YOUTHspeak book 3

YOUTHSPEAK A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS FROM ALL IN! YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL 2018

YOUTHspeak: A Collection of Essays from All In! Young Writers Festival 2018

Singapore Book Council Blk E #03-32 Goodman Arts Centre 90 Goodman Rd, Singapore 439053 www.bookcouncil.sg YOUTHspeak: A Collection of Essays from All In! Young Writers Festival 2018 ISBN: 978-981-11-6768-3 Š SBC 2018 First Edition Various contributors All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without written permission from the publishers.

Printed in Singapore Edited by Carlo Venson PeĂąa Original Design by Brandon Chng

YOUTHSPEAK A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS FROM ALL IN! YOUNG WRITERS FESTIVAL 2018

Contents 6

Foreword William Phuan I: The Winner’s Circle

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

Joella Lum Yueting, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

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Writing My Future Roiel Michael Alemania, Seng Kang Secondary School

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Writing as Therapy for Depression Terri Kue, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School II: Beatty Secondary School

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What I Am Grateful For Kay Thwe Zin III: Catholic Junior College

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

Amanda Pei Li Yan

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Writing as Therapy for Depression Claire Lai

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What Youths Want to Tell the World Lim Howie

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The Youth and the Era of Images: Identity through Pictures Nur Nadiah Binte Hisham

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What Does It Take to Succeed in Life?

Seow Hui Qin IV: Cedar Girls’ Secondary School

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What I Am Grateful For Feng Yuan Yi V: Naval Base Secondary School

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The Future of Now Kwan Jia Min, Jamie

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What I Am Grateful For Rachel Tang

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When First and Thirld Worlds Meet: Common Problems Vanessa Chan Ning

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Conceived Perceptions: What Do My Social Media Pages Say About Me? Zaki Bin Mohamed Kasim

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Writing as Therapy for Depression Zuellen Beatrix Rivera Gasque VI: NPS International School Singapore

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Conceived Perceptions: What Do My Social Media Pages Say About Me? Anurag Roy VII: Seng Kang Secondary School

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What I Am Grateful For Faheema Nuzhath

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What I Am Grateful For Foo Yong Wei, Evelyn

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The Role of Youths in Shaping Tomorrow Isabella Rosalind

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

Nivrithi Ganesh VIII: Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

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What Does It Take to Succeed in Life?

Cheng You Ning

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

Seah Shi Qi, Cheyanne

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

Tailor Maitri About Us

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All In! Young Writers Festival The Singapore Book Council

Foreword In 2009, the Singapore Book Council initiated a novel idea of creating a festival targeting young writers in local schools, with the hope of building writing skills in both creative and academic tracks. Ten years forward, the All In! Young Writers Festival has transformed into a platform that goes beyond just talks and workshops. It has become the place for all young content creators ­– from writers to illustrators, poets, playwrights and filmmakers – to meet, mingle and share their thoughts on everything related to writing.

The journey is a roller-coaster full of ups and downs. And yet All In! has remained innovative and on-topic to both young writers and industry professionals over the past decade. Although still a tyro among more established young writers festivals as those in Hong Kong, Australia and the UK, our Festival has nonetheless grown and evolved with the times, opening its doors to new partners and first-time delegates every year. From its humble beginnings 10 years ago, All In! 2018 welcomed a bumper year this year: More than 750 delegates participated, a total of 70 sessions were organized, and more than 60 schools in Singapore and overseas were involved in the various activities.

In 2016, All In! launched an essay writing competition that invited 13-18 year olds to explore academic topics relevant to young people. Called YOUTHspeak, the competition received a total of 14 essays from three schools from Singapore and the Philippines.

A year later, submissions have grown to 21 essays from seven

Singaporean schools. This year, YOUTHspeak received 24 entries from seven schools–a testament to the increasing interest in essay and academic writing among the schools and students.

I would like to thank the students and schools who have submitted essays for this collection, the third publication of its kind out of All In! As we explore having this programme segment as a staple for years to come, we hope more schools will take the opportunity to use All In! as a platform to showcase their students’ candour for writing.

On this note, I would like to congratulate Joella Lum Yueting (Tanjong Katong Girls’ School), Roiel Michael Alemania (Seng Kang Secondary School), and Terri Kue (Tanjong Katong Girls’ School) for being part of YOUTHspeak’s Winner’s Circle. We hope your schools and others will follow suit, by submitting entries in the future editions of the competition.

Here’s to more opportunities for youths to showcase their writing.

Mr William Phuan Executive Director Singapore Book Council

PART ONE

THE WINNERS' CIRCLE JOELLA LUM YUETING ROIEL MICHAEL ALEMANIA TERRI KUE

Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

by Joella Lum Yueting, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

I am a child.

I still cannot interpret the fine lines of the adult world nor can I differentiate the technicalities from the mundane. Simply put, I am a child and as children, how can we be expected to navigate our way through life when our only compass has no needle. The choices we make are tainted with much sacrifice and little life fulfilment when our lives are filled with murky uncertainty.

I am a child.

When I was young, I remember being part of a class filled with aspirations. When asked, “What is your dream job?”, numerous voices overwhelmed each other with variations. One wanted to be an artist, another a dancer and a couple wanted to take music to the world. We were told to write out our aspirations and share them with our parents. Back then, parents let us believe that we could be anything we wanted to be; minus the boundaries and restraints. That’s right, no lectures about art not being a “real profession” and definitely no mention of becoming a “starving artist”.

“Follow your passion”, they said, and so we did.

I am a child.

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The first tinge of the awakening came when Primary 5 ended.

The nightmare of every Primary 6 pupil was coming, the dreaded PSLE. It haunts you in your sleep and drives you delirious. The balance shifted then, play was locked away in formidable corners and books flooded the environment. The stress was everywhere.

It was in the housewives who were aiming to boast about their child’s latest academic achievement because image matters. It was in the wee hours of the night when pillows were drenched in tears and thoughts of failing expectations became screams of despair. It was in the intensive tuition classes banking in on the prestige of a good score. ‘We are A-sians not B-sians’, as the saying goes. Picture small, innocent children being told that their grades were all that mattered. Imagine what kind of feelings that evoked within us. Do you understand us now?

I am a child.

Then, it was over. PSLE was done with. We thought the devil of our lives had truly disappeared. We are children and we are foolish, we choose to see the best in everything until there is nothing left to see. The entrance of secondary school marked the true start of hell.

Any hope of pursuing our “passion” were extinguished by reality.

We were forced to let ourselves by boxed up in the pretence of choice. Choose between the professions they said: doctor, lawyer, accountant or engineer. Four simple endings but they narrowed it down to two because “you know where the money lies”.

I am a child.

Now, I am facing the ‘O’ levels this year and I still have no idea what I want to be. I would probably be better off letting my passion

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die down in silence and live up to the fact that being a professional is after all, a safer choice. Question is, even if I were to earn a solid income through an “iron rice bowl”, would I be able to live with myself, knowing that I chose to let something I love become something I loved? My answer now is NO. Of course, I would prefer to merge my passion with a profession but life has dealt a cruel hand and decided that those two don’t match.

I am a child.

Truth is, I don’t know what position or qualifications I have that would enable me to make a choice that suits all. I am not a diplomat, I am a precursor of a mistake. One misstep leads to another. I don’t know how to fulfil expectations without compromising my own wants in life. I do have certain traits that could fit a profession yet it would mean putting my passion on a hold indefinitely. How can I justify a choice that would make society happy while leaving myself in waves of melancholia?

I am a child.

Education should be about learning, but it has become a dire rat race. We compete for the top spot, for the chance to walk on stage and for the chance to prove that we are better than the rest.

Taking the route to become a professional leaves others in awe and admiration, it is respected culturally. Telling someone you’re a (passionate) freelancer is akin to saying you don’t know when your next meal will be. Society tugs your heartstrings to paths you would otherwise rather not trod.

I am a child.

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Truth be told, it’s all so very materialistic. We’re chasing money to buy assets to show off at events we won’t actually have much time to attend. Sitting at desks thinking about hourly rates is not, in my view, what would lead to contentment. What would be the point of waking up with dread and going to sleep agitated. Some people do love their job as a professional and not the money, and that works out for them. But for the rest of us falling by the wayside, it’s not all so easy.

I am a child.

Ultimately, the life I seek for myself involves my passion. Even though it would mean giving up the chance to get rich faster, I would be able to answer to myself and quell any unrest. What’s important to me is all that matters and if people judge, then they judge. Pursuing my passion does not make me any less of a person than a professional. My compass is my head and the needle is my heart.

I am ONLY a child.

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Writing My Future

by Roiel Michael Alemania, Seng Kang Secondary School

My future looks like this. I am an indie filmmaker, a notable name in the industry. I have created multiple short films that have won me a handful of awards and trophies. My films are representative of many problems faced by people every day, each film hiding a deeper subtext on the already fragile subject they portray.

Otherwise, they are film adaptations of books that had not gone beyond ink and paper.

Most of my films cash in a decent income or remain unknown and undiscovered. In this future I am content. On the other hand, my future could look like this... I would own a bookstore in a small town. Set up in a scanty and deplorable space were multiple bookshelves, and arranged on the rusty metal shelves were countless old books with yellowing pages. This bookstore – terribly forgettable – barely had a cent to its name... In this future I am demoralised.

My future looks like this. In the corner of the room is a half-done Christmas tree, and on one of the walls is a banner saying ‘Merry Christmas’. I am on a couch, the light from a small flat screen illuminating the dark room.

Next to myself is my partner, her head on my shoulder and our bodies wrapped in a fur blanket. I look around the room, seated on other furniture are my siblings with their own significant others.

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I turn my attention away from the movie and peek behind to see my parents and my in-laws preparing a hearty Christmas dinner.

In this future, I feel loved. Alternatively, my future could look like this... I would slam my phone on the wooden table – ending the conversation with my sister.

I began to pace around my small apartment in clear frustration.

These conversations had become a routine; one of my siblings would call me in hopes of convincing me to return home for some family time. Ultimately, without fail, I would respond with a blunt refusal. I had left on bad terms with my parents, and occasionally my siblings would add to this turmoil. Ever since I had gone my own way, I had spent countless celebrations without my family… In this future, I feel abandoned.

My future looks like this. I am rushing around my bedroom, snatching essentials left and right. I have a flight heading to Barcelona that is leaving in two hours. To fit my items into my very full luggage, I begin tossing clothes everywhere, not batting an eye where they land. Just before I exit the bedroom door, I take one last look to make sure I do not leave anything behind – almost immediately I want to look away – my room looks like it had been ransacked.

My eyes dart to the desk beside my bed, where a globe of the world stood with thumbtacks marking out all my previous destinations. Most of South East Asia has been invaded by the thumbtacks whilst there are a few stray thumbtacks resting somewhere in America and Africa.

