SINGAPORE—Local junior college student Aaron Lim, 17, was reportedly devastated this week after realizing that his Biology class’s “modelling” activity involved assembling a DNA double helix out of straws and ice cream sticks—rather than strutting down the classroom aisles serving fierce looks.

“When I signed up for Bio, I thought we’d be doing actual modelling,” said Aaron, who had mentally prepared a walk that perfectly balanced effortless confidence with high-fashion aloofness. “I even practiced my poses. You’re telling me we’re just… cutting things and gluing them together?”

Eyewitnesses say Aaron’s crushing disappointment became apparent when the teacher handed out craft supplies instead of designer accessories, prompting him to stare blankly at his plastic straws like they had personally betrayed him.

“I just assumed ‘modelling’ meant ‘walking fiercely between lab benches while serving mitochondria realness,’” Aaron lamented, shaking his head at a classmate’s gluestick-stained hands. “I thought this would be my Zoolander moment. Instead, I’m using tape to attach ‘adenine’ to ‘thymine.’”

His teacher, Mrs. Goh, 52,, confirmed that Aaron audibly sighed through the entire lesson, begrudgingly holding his hastily constructed DNA helix like it was an off-brand clutch.

“He kept trying to put his model on his head like a crown,” she said, exasperated. “At one point, he struck a pose and said, ‘I am the dominant gene.’ I don’t even know what that means.”

At press time, Aaron had reluctantly accepted his fate, but not before taking one final, slow-motion walk to the front of the class, ensuring every classmate saw the devastating power of his strut.