPOILER ALERT***
As I watched the episode Bette Noir, I wondered what would happen if I experienced what the main lead was facing and if my perception of reality was altered or manipulated. How would I respond to reclaim my sanity?
Would I go with the flow and pretend “things are alright”, or would I flag it and look like “I’ve lost my marbles”? It is a dilemma because I risk being wrong at the expense of looking right. But how long would I be able to maintain that front before it cracks?
At the end of the episode, the lead actress breaks down and dispels the illusions tormenting her. She finds a newfound reality and reclaims full autonomy. But I wondered if it was just another illusion, one that is self-prescribed.
The Illusion of Understanding
Ricky Sim (Artistic Director)
What we see, hear, or feel is rarely the whole story. Maybe understanding the world isn’t about finding the “right” way to perceive, but about staying open to the possibility that there’s always more beneath the surface.