Above that globe are all the certificates I have won through all my years of working as a filmmaker. I give out a short huff and lock the

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door of the apartment, ready for my next adventure. In this future, I am pleased with what I have done. In contrast, my future could also look like this... I would saunter into my apartment as usual.

As I opened the tap for some water, I realised that the water pipes had not fixed themselves yet. I stared blankly as water dripped out the pipe from two loose screws. I turned off the tap and ignored the tiny puddle it had left, not caring what atrocity would be in its place the next morning. I let my eyes graze the tiny, run-down apartment.

Nothing in my life had gone the way I wanted: I had failed and dropped out of university, I got myself an apartment with rent that took up most of my pay check, I worked a desk-job that followed the same monotonous routine over and over again. I would barely have time for my family, let alone myself. I would take a deep breath to compose myself, and prepare to rest for the same experience the next day‌ In this future, I regret everything.

I have no idea what lies ahead for me. I have neither a plan nor a sure-fire goal for my future. The future is an ominous expanse of infinite possibilities. Every single moment beyond the one I currently exist in, is a mystery. I am an open-minded person, I believe in the idea that anything is possible. And because of this, every bad thing is also possible.

That is why I have written my future like this, with the good, the bad and the ugly. I am not trying to jinx myself with the incredibly undesirable possibilities I have written, I know things will not always go my way. Or maybe they will.

Either way, it is perfectly fine to be wary of the future. Ultimately,

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it is not what one will do in the future that counts, what counts is what one does now. Now, am I ready for my future? No, I am not.

Yet at the same time, I have never been more ready for anything.

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Writing as Therapy for Depression

By Terri Kue, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

Depression is cruel in the vilest manner possible. It suffocates you, caging you within your own mind where you are unable to escape, no matter how many times you scream and beg to be let out. It restricts you to a world of darkness; darkness so deceiving that you can only dream of seeing the hands that are outstretched to help you.

You wander and wander around, hands swinging in hopes of gripping one of those hands but you are unable to, for depression blinds you. It keeps you looking and looking for something you so desperately want but have such little chance of seeing.

Depression leaves you aching for a way out. It leaves you pained and wanting nothing more but to see. Depression makes you yearn for a light that it viciously obscures from your view. That is why, sometimes, the only way to overcome depression is to create your own light. I would know because that is what I did, and my light was and is still writing.

I had come home from school with the need to breathe the way I had forgotten how to and to see the way I no longer remember seeing. Depression had taken the normality of what used to be and made it rare and fleeting, and I was hungry for it.

I was stuck in a world where it felt like everything and everyone was against me. It would feel like every single day would rush by 17

without me even realising, like sand slipping through the gaps my fingers had no choice but to have.

I had picked up a paper and a pen, furiously drawing circles and crosses on the paper as tears streamed down my cheeks. I was desperate.

I felt insane.

Most of all, though, I was tired.

My hand came to a stop as I choked on my sobs, urging myself to keep silent so my parents could continue their lives unaware of the hell their daughter was living.

All these thoughts about how horrible and worthless I was were swimming in my head and it hit me like a brick that I needed somewhere to release everything I was feeling.

I needed a place for me to form my feelings and thoughts into actual words so that I could get them out of me.

I needed somewhere to escape from everything bottled up within me and I knew that if I continued to keep things to myself, I would break.

So with trembling hands, I wrote.

I no longer remember all the words I wrote, but one sentence stood out the most to me, and I remember it to this day. ‘I will write until my fingers bleed and even then, I will write. I will write and I will write and I will write until I can finally say that I am

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alright.’

Therefore, remembering that, I wrote at any moment I could.

Every word I wrote has allowed me to slowly navigate my way through depression, and I am so thankful for it.

Writing allowed me to express myself freely, without fear of being scorned by others for being ‘weak’ or ‘attention-seeking’. I could write out all the hurt and all the sorrow I felt and no longer had to subject myself to bottling everything up to the point of almost exploding.

Every word I wrote for myself was without tact, and I was able to understand myself much better than I would have had I only had aggressive feelings to work with.

It made me realise that maybe, just maybe, I was more than the vicious nonsense that I yelled at myself in the middle of the night.

Other times when I had too much hurt and knew not where to even begin, I would write a story.

I would escape from the dull yet chaotic world I was forced to live in and enter a world where everything would go according to me.

I would be in-charge of the make-believe world I created. I could indulge myself in stories where there was no pain or hurt and even in the rare case where there was any of those, the protagonist ends up happy in the end.

It made me feel powerful, in a sense. It made me feel in control.

It may not seem like much to others, but being able to be in control of something whilst suffering from depression meant more than I can ever explain.

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To be in control of something, even if only for a few short minutes when I wrote, grounded me to reality. It helped me believe that as long as I could make my character’s life end happily then surely I could orchestrate my life to go the same way.

I had tried, out of curiosity, many other methods of therapy: Yoga, music, and gardening were some of the few. Yet, I just kept coming back to writing.

There was something in the way I could lose myself in the words I bled onto the paper that stopped me from overthinking and drowning in the words I threw at myself.

There was something in the way I could be either myself or somebody else at my whim.

There was, and is, something so therapeutic about the freedom writing gives me to be who I want to be and to discover who I actually am.

Writing was and is therapy for my depression, and maybe it can be yours too.

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PART TWO

BEATTY SECONDARY SCHOOL KAY THWE ZIN

What I Am Grateful For

By Kay Thwe Zin, Beatty Secondary School

Grateful. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word ‘grateful’ means ‘showing or expressing thanks, especially to another person’.

Grateful. Some may be grateful for their family members and friends. Others may be grateful for their wealth. Maybe some are grateful for their health.

Grateful. What am I grateful for?

For starters, I’m grateful for having a roof over my head. A warm place I can return to at the end of the day. I’m grateful for having two of the best people in my life to take care of me since the day I was born. I’m thankful for having friends who care and support me in my school.

There are even some things I merely look past every day without having any clue as to how important they are in my life. Upon reflections, I won’t be alive without those things. Therefore, I’m thankful to have an ample amount of food and water every day. I’m grateful to have quite a healthy body. Sure, I am not a Superwoman and don’t have the fittest body in the world. I am not a Victoria Secret runway model and don’t have the most proportionate and toned body. However, I am thankful to have a fairly healthy body.

Though I may fall sick at times, I am usually in the pink of health as long as I have ample rest , exercise and healthy food.

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I am also grateful for the little pleasures in life which Mother Nature has brought me…

The sunrise, The sunset, The ocean, The rainforest, The animals, The flowers, They say that nothing beautiful is ever free in life... but ironically, these things certainly are free.

But more than anything, I am most grateful for this one woman in my life. Who, you may ask? My mother? That’s a nice guess but it’s certainly not her. This woman is my grandmother. I address her as ‘A May’; meaning ‘mother’ in Burmese. To me, A May is an angel who is sent from heaven.

One of the cravings of humans is to feel accepted. And she did just that. I had no idea when I was younger but as I grew up and learnt more about my past, my gratitude for her only grew. It went way back when I was born.

You see, my paternal family is influenced by the Chinese culture and wanted the first child of my parents to be a son to carry the family’s name. As my mother didn’t go through ultrasound

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scanning, no one knew about my gender identity as I rested in my mother’s womb. My mother spent countless hours in front of the Buddha statue praying for a son.

But alas, when I was born, I only brought shame and disappointment to my parents. My father, unable to handle the pressure from his parents and his own disappointment, ran away from home. My mother, on the other hand, received criticism from her in-laws. She was devastated. Till today, I feel sorry towards my parents for not being a boy, especially my mother. I know that it isn’t my fault and I can’t help feeling guilty.

The only light in the tunnel back then was my maternal side of my family, especially my A May. She got into an argument with my father and took me in. She raised me with my mother for a short period of time until my father took me back with my other.

Although I don’t remember anything at all, the feeling of gratitude towards A May stays.

She was willing to accept me in one of my darkest moments. She loves me for who I am. She was willing to sacrifice herself back then to care for me. And I’m grateful to have someone like her in my life. There’s really no one like her in my life…

Please don’t get me wrong though. I don’t feel any resentment towards my father. My father may have been slightly blinded by his culture but I don’t blame him. To me, no one is at fault here. I do not see my father as a horrid person.

They say that even the most sadistic criminal is not a bad person since he is just normal person who is trying to find happiness; just in the wrong way. I’m just grateful enough that he is a responsible

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father who takes care of me. I’m already grateful that he is still there for me as a father. I’m grateful to have a father.

Sometimes, I feel guilty towards A May. I feel like she did more for me than I did for her. I didn’t do anything to deserve her and her love. And because of that, I feel bad and guilty towards her.

Even if I get down on my knees to thank her, it’s never going to be enough. I could only be be indebted to her...

I feel that gratefulness is similar to gazing at the stars in the middle of the night and appreciating its beauty. Life may be as pitch dark as the sky at night. But there are many things despite the darkness to brighten and beauty the dark background behind. Gratefulness is to identity those stars in the darkness and appreciate their existence and beauty.

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PART THREE

CATHOLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE AMANDA PEI LI YAN CLAIRE LAI LIM HOWIE NUR NADIAH BINTE HISHAM SEOW HUI QIN

Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

By Amanda Pei Li Yan, Catholic Junior College

In August 2013, Deniece Tan, a 27-year-old foreign exchange banker made an unexpected career switch. Leaving her comfortable career in finance behind, she decided to become a hawker, working tirelessly for hours a day selling plates of Hainanese curry rice.

Such instances may be few and far between; yet they clearly demonstrate that while many might abandon their dreams in favour of more stable career options such as law or banking, there are others who deliberately avoid the comfort and predictability of such jobs.

Such courageous individuals have explored unorthodox pursuits that are no less meaningful. I believe that following one’s own passion reaps far more rewards than a stable profession for which one may only have a superficial interest. This would especially be the case if one were no longer constrained by responsibilities like being the breadwinner of the house. Ultimately, the most successful people are those who pursue their passions–and not mere paychecks.

Arguably, there are some who might opt for the safer route of professional disciplines. This is especially so in Singapore. Some from humbler family backgrounds are admittedly obliged by their financial constraints to opt for employment that offers a fixed and stable income. Yet it is also the case that for children in Singapore from wealthier family backgrounds, they are strongly encouraged 27

by their parents to apply for highly-competitive courses that demand near-perfect grades for entry. This drive for excellence is further perpetuated by the media’s portrayal of doctors and lawyers as cultured and influential people, such that it is little wonder that these career paths are highly sought after.

Pragmatism is the dogma of the day: parents extol virtues of hard work and many Singaporean youths are pressured to undertake tertiary courses which are deemed prestigious and useful, regardless of whether they are actually interested in them. As a result of undertaking these tertiary courses, many apply for highpaying jobs which are presumably more ‘suitable’ matches for their educational qualifications. Raised in an environment in which one is expected to consistently outperform one’s peers, many youths understandably develop the ambition to become corporate bankers and engineers, amongst other more conventional pathways to success.

