A cleansing act
Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent.
In the past this would have meant nothing to me. This year, however, is different as Pauline, one of my four roommates, is Catholic. For the 40-day period of Lent, this self-indulgent shopaholic, will express repentance for her sins by giving up chocolate and online shopping.
My other two roommates and I, though not of the Catholic faith, have been inspired to abstain from similar pleasure-giving objects or activities. Based on our intimate knowledge of each other's indulgences, each person was offered several ultimatums.
Chelsea - forced to choose between chocolate and her favourite idol - has resigned herself to 40 chocolate-less days, and will soothe the withdrawal process with the smooth melodies of Josh Groban.
As for me? Chocolate is a given. Additionally, however, your correspondent - who possesses an insatiable appetite for prying into others' lives and an exhibitionistic tendency to expose her own in all its angst-ridden glory - will resist the temptation of Xanga (a website where you put your thoughts into words).
Sacrifice was supposed to be glorious and heroic, a purifying process that would cleanse the soul. If this remains a truth, then what does this say about today's youth?
From this admittedly unrepresentative sample of the female student population, one can conclude that our most guilty pleasures include eating chocolate, worshipping celebrities and ranting self-importantly. Nonetheless, there are some more worthy resolutions beyond steering clear of junk food and avoiding pretty faces.
Alidane, my Catholic roommate during summer school, will be undertaking a rather more difficult task. She's going to restrain herself from initiating contact with one of her closest friends - a boy who also happens to be her long-time crush. Regardless of your opinion on the matter, it is honestly painful to engage in that manner of self-denial.
On further contemplation, one also realises that giving up these unhealthy obsessions is, in fact, a good thing.
During Lent, we sweep out that which we know is detrimental to our well-being: Catholics may see it as a way of recommitting themselves to Christ; I see it as an act of responsibility to myself.
Ms Yeung is a student at the University of Pennsylvania
