YOU would think politics and social issues would be topics of discussion when about 180 bright teenage girls from around the world gather for a convention aimed at moulding them into future leaders.

The girls, who are here for the Raffles Girls' School (RGS) International Convention for Youth Leaders, showed that talk of boys and complaints about school work still trump debates on world affairs.

It was refreshing to find out that between talks with female diplomats and psychoanalytical tests to uncover their leadership styles, the girls found time to indulge in gossip.

I was ready to stereotype them as brainy and driven youths who cared only about winning that debate or getting full marks for tests. But I had to eat my words.

The girls, who hail from countries like India, Vietnam and Australia, turned out to be delightfully human.

They chatted about their hobbies, interests and complained about school work and teachers. And of course, they asked one another if they had boy friends.

I asked them why they decided to spend their holidays at the five-day event.

And the reason was simple. They wanted to make more friends.

RGS student Thng Yu Xing, 14, said: "We don't get many chances to meet youths from so many countries. I hope that we will become good friends and would like to keep in contact with them via email or MSN."

Don't judge a book by its cover.