While there are some who might prefer more conventional routes to success, there are others who fearlessly pursue their passions by exploring unfamiliar terrain. Such adventurerism demands courage and appetite for risk.

Consider the instance of Simon Costa, the Managing Director of one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest logistics and agricultural companies, gave up his job to volunteer for the World Food Programme in Uganda. Despite having a dramatic paycut and having no gaurentee that his years of labour would bear fruit, he eventually helped to support 16,600 farms–an unprecedented result in tackling the food crisis.

Costa’s instance attests to the extent to which people are willing to

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sacrifice more lucrative career options in favour of their passions, even if it entails riskier life paths.

Such choices may even incur the outright disapproval from one’s nearest and dearest. Kirsten Tan, who wanted to produce films, only attended university at her parents’ behest even though she was far more interested in film-making. After much persistence on her part, she was finally allowed to take up a film-related course at a polytechnic, and even produced a film that won her international acclaim. Such efforts show that chasing your passion might not always be the easiest path; rather it may be an even more tumultuous route compared to more conventional career options.

Nevertheless, in chasing one’s passion, it ultimately boils down to what one is willing to suffer for. Consider the etymological roots of the word: ‘passion’ derives from the Latin ‘passio’, which means “to suffer”. Passion is not mere excitement but entails the willingness to suffer and sacrifice for one’s goals.

What is needed is conviction–a sense of conviction that one will doggedly stick to whatever one is set on doing, and see it through till the end. In the long run, it is not merely interest that sustains a person’s passion but the underlying conviction that undergirds it.

One natural question to ask, then, would be whether one could endeavour to turn one’s passion into a profession in itself, or vice versa. Consider the rise of professional gamers who play video games for prize money. An article on the SmartParents.sg portal describes how children’s gaming habits could stand them in good stead because game development might be a suitable career choice for them in the future.

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Another example would be that of Cheang Qin Xin, a 34-year-old climbing guide working in the USA, Taiwan and Thailand. Cheang left his stable job in the military in 2013 to see if he could turn his passion into a career. Although his business did not go well initially, his persistence paid off and finally after three years the business is now on a more stable footing.

Like Cheang, entrepreneur Elaine Ho left her stable job at a company to embark on setting up a jewellery brand and currently owns three costume jewellery brand under her company. All these instances show how the line that divides passion and profession is far more ambiguous and elusive than one might fathom.

In conclusion, when one discovers what one is willing to sacrifice for, one naturally uncovers one’s meaning and purpose. As renowned investor Warren Buffett once said, being successful at almost anything means having a passion for it. It is vital to choose a career path that one is not merely casually interested in, but one that triggers such zeal that one would be prepared to experience moments of not just joy but also disappointment while pursuing this path.

In the end, what matters most when making the decision whether to follow passion or profession is whether one can find meaning and purpose in it at the end of the day.

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Writing as Therapy for Depression

By Claire Lai, Catholic Junior College

It is dark and cold, I feel scared.

A scene flashed before me, as I raised my head, I saw hordes of people rushing past me, getting on with their lives. Wide smiles were plastered on their faces as they happily chatted with one another, not sparing me a single glance. A pang of pain hits my chest, as I wondered why I can’t be like them, why can’t I be full of confidence, why can’t I have a nice figure like them, why can’t I be smart like them, why can’t I be happy like them. A thousand thoughts of “why can’t I” resounded in my head. Of course, how could I forget, I am after all probably worthless, living a meaningless existence, and if I died nothing would change, no one would ever notice that I’m gone.

As these malignant thoughts consumed me, I felt as though there were arms pulling me back, back into the darkness; I started hyperventilating, as panic gripped my entire being, I opened my mouth in an attempt to cry for help. Nothing was uttered despite my desperation, and I finally remembered why I could not call for help.

During all the times I tried to reach out to them all they did was scorn at me, saying: “why are you even depressed, others have it worse than you”, “just get over it”, “you’re probably just seeking attention”. My shoulders sank and my eyes welled up, filled with 31

the sense of helplessness, I gave up. With a hard yank, I was engulfed by the endless darkness, as I gradually succumbed to this sinister tenebrosity.

A new day arrived, as I stripped myself from this suffocating darkness, and stepped into a faรงade of gentle grins and joyous laughter. Each breath and smile pained me as I wondered, how long do I have to keep up this pretence? As the day progressed, I look around frantically searching for someone to notice how I am slowly sinking into a pit of depression and pain, but seeing their oblivion, I questioned, does anybody even care? Why do they not see my suffering?

This scenario encompasses the thoughts, feelings, and circumstances that a person suffering with depression experiences.

They often face instances where they are criticised and judged for being depressed due to the stigma of depression, and sometimes their conditions are taken lightly and are being shrugged off. This causes them to be unwilling to share about their depression and instead choose to suffer in silence, just hoping that someone will notice their pain and extend help to them.

With nobody there for them, writing can be a form of therapy for them. It becomes a way for these people to freely express their thoughts, feelings, and struggles, without having to face harsh judgement. A simple pen and paper can help organise their thoughts and articulate their bottled up feelings, in which them knowing their concerns and worries is critical in their path to recovery. As only after identifying the negativity and keeping track of their progress can they take small steps to change their mindsets to a more positive one.

Many people may suggest to these people that they should get 32

help from therapists and psychiatrists, but some of them may not be comfortable to talk about their experience to the strangers who have not experienced what they are going through, or they simply do not want to take medication and would prefer something like a lifestyle change. Writing as frequently as a few times a week or even everyday then serves as the perfect method for them to express and stabilise their feelings on a regular basis without the help of a stranger.

Although writing helps people with their depression for the large part, it is also mentioned by people suffering from depression that it can also be absolutely useless if the writer harps on their depressing thoughts constantly. Perpetually thinking and writing about depressing things, further emphasizes the negativity and may make their conditions worse, as they get stuck in a continuous cycle.

However, it usually helps best if they write about things that they want and their goals in life, and also write about the positive things about themselves. These vibrant changes in the things that they write, will start to illuminate the depressing and dark state that they were in. It will help them to gradually have a more positive outlook on life and start to value their strengths and what they currently have, instead of harping on the skills and things they lack.

Although writing is a simple act, it definitely has a therapeutic effect that is beneficial to people suffering from depression, provided that they write with more optimism. Moreover, if one tenaciously seeks to overcome the malicious arms of depression that is pulling them down, writing may just be the ‘person’ that eventually pulls them out from the dark abyss.

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What Youths Want to Tell the World

By Lim Howie, Catholic Junior College

Youths have many things they want to tell the world. Yet, it may be difficult to get their voices heard as they have to be careful with their words so as not to draw massive criticism for their honest opinions. In the current day and age, youths have access to many things. Education, communication, money; all of these are hardly scarce to the majority of youths.

Yet despite that, it seems that the more of these items youth have, the unhappier they actually are. It could be due to a multitude of reasons, but I believe that the major reason youths are unhappy is because in this rapidly changing environment, their opinions are being ignored and their pleas for help have also been overseen, whether it be due to the fear of their parents or because they fear that others may not believe in their words. Here are some things I feel that youths want to tell the world, but are unable to.

Firstly, youths want to tell the world that we can make our own decisions. Granted, some of our decisions may not be the best, yet our decision-making is rooted in concrete facts and is well-thought out, especially due to the internet age giving us easy access to all sorts of information mankind has never been able to obtain before.

When we choose to go against the beaten path, it no longer is about the pure feeling of rebellion, but because we earnestly have enough foresight to believe that this is the path that we want to 34

take. This is especially important to tell our caregivers. Caregivers, like parents, tend to imprint their beliefs onto us. Yet, we could be different from them, with a different set of beliefs. Some parents are more accepting. Others may be bigoted. Regardless, we hope that everyone can accept that we can make our own decisions and are allowed to have our own set of beliefs.

Youths want to tell the world to not see us as unable to face difficulties. We may have better education, more money and a more comfortable living environment, yet all these have additional problems added on, namely expectations. Expectations are higher than ever, as a child who is given so much should be able to do so much more, right? It is exactly due to these increasingly insane expectations of youths that cause some to be unable to cope.

Yet, during these times, people do not help these youths regain their footing, and instead knock them down for not being able to cope with difficulties as well as the older generations, even going so far as to name a generation the “Strawberry Generation�, comparing this generation to strawberries, which cannot survive very well without the care of the farmer. It is our hope that youths’ modern age difficulties can be seen and that our journey to adulthood is not a bed of roses, but is as thorny as every other generation.

Youths want to tell the world that we are not any less independent than any other generation. There seems to be a common belief that youths nowadays are more and more dependent on their caregivers and their devices. Parents feel like they need to do everything for their children as their children cannot wash their own clothes or prepare their own food. Teachers feel like they need to spoonfeed their students information and motivate them to

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study as they are so lazy. Yet, youths seem to still be reliant on their devices to do anything. They do not remember many pieces of information, instead storing it on their devices or searching online for it, like when they rely on google maps to go outdoors.

However, in reality, the life of students nowadays is packed with activities unknown to others. Perhaps their parents have arranged tuition for them and these students just find lesson to be uninteresting. Perhaps their teachers have put a lot of work on them and thus are unable to take care of themselves at home.

Perhaps both of these things are put together and they must rely on technology to make them more efficient.

As such, it appears to the other parties that the student is relying on them, when in fact they are just using the means available to them to improve their efficiency so as to meet their higher expectations and thus are actually independent, but because of the added expectations are forced to rely on others. Regardless, youths are not as reliant on others as people seem to think.

Youths can have a lot of brilliant ideas, and youths will be building the future. I believe most youths would want to give their all for their future, and as such I hope that instead of critiquing us, people would start to support us and see things from our perspective. To listen to us and to work with us to ensure that we can do better.

Youths have many things that they want to tell the world, and we hope sincerely that you will listen before you critique and consider our opinion before you speak.

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The Youth and the Era of Images: Identity through Pictures

By Nur Nadiah Binte Hisham, Catholic Junior College

Do the pictures on our Instagram feed define the very nature of our existence? Are the pictures we painstakingly capture to produce the perfect romanticization of a particular memory, a manifestation of the people that we are? Photography in the twenty-first century is no longer a medium simply used to capture moments.

Just as photography has evolved over time from a medium to study optics to sophisticated means of creating and sharing instantaneous images, the essence of photography and the portrayal of its usage, has evolved as well. Pictures have thus inevitably inundated our lives, serving as an expression and portrayal of our identity, as well as to capture the identity of others.

Pictures therefore have the ability to evoke and inspire, and I often find myself questioning the stories pictures leave behind.

Self-portrait photography is the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of identity through pictures. The rawness and clarity of self-portraits is a clear manifestation of one’s identity. In selfportraits, there is complete focus on one’s facial features and their every emotion seems to be amplified. Their eyes seem to tell a thousand stories, just as the quote ‘A picture tells a thousand words’.

One’s identity, as vulnerable as it may sound, is being exposed 37

in self-portraits, leaving nothing for one to hide behind. My fascination for self-portraits bloomed after experiencing how they were able to effectively portray the pain and on the contrary, joy, of refugees all around the world.

I often find myself endlessly scrolling through portraits of refugees, in which the photojournalist ultimately intends to spread awareness of their harsh way of life. And although as a reader, a thousand emotions churn in my heart especially one of anger that many innocents around the world suffer at the hands of selfish politicians around the world, I cannot help but wonder of the true identity of these refugees. In looking at their self-portraits, I am amazed at the ability for pictures to evoke such curiosity, amazement yet anger all at the same time. I guess my fascination of self-portrait stems from its ability for it to capture the very emotion of a human being, and perpetuate it for as long as the self-portrait exists.

However, some might argue that youths in this day and age have destroyed the distinctiveness of self-portraits, or rather known now as ‘selfies’. There are various articles on the internet justifying how selfies are ruining society, and even how dangerous they are. It has even come to the extent that Mumbai has declared 16 no-selfie zones as people have taken unnecessary risks to get the perfect picture and hence, putting themselves in danger.

Selfies have now evidently become a means for youths to show off their extravagance by posing with sumptuous goods or even to boast about their luxurious vacation. I for one, am guilty. Pictures are therefore no longer a portrayal of our identity and instead, it is effectively being used to portray ourselves as the people that we so obsessively strive to be, the people that we are not. We hide behind our Instagram worthy pictures and selfies, in an attempt to

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shield our true identity, and put on a facade for the whole world to admire. A whole other aspect to this predicament is the ability for youths now to edit and enhance their pictures with the use of highly advance software, further diluting the authenticity of them.

This comes back to the age old question that goes beyond youth, is photography Truth or Beauty? And whose Truth are we talking about anyway?

The reason that this question has been around for centuries, right to the very start to when cameras were first invented, is that there is no simple and right answer. The art of photography remains a complex and controversial medium. Up till this day, there are still many who refuse to accept photography and pictures as a way of art.

However, be it the superficial pictures that float around Instagram today or the professional ones taken by famous photographers and photojournalists, I believe that everyone has the ability to express themselves through their own pictures. At the end of the day, pictures represent the way we view the world and it offers opportunities for others to view us. Everyone aims to perfect the picture because it is the only tangible way to be able to shape how others view us.

As photography continues to evolve with sophisticated and advanced cameras enabling human beings to continue to capture their most cherished moments, so should its users. Let photography serve as an opportunity for all of us to express our true identities without feeling compelled to us it to impress others.

Let the pictures we take be remnants of the people that we once were, a manifestation of our identities.

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What Does It Take to Succeed in Life?

By Seow Hui Qin, Catholic Junior College

Life.

It is something constant for everyone. We are living right now. We are alive. At this point in time, a simple Google search will reveal that there are 7.4 billion people living on Earth at this very moment. No matter what gender, race or social background we come from, we are, undoubtedly, living. There is no question about that. While living out our lives, an inevitable question will eventually present itself in our heads, regardless of when or how or why. Amidst the triumph, the losses, and the pain, while trying to find meaning in life and all that exist, many of us crave for that final goal, the ultimate end: to succeed, or to be successful in all that matters. Hence, what does it take to succeed in life?

One single question. Yet so subjective, and so much can be derived from it. What is the process, or method, to succeeding in life? What does succeeding in life even mean? All these questions are what I will be addressing today, as the answering of such questions will ultimately lead back to what this essay is all about: what does it take to succeed in life? Let us take a step back, and allow me to introduce you to two distinct, yet at the same time, similar people.

Meet Bill Gates. I’m sure many of you have heard of him before. He’s a technologist, business leader and the co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation. At the age of 62, he has an estimated net worth of 40

$93.9 billion, and lives in a 6,1000m2mansion worth $170,449,927.

Astonishingly, he earns $33.3 million per day, $1.38 million per hour, and $23,148 per minute. Monetary-wise, it is clearly evident that he is successful. Re-look the statistics which probably took you some time to read. Do you feel any emotions inside of you? Jealousy?

Admiration? With such feelings, do you not desire to know how he does it? How does one become so rich, and so successful in life? The answer: Passion.

When he was young, Gates was fascinated by computers and spent most of his time learning how to program. This led to him working 16 hours a day without complaint, for he loved what he was doing.

One thing led to another, and his love for computers became the foundation for Microsoft. So what was the driving force for his success? Passion. Choose something you will truly enjoy doing, and go on from there. Your passion will be your motivator, your friend, and your drive. It will be easier to influence others and think of strategies when your passion shows. Therefore, passion is most definitely a factor in order to succeed in life.

Of course, many people who are not too materialistic may add that success in life is not determined by the amount of capital you can obtain alone. Money is not everything, and I wholeheartedly agree.

Life is made out of various different aspects, whose individual values are highly subjective. Hence, let me introduce you to Shirin Ebadi, the first Islamic woman to ever receive a Nobel Peace Prize. Holding onto the letter apprising of what she has won, Ebadi’s hands shook as memories came back to her slowly like droplets of rain in a drizzle.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Eyes leaking disdain from men when they dismissed her as a judge. Voices sour with scorn shooting threats of imprisonment and fines. But Ebadi knew they were trivial to the core–a fleeting unconcern. With eyes bright and a wistful smile, she remembered

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writing articles and books, with words as her empowerment. She remembered times trapped in solitary confinement while still visiting clients. She remembered smiles from Iranian women when their cases were won.

Shirin Ebadi fought for the rights of women and children, and founded the Defenders of Human Rights Centre in Iran. She is the physical embodiment of impact success; she made a huge difference on an international level. Economic success may not be her forte, but she has changed the lives of countless minorities. In some sense, she has succeeded in life too. Being able to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and attain success in life is not plain sailing, for she encountered countless challenges along the way. However, what was something vital she did not do? Give up. Despite the numerous hardships she faced, never once did she let go of what she was passionate about. That is the beauty of perseverance -- holding on and pushing forward in defiance of the treachery that lay ahead; stepping forward in spite of the winds and the waves and the storms. “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop,� said Confucius. Along with a bit of luck, perseverance is also an important factor in elevating you onto the platform of success.

This begs the question: other than monetary and impact success, passion and perseverance, what other forms and factors of success are there? A lot more actually, and I sincerely believe that it is an unceasing and endless list. Nevertheless, we need to keep in mind that success in life is a subjective concept, and differs from person to person. I, or anyone for that matter, will not be able to give you a definition of success which is truthfully accurate to you. We are all still human–imperfect, slightly eccentric, and most importantly unique.

Look inside you, understand what your values truly are, and one day you will realise just what success mean to you, and how exactly you can achieve it. I wish you all the best, and good luck.

PART FOUR

CEDAR GIRLS' SECONDARY SCHOOL FENG YUAN YI

What I Am Grateful For

By Feng Yuan Yi, Cedar Girls Secondary School

When we speak of gratefulness, we gravitate towards positivity and bury our negative experiences under our successes. That was a web I had been trapped in for the most part of my conscious lifetime, and one which I am constantly at risk of getting recaptured into once more. Who would be grateful towards the failures they’ve encountered, when they could instead, appreciate their successes? And isn’t that the thing, about hurtling down the rocky path of life: it takes just a single barricade for one to realise how smooth the path had been.

I am grateful for the failures I have experienced, for they are the metal of which I cast the tools to overcome these barricades I encounter, though this had never always been my mindset. This was forged through what I would coin the worst week of my life yet.

Monday: I was presented with an opportunity many may have leapt for joy upon hearing, the opportunity to be nominated as a student leader. Adversely, my first thought was not to the doors it will open for my future, but to the floodgates of the past that unleashed a torrent of memories.

The bounded and gagged echoes of my first nomination experience, of my confidence after seeing my name on the first two shortlists and finally, the frantic search for a name that didn’t make 44

the cut. We become numb, we create an alternate reality where it was all a mistake, we imagine the elation of those that made it, comparing it to the emptiness we feel, and then, we feel the gutwrenching feeling, that constricting squeeze of emotions in our chests. So, why put myself at risk of experiencing that once again?

That was the question I asked myself as I confronted the ghost of my past failure.

We all have to face our failures and shortcomings from our pasts, but what we choose to take from the confrontation is our choice, be it perseverance, resilience or nothing at all. The past is brimming with nuggets of wisdom, and in a world where life is an endless pursuit of knowledge, every learning point is something worth being grateful for.

Despite the aforementioned harrowing experience, the week had only just begun. Tuesday: I formally learnt the news of my rejection from a programme I was fervently hoping to be accepted into. The ignorance of the days before may have been bliss, but it also presented a poisonous false hope and complacency. I had to accept the reality that I wasn’t as good as what both I and others made me out to be. It was like taking off a pair of sunglasses made of flattery and envy, held together by my own desire to shine. It tainted my view of the world and was ripped off harshly.

Not measuring up to either your own or the expectation of others is itself a form of failure. What I have learnt is that we are at our most vulnerable after a failure, but we are concurrently at our most receptive; failing to meet those expectations gave me a realistic appraisal of my abilities and taught me to be more flexible with new developments and ideas for improvement, which are all pieces of wisdom and skills worth being thankful for.

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Truly, when it rains, it pours and Day Three brought with it more hardships. Wednesday: a wave of helplessness washed over me as it dawned on me that, even after I had trudged through a group project mostly alone, a sore oversight on the part of my group leader could potentially cost everything I had done to go to waste.

The feeling of being trapped, backed into a corner built by negligence, grew in me, fed by the apathy of my teammates. As I festered in my annoyance, indignation and worry, I knew I could not sit idly by as my previous hard work was consumed by my inaction.

It is inevitable that others will fail and disappoint us, and sometimes, the easiest path is to do nothing about it, but as I have heard, “History was not made by those who did nothing”. When we are let down by others, we can still gain the invaluable insight of knowing we need not be dragged down with them, but that we can pull them back up with us. I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to learn that no, we are not strung by fate, but rather, we can create our own future and our own path.

Failure affects every aspect of our lives as our past and future converge in the present, and so it is an unavoidable part of life.

However, it is how we view failure that matters. Being grateful of my capability of failure is often times challenging, and an obstacle on its own, yet it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, feeling less dread towards trying something new, or simply facing something from the past I am not proud of. As the MythBusters say, “Failure is always an option.” To me, failure is not just an option, but a compulsory process in our pursuit of wisdom.

I am grateful I can experience the great joy of learning, from

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whatever source they may come, and for the failures in that week that bridged July and August that taught me, in essence, to replicate the properties of a rubber duck: to be able to stay afloat even in the torrential storm of life, to be flexible in everything I do, to be able to sail along, creating my own trajectory, with a sense of optimism, even in the blue of the ocean.

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PART FIVE

NAVAL BASE SECONDARY SCHOOL KWAN JIA MIN, JAMIE RACHEL TANG VANESSA CHAN NING ZAKI BIN MOHAMED KASIM ZUELLEN BEATRIX GASQUE

The Future of Now

By Kwan Jia Min Jamie, Naval Base Secondary School

Levitating cars, cities covered with skyscrapers reaching towards the clouds, robots with the intelligence of a human–or maybe even smarter. I am sure we have all seen it before–from the television programmes we watch to the video games we play on our devices. No matter what, the future is all around us. After all, it is what we are all working towards, is it not? Whilst most people dream of the lavish wonders of the future, I, on the other hand, foresee the destruction that is to be brought upon our land. Given the circumstances of today, there is no doubt what the future has in store for mankind. What I am talking about is the many terror attacks, war raging on within countries, industries spewing out blankets of poison, and the list goes on and on–unless man suddenly has a change of heart, that is.

With the peace of the past shattered by the people of today, dispute amongst mankind arises. There are angry mobs protesting against the authorities’ decisions, terrorists seeking attention, and others rioting against one another because of a remark one had made. All these have left a devastating mark on victimised countries, leaving people fleeing their homes in search of a safe haven and an abandoned place that is devoid of any battles.

Even if peace was revived and maintained, pollution will still pursue. As an environmentalist, what has always irked me is the amount of attention mankind is paying to the air, the land, and the 49

water. Unwanted items discarded carelessly flood every corner– along the streets, along grasslands, along the beaches. They eventually voyage out to sea, plastic bags turning into jellyfish for turtles to consume, or trapping anything that dares enter it. We are unknowingly bringing undeserved death to creatures which have done nothing to us, and the nightmare does not stop there.

Look up to the sky. It may be a lovely pale blue now, but slowly, bit by bit, it will be turning into a hazy, polluted grey. Things such as the power plants that provide us with our basic necessities like electricity are probably one of the best things ever invented, right? Wrong. They may bring us good, but as I see it, when there is a boon, there will always be a bane, for one simply cannot exist without the other. Behind the scenes of where the energy of our homes come from is not a scene one may want to witness. Where the towering, concrete blocks of industries stand is not a place one may want to visit and admire, for it truly is an ugly sight. The clouds of waste they produce will be the downfall of our atmosphere, making the earth warmer and warmer every second, until this planet will be nothing more than a scalding sphere. Glaciers of the arctic regions will melt at a tragically rapid pace until it will be nothing more than bodies of water everywhere. The soil will be too acidic for anything to sprout until life on Earth will be nothing more than skin and bones.

Until life on this planet can no longer persist.

Then, what we have seen in the movies will come true. Mankind will find another planet to call it home. There, we will multiply, adapting to our newfound surroundings by developing special features to help us. Either that or transform the landscape to suit our needs by using our intelligence. Even then, everything will be

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the same. The hearts of us humans will remain unchanged–we will still have disagreements, we will build environment-destroying technology, and we will bring about unhappiness. The process on planet Earth will then repeat itself–war will rage on, developments will pollute the atmosphere, and the living nightmare goes on and on, until the planet becomes nothing more than a wasteland, just like its predecessor.

Picture this: Fields of stunning blooms rolling out as far as the eye can see, alongside a sparkling river running underneath a crystal-clear sky. Impressive icebergs standing proud and tall whilst pristine, white snow falls all around. Animals thriving in their natural habitats, alive and leaping with energy. People greeting each other with warm smiles and hugs, celebrating festive seasons together in harmony, no matter the race, culture, language or religion. The sound of joyful laughter and merry music filling the night sky as people dance around.

All that can be achieved if every, single one of us just has a change of heart. If we start realising the consequences of our actions, pollution might just come to an end. If we start making up for all that we have done, the world might just become a better place, a sanctuary even. It is that simple. As they always say, “Change starts with you”. Not all hope is lost.

After all, it is never too late to change.

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What I Am Grateful For

By Rachel Tang, Naval Base Secondary School

We often overlook the little things in life that we should be grateful for and take them for granted. Let that sink in. If you agree with what I have said, how many ‘little things’ came to your mind? What are you grateful for?

Many of us only learn to appreciate what we have when we lose that thing or person. Is it not the same when we encounter inspiring stories in speeches, videos or articles? Take Nick Vujicic for instance.

I am sure many of us have heard of him. If you have not, Nick was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder which results in the absence of limbs. However, that definitely has not stopped him from leading an extraordinary life. Now, at the age of 32, Nick is the founder of the Life Without Limbs organisation, and is a motivational speaker.

A rare disorder; so rare that it occurs in roughly 1 out of 71,000 pregnancies. The point is, if Nick can live his life with so much gratitude, why can’t some of us do the same?

Now, you must wonder, what am I grateful for?

Family. I had the privilege of experiencing a peachy childhood. I grew up having a perfect picture of my family. I thought my family was perfect as when I was in school, nearly half of the class had broken families–either a parent ran away, died, or the parents were divorced.

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I had never thought that I would be an addition to that half. My parents’ divorce had been a mutual agreement and no fights were involved. I was, however, enraged at the fact that they did not inform my sister and me of their decision. What was important was that I also realised I had taken my family, and many other things along, for granted.

Thankfully, despite the divorce, my parents continue to shower my sister and me with their love. We still celebrate our birthdays with the both of them–heading out for a meal and ending the day with an exchange of hugs. Furthermore, when I encounter a setback, they will always do their best to console me and work with me to resolve the issue. I am so grateful for the kinship that I have. A German proverb says, “Blood is thicker than water”, which implies family relations are more important than your relationships with anyone else, such as your friends. But having said so, I, too, am appreciative of my friends.

A Chinese philosopher, Mencius, once said, “Friendship is one mind in two bodies”. I cannot agree with this quote more. Last year, I met my current best friend, and we have been close ever since. Most of the time, she has been there for me, taking time and effort to understand me, as well as my situations. I am grateful to have her in my life, even for the simplest of things. For example, there was once when we had already left the school and were on our way home.

However, I realised that I had left my wallet in school. Despite having a long and tiring day, she accompanied me all the way back to school to look for it. I was so grateful then. When you lose your personal possession, you are very likely to panic. Thankfully, she was there to calm me down and to reassure me that my wallet would be found.

The many friendships that have been forged in my life have helped

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shape me as a person. I may not be the best version of myself yet, but I have definitely grown and improved as compared to the past.

To illustrate, I was extremely reserved in Secondary One; I only had one friend.

Eventually, she found her own friends and I was alone again. It was not until the end of Secondary One when I found my own circle of friends, that little did I know, will still be going strong even though we are no longer in the same class. Through them, I have become a more vocal and open person, meeting and accepting more people into my life.

Now, I look back and wonder: if I had not met these people, how would I have managed to get through the seemingly mundane days?

This is how much my friends mean to me. I am so, so grateful to have met them, and we may even become friends forever.

Next, foes. Why, you ask, am I grateful for the foes I have met, or made? It is simple; they have helped me to become a better person.

I do not mean that making foes is a fantastic thing to do, but it plays a big part in helping one grow as a person. For instance, I had a best friend that turned on me once; you can call it betrayal. Initially, I was fumed. I wanted nothing but revenge. However, when I sat down to reflect on what the consequences would be if I had gone with my initial plan, I realised that it would be pointless.

The fight would have been endless. Someone had to take a step back, and if it was not going to be my best friend, it was going to have to be me. And so I did, and gradually the attacks on me stopped. Not only have I discovered a calm method to resolve the issue, I had also guilt-tripped my best friend.

I have not always been this grateful for everything I have, but 54

writing this has made me realise what I should do from now on to better work on my relationships. Like what Oprah Winfrey once said, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

Out of everything, I am grateful that I get to be alive to experience gratitude.

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When First and Third Worlds Collide: Common Problems

By Vanessa Chan Ning, Naval Base Secondary School

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like living in a third world country? Do you think you can survive? We live a luxurious life in Singapore where everything is provided. We are truly fortunate. However, as we enjoy all the pleasures of life, there are countries that are not as fortunate as us. While we bask in all the riches, they hide in the shadows, doing whatever they can to survive.

In a first world country, everything is fast paced; everyone wants to get things done as quickly as possible. Work is on everyone’s minds. Education is given. No one faces hunger. Everything always seems to revolve around us and that turns us into conceited people. Everything is what we desire. Have you ever wondered why no one can have everything? Is it not because of the greed of our flesh that blinds us from enjoying what we already have?

However, in a third world country, working to make ends meet is the priority of everyone. Fear of hunger. Hard work and long suffering are what they face. Education is for the wealthy. Every day is a fierce battle. There are some who make an honest living, while others who desire to rise above poverty resort to use illegal methods. Stealing, human trafficking and drugs are their games.

Although many perceive that these people who resort to illegal methods to survive are inhumane, they fail to see that these 56

people of the third world countries are just trying to survive. In the fight for survival, every man is for himself. Can you not see that we, people of the first world countries, are also equally self-centred?

Even with everything within our reach, we still have a greed for more and yet we criticise them for taking part in illegal events. It is very hypocritical, as there are also people in first world countries who involve themselves in illegal business.

Personally, I do not believe in condoning their offences, whether the person is living in poverty or in riches. However, I understand that everyone is prone to making mistakes, but I fail to comprehend why people living in a first world country would commit these offences. Truly both first and third world countries share the similarities of greed. In fact, as humans, some form of greed is within us all.

I recall living in Africa as a child. My family and I would always have constant fears of succumbing to robbery because of the lack of security in the country. This was mainly because the villagers there all presume that as Chinese people, we were rich. One night, a friend of my family went out and he returned with bruises and his valuables stolen. It was a horrifying experience for all of us, considering that in Singapore, we face little issues with security.

However, this situation has brought my family, our friend and his family closer together as we strive to live on. It is through this incident that we realise the importance of sticking together instead of trying to do things alone. And we learnt to be less conscious of ourselves and spare a thought for those around us.

We should learn to be contented with whatever we may have.

Coveting after riches over riches will never completely fulfil us. It may just bring us more emptiness and sadness. Instead, we could

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try to make the best of everything we have and live an honest and hardworking life. Would it not be more fulfilling?

Sadly, there are issues both third world and first world countries encounter that neither can control: health problems and diseases.

Although there have been many technological advancements to aid research on cures, the growing number of new diseases brings no guarantee that a cure can be found. With people’s growing unhealthy habits, their health is threatened. Everyone faces the similar uncertainty. Every moment gives a chance for our bad habits to catch up to us.

Indeed, first world countries may hold an advantage on being able to treat most of the symptoms and give a higher chance of cure to any sickness, disease and or health problems, but if the people continue their bad dieting, they would not recover well. Third world countries, however, may not have the luxury of medications and treatments or even the money to pay for them. In fact, their diets may be the cause of their shorter life span because of their poverty. With insufficient money to have good food, they have little control over their diet. And sometimes it is a part of their cultures. Furthermore, whatever placed on the table is their meal.

Both first and third world countries face different issues and live in different living conditions. The way its people’s mind-sets and attitudes completely differ and most of the time contradict. In fact, sometimes they label grades over one another because they are different or considered abnormal to one another.

However, similar issues occur within both first and third world countries. These similarities are what bond different people together as they strive to achieve a goal of resolving these problems within their countries. Venturing alone can be dangerous, 58

but together, everyone becomes strong. Take Singapore as an example. Although she is a small island, through the hard work of the founding fathers of Singapore, peace and unity is found throughout Singapore. Look at Singapore now. She is no longer a third world country but a first world country, still developing and moving forward into the future. Imagine if everyone in the world came together to fight a disease or fight against crime and poverty.

Would not our lives change for the better?

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Conceived Perceptions: What Do My Social Media Pages Say About Me?

By Zaki Bin Mohamed Kasim, Naval Base Secondary School

Social media can be seen as an outlook into the lives of those willing to showcase their best depictions of self that may fall into the aspect of narcissism. However, this is a limited point of view into the intricate way human nature can germinate in the generally anonymous space we call the internet, moreover social media.

Epistemological reasons suggest that social media is about portraying a facade that would lead others to believe in the best of you. Although the intended effect on each viewer may vary, it would come from the overall feel of your social media pages, the way your posts or tweets are structured, how professional you maintain it or if it is juvenile in a sense.

Makeup gurus often try their hardest to push across the sense that their products or tutorials are eloquent and stunning for those looking to use facial beauty products. Another case of this are vloggers such as the, “Logan Brothers� that become more outgoing or entertaining and sympathetic with their audiences and in the process, they often stray from their authentic personalities in order to sell merchandise and have better revenue. What this means is that they have something interesting called the online disinhibition effect.

Many of us have this online disinhibition effect that often rears its head during online interactions. We all hide behind an online 60

persona, which is a pawn that we push forward that does not really represent our true nature. How we talk with other online personas shows more about us, the controller, rather than the dense fog of ambiguity and obscurity that shrouds the other party.

We do not realise this effect consciously, as part of us wants to continue projecting our virtuous virtual selves that we often believe is true, or to break out of social restraints and let loose as the netscape provides great privacy in places where instead of faceto-face conversations, we have disembodied texts talking to other disembodied texts for that matter.

There are no official rules that state that we have to be truthful about ourselves and the way we tend to our words, just general guidelines to follow like the discouragement of overtly violent threats and you can tweet away from there. Even if you do insult others, the punishment is as good as a slap on the wrist by the suspension of your account per se, which you can choose to create another in the meantime.

The only person to realise the discombobulation social media plays on their moral compass offline, is the one behind the screen when they gain conscience about their words that speak on the same level of actions. The choice to maintain the decency of respect and mutual trust for others or not to, either way is totally fine by the liberty to portray yourself in the light others would judge you, the invariably complex lines of code that make up the basis for you to communicate with others online, you.

Maybe, rather than being a way to judge others, it is a way to judge yourself and to see how you are to manipulate such words, and selecting which preferable characteristics to ideally describe

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someone who has to present themselves out there in the world, to onlookers that have or may never have the opportunity to meet you in real life. It is evident that the dissonance associated with morality truly reflects the remarkable rule, so much as infallible, that we can mostly expect what we expect from ourselves, when treated as such.

Communities have spawned with the intent of uttermost freedom or such as safe spaces as in private groups on Instagram and continue being tidally locked in their own way, continuing the process of giving the consumer their perfectly suited needs. On these platforms, it is safe to say that we lump in with what fits us, and demographics suggest we do not tend to stray from these forums, we form a bond strengthened with common experience, camaraderie, and an easy expression of thoughts with inclusiveness being the glue that holds each of it together.

As we belong to groups, we soon become what we are in our own righteous spaces, to be a part and parcel of the interconnected world.

As a matter of fact, the notion of self-insight was to branch into the true nature of your very soul. A new start, especially one that requires not much in the way of income, experience or difficulty can nurture social well-being between the two or more parties.

There is always something for someone out there. As with the disinhibition effect, interpreting and justifying your actions is one thing, reflecting on it is another. The aftermath are the ideals we are soon to follow. Orson Scott Card summed it up aptly, where he says ‘In the moment when I truly understand my enemy, understand him well enough to defeat him, then in that very

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moment I also love him. I think it’s impossible to really understand somebody, what they want, what they believe, and not love them the way they love themselves. And then, in that very moment when I love them.... I destroy them.’

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Writing as Therapy for Depression

By Zuellen Beatrix Rivera Gasque, Naval Basa Secondary School

“i have depression” “just get over it.”

Fin. Curing depression is just as complex as finding out what depression really is and its root causes. Ranging from Electroconvulsive therapy, Psychotherapy and Antidepressants to lifestyle changes, hypnosis and acupuncture, there is no definite way to treat depression.

For many, writing is a way to express themselves freely, away from the prying eyes of the world around them. Or maybe, a platform to solve conventional problems of the world in an unconventional way.

For some, it’s a way to cope with the overwhelming numbness. A breath of air underneath the deep, dark, waters that seem to keep pulling you six feet under. A distraction as they pen down their thoughts, fingers twitching all while resisting the urge to reach for the shiny object that could cut their skin like butter. An anchor that grounds them as they peer down the edge from the 26th storey, imagining what a masterpiece they would create by painting the concrete ground red.

So, what is ‘Depression’ exactly?

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Scientifically, it might just be a result of neurotransmitters not functioning properly or a hormone imbalance in your body. A feeling of being overwhelmingly sad, a loss of interest in once enjoyable things, changes in appetite and sleeping patterns, or something that is more common than coronary heart disease, and found in over 50% of the suicide cases in the America alone.

But is that really it?

Could depression be staring blankly at the white ceiling, 3am in the morning, and praying for your exhausted self to just sleep? Could depression be being surrounded by the people you love and yet feeling so left out and alone? Could depression be the buzzing in your ear as you desperately try not to listen and succumb to the haunting thoughts that plague your mind?

Many people who suffer from depression turn to licensed professionals to get treatment for their depression and yet, so much more simply… don’t. Teens, especially, do not have the funds to pay for medication and/or treatment or fear seeking help, unwilling to be seen as ‘weak’. And so, they carry the burden on their own.

But, what if it didn’t have to be like that?

Writing–despite the backing up of therapists — is one of the more unconventional ways to treat depression. Antidepressants and Psychotherapy being the more conventional ones. Of course, neither of these treatments are more effective than the other as it all boils down to personal preference.

Many of us, if not, all of us, write. Whether it be grocery lists,

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journaling, writing novels, poems or prose. An array of benefits come with using writing as therapy for depression. Tensions being released as you aimlessly tickle the paper, free from the ever present voices in your mind, scribbling your thoughts and feelings on a Moleskine notebook with a 0.5mm pen, or breathing life into novels and poems fueled by your despair.

A plethora of testimonies–both online and offline–are the proof that. One such example is a blog posted in the website PsychologyToday. E. E. Smith talked about how the unexpected death of her husband drove her into depression. She talked about how writing has helped her overcome her depression, become a playwright and later on, a novelist.

And yet, i think i hit the point in life where, i’m just done. i cried, i fought, i tried, but everything is crashing down. my demons are screaming louder, trying to eat away the rest of me. and this time, i’m not going to fight back.

-(d.j.k)

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There are some that seal their fate on a scribbled on piece of paper that was meant to help them. Their sword that was meant to save, instead turned against them and became the reason for their execution.

Many famous artists–both living and deceased–have been riddled with depression. Mark Twain, Stephen King and J.K. Rowling, just to name a few.

A poet and an author, T.S. Eliot’s wife, Vivienne, suffered from migraines and depression, requiring a great deal of attention and care from Eliot. The stress and the marriage that “bought no happiness” made him develop the habit of drinking and smoking far often than he should probably have. Consequently, the writer himself eventually developed depression. It did, however, produce poems. Most notably, The Wasteland.

Sylvia Plath, one of the most iconic writers in the 20th century.

Plath had been suffering from chronic clinical depression for most of her adult life, relapsing into her final depressive episode in June 1962. During her last depressive episode, Plath was hit with a great burst of creativity, writing at least 26 of the compiled poems in Ariel near the end of her life. Sylvia Plath wrote a letter to her husband, Ted Hughes before committing and succeeding in her final suicide attempt.

The sudden passing of her mother followed by her half-sister two years after became the reason for Virginia Woolf’s nervous breakdowns. Woolf had severe bouts of mental illness and her diary after World War II began showed that the author was obsessed with death. The author soon committed suicide by drowning herself. But not before leaving a suicide note for her beloved

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husband.

Countless of lives are lost every day due to the mental illness called ‘Depression’ and many of them leave suicide notes–arguably, a form of writing as well – before they breathe their last. So then, would writing really be a cure for depression?

And can depression really be ‘cured’?

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PART SIX

NPS INTERNATIONAL SHCOOL ANURAG ROY

Conceived Perceptions: What Do My Social Media Pages Say About Me?

By Anurag Roy

In a world where technology has thrived to great heights, the art of social interaction has taken a turn to a completely new direction.

At this moment, the number of messages, likes, tweets, snaps and posts that are circulating around is a sheer indicator of how prominent and powerful Social Media has become. So powerful, that it has begun to dictate how we should ourselves to the world, and in result how others perceive us.

The power of social media has increased to such an extent that, what we post on social media, is in fact what we are in real life.

Do you think anyone nowadays would have the courage to post something that isn’t aesthetically pleasing, hilarious or highly informative? I don’t.

A post about meeting a celebrity, cruising around the oceans of Spain, or maybe even winning a trophy at a competition becomes the talk of the day the next morning in school. Classmates become intrigued about your whereabouts and activities; there occurs a strange increase in the number of people who approach you, and positivity is shown when conversing with you.

On the contrary, a post on how bad your day went, how poor your marks were or how much you got scolded by your parents, can give others the image that nothing positive is going on in your life and will tend to avoid interacting with you. Thus, a simple post can 70

have quite a drastic effect on how your day will turn out. And this is exactly why people become self-conscious of what they post.

It is very true that you should always be open about even your most inner thoughts, share it with the rest of the world, so that a constructive discussion can be held and a concrete conclusion can be brought forward.

However, there has to be a limit. Do you want to be the person who seems like they never leave their mobile phones for even a second? Commenting, posting and sharing every minute or so, can make you seem like an individual who has too much free time in their hands, which in turn leads to being negatively associated with laziness and slack. A healthy relationship with social media, means checking in twice to thrice during the day where you go about the various pages you follow and share your thoughts on various topics. Not too much or too little.

However, it is important to consider giving a thought before typing out that comment of yours. It is quite evident that with the exponential growth of social media, negativity has risen amongst the online community too. Will your post add to that negativity, or rather try to subside it?

A post in a fit of anger, or depression can result in regretting ever showing the post online. Worse, trying to highlight someone’s inadequacy through what they have posted may even cause more distress to the poster and the rest of the online community.

Moreover, other users can get a sense of your personality solely through what you have typed out, making it more important to phrase your thoughts in the right manner and avoiding negativity as a whole.

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Choose to post the joyous moments and as a result you will notice positivity reflected back at you. It is never too late to spread the message of positivity around, bring a smile to few people’s faces and in turn show that you are genuine as a person.

These days, however, social media heavily revolves around the world of politics, and it easy to find someone who is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum to your opinion. Donald trump, LBQT rights or death penalty, serious issues like this always have arguments from either side.

Social media gives us to power to express our views and hence try to make a difference, but while doing this we tend to forget in the end we are one community. Expressing our opinions in a strong fashion leads to losing friendships and relations, because it is one thing to have a strong opinion and another thing to be disrespectful. When others see you speaking about your opinions in a condescending manner, it creates this unsightly image of a user who is too caught up with the political world, that he is blind to see the real world out there.

Not everyone will be on your side, and nothing can change that. It is no use demeaning others, rather taking in their perspective too allows for a more concrete discussion. Communicate in a clear, cohesive manner so that all the recipients who read what you post won’t have a chance to misinterpret what you are trying to put across.

Thus, a social media page has indefinitely become a representation of a person’s personality. A page full of “selfies” ? Self-obsessed.

A page full of political opinions? A ranter. A page full of photos of other people? Self-conscious. A completely empty page? No life.

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These are just some of the labels that the social media community has created and none of them are pleasant. In a world where approval matters the most, social media pages also have to adapt in order to please social norms.

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PART SEVEN

SENG KANG SECONDARY SCHOOL FAHEEMA NUZHATH FOO YONG WEI EVELYN ISABELLA ROSALIND NIVRITHI GANESH

What I Am Grateful For

By Faheema Nuzhath, Seng Kang Secondary School

Most of us understand the real value of something only when it is gone. Almost all the time, we take things for granted. If only we would stop and take time out to reflect on what we have. There are so many things that we can be grateful for, even the smallest thing that we would not have thought of, like breathing. In fact, having gratitude is already something one can be grateful for. Not only does gratitude add happiness to our lives, it also gives us more in return.

Practising gratitude helps us to appreciate what we had, what we want and what we will continue to have. The idea of being grateful is similar to a genie that would grant us more than three wishes.

However, the similarity between being grateful and meeting a genie can only be realised when one learns how to appreciate the natural blessings in our lives. I am beginning to discover and understand the power of being grateful through my experiences about how it feels to have or not to have certain things in life.

There are various things that I am grateful for, and I do remind myself regularly of those things that I should be grateful for.

First and foremost, I am grateful for my family and friends. They are the real-life angels and superheroes that I always look up to.

They are the ones who make my life more meaningful and keep me going on in life. I consider each and every one of my loved ones a precious gem that I will never want to lose or trade away. Having 75

someone as a pillar of support, listening ear and going through the best and worst moments of my life together along with me is something that I consider to be truly blissful. Just like most parents, my parents expect the best out of me and they are the ones who shower me with unconditional love and are probably the only people on earth who would sacrifice anything for me just to see my happiness.

I am glad that I am growing up with two older brothers who always tease, play and fight with me. They teach me many life lessons and to always be a brave and bold girl. Another group of people that I am currently enjoying my life now with is my CCA batch mates. I did not expect or imagine that they would become more like family to me. I am so blessed to be surrounded by this group of people who have shaped me to become the person I am now.

Secondly, I am grateful for knowledge. I am grateful for being educated and also been given the opportunity to keep on developing and broadening my knowledge. I am truly glad to be going to a school, studying in a country with a good education system and for the voluminous amount of resources like books and other educational materials that are available to help us grow our knowledge. I am thankful for the teachers and others who impart knowledge to me. I am pleased that knowledge has allowed me to make independent decisions, differentiate between what is right and wrong, solve problems and advise others. The knowledge that I have obtained has helped me to understand and know what gratitude is.

Thirdly, I am thankful that I am alive and also healthy. Breathing normally, a normal heart rate, an efficient problem-solving brain, sharp vision, a good immune system‌all of these only possible

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because my organs are fortunately functioning well. I am glad to be free from many illnesses. Also, I am glad that there are many upcoming advancements in healthcare facilities and cures for many diseases. I learned the value of health and the importance of maintaining good health when I was down with a chickenpox.

The pain that accompanied my sickness made me realise the importance of staying healthy and cherish my welfare more.

Furthermore, I am grateful for my environment and surroundings.

I am grateful for having a roof over my head, sufficient amount of water and food, proper sanitary facilities, clean and comfortable clothes to wear, efficient transportation and a safe environment.

There are many less fortunate people who lack access to safe drinking water. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 2.1 billion people lack access to safe, readily available water at home. There are some who go through extreme hardships every day just to obtain water such as walking an average of 6km a day to collect water. I feel really blessed that I am able to access safe and clean water conveniently through the touch of a tap.

Lastly, I am grateful for the mistakes that I have made and the problems that I have faced. Yes, mistakes and problems. I am grateful for the mistakes that teach me many valuable lessons and I have gained deeper insights about how to prevent making the same mistakes again. I am glad that mistakes allow me to prove myself that I am trying and correcting them defines who I am.

Problems which are not stop signs but guidelines always help me to emerge as a better, stronger and a wiser person.

Gratitude can be found almost everywhere and anywhere. It depends on our perspectives and to what extent we are able to see the value of even the smallest things in life. Therein lies the secret

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to practising gratitude.

Learning to practice gratitude and appreciate life for what it is amidst our looming troubles is challenging. It will take time and effort to look at things closely and also developing a habit of reflecting, thanking and appreciating the things and people around us. Constantly reminding ourselves to practise mindfulness and be appreciative will help us to become more grateful people.

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What I Am Grateful For

By Foo Yong Wei Evelyn, Seng Kang Secondary School

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” – Marcus Tullius Cicero Gratefulness is often overlooked and ignored. However, it is the best way to add colour into our lives. We can be grateful for even the simplest things, such as thanking an aunty for clearing our table at a coffee shop. It is scientifically proven that gratefulness plays a strong role in positive psychology. To my dismay, it is a trend in Singapore to whine and bleat about every issue that arises. Instead, we can and should start to see the beauty in our everyday lives.

To begin with, I am grateful for the people I see every day: my family. Sometimes I find it difficult to convey my thoughts to my parents and have heated arguments with my siblings. In spite of that, I have to remember that they are the people who shape me and my future. They are the ones who teach me to express gratitude for our familial bonds. They are the ones that will leave the biggest impact and impression on me. They are my most loved and cherished.

Secondly, friends and adversaries alike, they all have virtues and shortcomings that we can learn from. When we open our eyes to the diversity that is in the people around us, superficial or not, we will begin to realise that they are the people who make our lives fascinating. Imagine a world with people that share the 79

same values, personalities and looks. Where would the fun and excitement be?

Continuing from my previous point, I find it difficult at times to appreciate and understand the opinions that differ from my own, as they question what I know or believe. Even so, it is important that I step back and look at what these opinions offer me. These perspectives of life come from various roots and experiences.

I would be limiting my mental growth if I were to ignore these alternate perspectives. Therefore, I am extremely grateful for having a community of allies and adversaries around me.

Thirdly, we can start learning to appreciate the things we interact with. If one loves music, one probably owns a pair of headphones. If one loves food, one probably has a stash of food around somewhere. These are privileges that we have, and that we should cherish. For me, I love my pencil a lot, because it does so much for me. It is able to write down my ideas and develop them into full-fledged stories, and draw little pictures on the side of my worksheets to cheer me on. As we enjoy the little luxuries of life, we should take a good close look at them and value these indulgences.

Additionally, in Singapore, we usually spend at least 10 years studying in school, and at least 40 years working. However, I can learn a lot more than just what is in the textbooks. In these educational institutes and workplaces, I can also pick up life-long lessons such as leadership, responsibility and resilience. These are lessons that will stay true, throughout my life, carving and moulding me as a person. For example, when my classmates refused to step up and take certain responsibilities, I decided to shoulder the responsibility. I am grateful for that chance, because without it, I

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would not have learnt that sometimes we need to rely on ourselves to get things done Lastly, I am grateful for the most important person in my life, myself. As the saying goes, “You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” When we look into the mirror, we like to spot the flaws in ourselves. Either we are not tall enough, not slim enough or not attractive enough.

Perhaps we can start telling ourselves otherwise. Instead of selfdeprecation, we can start selfappreciation. Show gratitude towards ourselves. Love and treasure ourselves. Because the only thing that we truly have is ourselves and our gift to live, love and long for more.

In the process of writing this essay, I asked many people what they were grateful for and it really opened my eyes to how these people feel. To my surprise, many of them said that they were grateful for me. My thoughts of me being useless were washed away completely when they said that to me. This really touched me.

What I think we can take away from this experience is that, we are cherished more than we think.

All in all, there are countless things we miss in our day-to-day lives that we should take a closer look at. We should really understand how much we would be missing out on without them. Let us start to look and focus at the things that we have, instead of the things that we lack. If we compare the handful of clean water in our hands to the ocean in front of us, we may fail to see that we can quench our thirst with what we have.

“Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.” –Margaret Cousins

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The Role of Youths in Shaping Tomorrow

By Isabella Rosalind, Seng Kang Secondary School

Do you know that the word youth comes from an Old English term geoguð that can be defined as ‘junior warriors’? The National Youth Council in Singapore, however, simply defines ‘youth’ as those between the ages of 15 and 35. Nelson Mandela once said: “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow”. Someday, youths will be the ones taking charge and leading the world. They will be the ones to shape the future. But what is the ‘future’?

The ‘future’, to me, means smarter, improved technology and inventions, like exhaust-free cars. It means creative and innovative breakthroughs in every field of study, like (hopefully) finding the cure for dementia. It means novel scientific discoveries, like unearthing a new underwater species in our mysterious, unexplored deep seas. My future world is groundbreaking.

I envision a world where tigers, orangutans, elephants, and other fauna at the verge of extinction can still be seen wandering around in lush green forests, filled with double the number of trees as they have now, where large groups of sea turtles can be found swimming freely in the oceans, and where polar bears roam in the vast amount of icebergs without a single worry of losing their natural habitat. In this world, Rafflesia flowers, orchids, and other endangered flora can be seen blooming in the wild, or maybe in new nature reserves and botanic gardens. My future world is a green Earth that is pulsating with life.

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The future I imagine is not only wonderful in terms of its technological, scientific and environmental aspects, but also socially. The future I see is a peaceful world, where humanity is not on the brink of war. I see a place where every single individual finally understands the importance of racial harmony. A place that is a safe haven for everyone, regardless of one’s race, nationality, or religion. The world that I imagine is just and fair. It is a place where there is gender equality, where everybody is a feminist. It is a place that is friendly to the LGBTQ+, where everyone believes that love is love. Moreover, it is a place where every person with disabilities truly feels accepted in the society. Above all, my future world is a peaceful world.

But how will we achieve this utopia? After all, we youths are only slightly grown-up children. We lack experience. But the world is constantly changing and we are the ones changing it. No matter our age, we all have some impact on the world. It is up to us to make use of our voice responsibly, for causes that we believe in.

To believe that we can make a difference is the first step towards contributing to the shaping of the future. To take action and make the difference is the second step. We can always start small, like making changes in our school or community, which can then influence our country too. Let us take a look at some youths who have managed to make an impact on the causes that they believe in, and be inspired to start a change!

First of all, you must have heard of the dauntless Malala Yousafzai and her story, but it is worth telling twice. Since she was young, Malala has always believed that the young girls in Pakistan should be granted educational rights, a belief that goes against the Taliban’s. She then became an activist and participated in numerous

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campaigns. One day, the members of the Taliban shot 15-yearold Malala in the head in an attempt to kill her, while she was on her way home from school. Thankfully, she survived the attack, which put her and her cause in the world’s spotlight. Millions of people then signed a petition, leading to the establishment of Right to Education Pakistan bill. In 2014, Malala became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for her valiant efforts. Today, she is still actively campaigning for girls’ rights to education around the world.

Next up is Easton LaChappelle. Easton, then 14-year-old, built his first robotic hand with LEGOs, fishing wires, and electrical tubing.

Through lots of modifications, he turned the hand into RoboArm, an advanced robotic arm that is made using the 3Dprinting tool.

He was inspired by his previous encounter with a 7-year-old girl with a prosthetic hand that had cost $80,000. Determined to help others who cannot afford such pricey devices, he decided to turn his prototype into an affordable and fully functional prosthetic limb, which cost under $1,000. Furthermore, instead of keeping the designs to himself and making a large sum of money, he made them available to the public online. Doing this would allow larger companies with more resources to use his designs and bring the product to market, making the products more readily available to the people who need them.

Last comes Emma Watson, a feminist activist who is also a famous actress. Despite being busy with her career, Watson, then 24 years old, was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations (UN) Women, the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and empowerment of women. In 20 September 2014, she gave a sincere speech on feminism at the UN headquarters, and helped to launch the HeForShe campaign, which aims to take action to create

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a gender equal world. Emma provides a great example of how one who has broad influence on the youth could use their voice for a good cause.

These youths’ stories are merely a few out of the many. As extraordinary as they are, they do not mean that one must do extraordinary things in order to contribute to the shaping of the future. Showing support and participating in other youths’ movements is also an important role anyone can play.

With this, I wish to reiterate: although we youths may be inexperienced, our actions can still make an impact on the world. A small stone can still cause many ripples. Taking action today is how we will shape tomorrow.

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

By Nivrithi Ganesh, Seng Kang Secondary School

For many people born into an Asian family, the idea of being an engineer or doctor is drilled into us more often than not. Following our passion has never been an option, unless it’s known to lead to a successful career. However, even if we could follow our passion, would we? Sometimes, even with a passion that burns brightly, we cannot turn it into a career for reasons outside our control, or, perhaps we realise that pursuing our passion at one hundred percent every day is too difficult. It takes a lot out of us, and ties our entire sense of worth into our work. Even though it is not for everyone, I still strongly believe that with grit, motivation and the right attitude, we can turn our dreams into a reality, rather than simply nodding our heads to our parents’ desires and beliefs.

Many critics have made robust arguments that “follow your passion” is bad advice. Many questions pop up. Would it still be my passion if I had to do it daily to put food on the table? Is the thing I am passionate about related to a skill that I have, that I want to develop, and that is needed in the market? Having firm answers to all of these questions before I even get started is not necessary, they claim, but in a world where bills must be paid, vast sums of student loans must be paid off, and competition is fierce, it is dangerous advice to neglect the more subtle nuances and practical implications of setting out to get paid to do what I love.

Secondly, and more importantly, it is said that “follow your 86

passion” is not helpful because it makes it sound so easy. Finding meaningful work is anything but easy. It’s hard, it takes years, and it takes serious commitment to the cause. It may mean many late nights battling fear and anxiety, doubting my self-worth, wondering if I am crazy or naive or unrealistic for pursuing the path I’ve chosen, having dangerously low bank accounts for much longer than I would have anticipated, until I figure out how to get my finances back on track.

However, even though it is stated and warned that finding and holding onto meaningful work is a complicated endeavour, I strongly believe that if there’s a will, there definitely will be a way.

With hard work, determination and effort, one will surely pull through. The results, success and income will certainly not come overnight. As the quote goes, “Money doesn’t buy happiness”, I strongly believe that choosing profession as a path will not give me happiness, even if it puts food on my table. What will truly make me happy, and motivate me to strive for the best and never give up, is doing what I love–choosing my passion.

“Why should I choose my passion?” You may ask. Undoubtedly, the more enthusiastic and proud I am of the work I do, the better equipped I’ll be to overcome the many obstacles that will surely arise in the process of starting a business or moving up in a career.

With more enthusiasm, I will be more inclined to work harder at improving myself. This will allow me to continuously get better at the work I do. The better I get at my work, the better I can get paid for doing it. Ensuring that I am passionate about my work will not only provide me with a meaningful career, but it will also give me a good chance of being paid well, thus being able to put food on the table. The passion we have for our work can be the difference between making a living and making a killing.

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Take for example, Apple’s ex-CEO, the late Steve Jobs. Carmine Gallo wrote an article titled, “The Seven Success Principles of Steve Jobs,” which outlines seven key factors that are responsible for Jobs’ success. Believe it or not, the Number 1 principle in this article is, “do what you love.” Steve Jobs believed in the power of passion, and once said, “People with passion can change the world for the better.” Steve Jobs claimed that the passion he had for his work made all the difference.

Another prominent example would be Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. The billionaire has changed the world we live in. In David Kirkpatrick’s book, “The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of The Company That is Connecting the World”, David Kirkpatrick lists what he believes are Mark Zuckerberg’s ingredients for success.

One of these ingredients is to follow your passion–not money.

Mark Zuckerberg suggests to “follow your happiness,” and explains that even if you don’t end up making a fortune, you’ll at least be doing what you love. Hence, with so many examples of successful people following their passions and making fortunes, and most importantly, gaining happiness, shouldn’t we too feel empowered to chase after our dreams? After all, we are doing what our hearts desire.

To recapitulate, following one’s passion may be bad advice to those who believe that they do not have what it takes to burn the midnight oil to work hard to make things work, or simply to those who are not self-driven enough to persevere to chase their dreams, even if things do not work out in their favour. However, I stick to my guns strongly that following our passion is a path we should take as it makes us happier individuals, who will acquire a sense of purpose, especially when we get to add more value to the world we live in. Our dreams can manifest into reality.

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PART EIGHT

TANJONG KATONG GIRLS' SCHOOL CHENG YOU NING SEAH SHI QI CHEYANNE TAILOR MAITRI

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What Does It Take to Succeed in Life?

By Cheng You Ning, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

Success in life is what most people desire, success being defined as a person’s ability to fulfil his or her dreams of excelling in and attaining substantial societal recognition and influence as well as affluence financially, regardless of race, religion, nationality or ethnicity. While everyone is born to unequal opportunities due to different circumstances, it is still possible for one to emerge successful in life if one possesses certain qualities or attributes.

This essay shall now attempt to explore some attributes one must possess should he or she wish to succeed in life.

An attribute that is pivotal to success is adaptability. As quoted by the late Bruce Lee, “All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside all fixed patterns.”

Adaptability is the ability to be open to and adjust to situations that are out of one’s comfort zone. Being welcoming and open to change allows one to reach for greater heights and obtain success.

The 21st century is an AVUCA world, also known as being an Accelerated, Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous world.

In the face of this ever-changing world, only change is constant and dependable. With change, one will be put in the most unlikely and uncomfortable situations. Many a time, these situations are what trigger and propel one to explore the boundaries of his or her limits, hence promoting growth. Therefore, those who can embrace the volatile nature of the world we live in as well as thrive 90

in it will succeed. This attribute was possessed by the late Helen Keller. Born a normal child, it came as devastating news to Keller’s parents when she was afflicted with an illness at the tender age of 19 months that left her deaf and blind. In spite of her unfavourable situation, Keller demonstrated awe-inducing resilience by adapting to her unfortunate circumstances with astonishing speed.

With the help of her fiercely dedicated teacher, Anne Sullivan, Keller mastered several communication methods such as touch-lip reading and Braille. She graduated from college and went on to help many other underprivileged and disabled people through her social activism work. She received much honour and recognition for her amazing work. Her monumental achievements certainly attest that she was successful. Keller achieved all of these feats due to her ability to adapt to her blindness and deafness. Keller stands as a powerful example of how adaptability can allow an individual to triumph over adversity and succeed.

Secondly, determination is a necessity to succeed in life. As quoted

by Mark Twain, “Begin with the determination to succeed and the work is half done already.” One simply cannot succeed if they do not have the willpower or drive to overcome all obstacles dealt by life, in order to pursue their goals and achieve their long awaited dream of success.

Take for instance Nick Vujicic, the inspirational motivational speaker who was born with no arms or legs. Born without the ability to walk or care for his basic needs, Vujicic was unlikely to obtain success in life due to limitations caused by his physical conditions.

However, Vujicic’s determination to succeed gave him the courage to combat the many struggles he faced, such as depression and loneliness. He eventually emerged victorious in the face of the

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hardships that life dealt him. His determination served as an innate motivation for himself. Vujicic’s drive gave the young evangelist the courage to do what most would consider him incapable of, such as painting, fishing and swimming. In addition, Vujicic now travels around the world, sharing his story to millions of people. He is well known around the world and has millions of people looking up to him as he has accomplished almost inconceivable feats for a man without limbs. Vujicic has obtained substantial societal recognition and influence, propelling him to be the role model to many youths today. Nick Vujicic certainly proves that with a strong will and unbreakable mettle, there is a way for one to succeed in life.

Thirdly, perseverance is another essential factor in achieving success. Perseverance is the constantly continuous dedication of one’s time, effort and resources into achieving one’s goal despite the setbacks. Perseverance is an unrelenting attitude to not give in to setbacks, hardships or failures. This virtue requires discipline of the mind and body, allowing a person to exercise the positive attitude to repeatedly try again, finally obtaining success of the best kind.

As quoted by Julie Andrews, “Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.” Thomas Alva Edison was an inventor who invented the lightbulb. Edison faced hearing difficulties. As such, he faced much challenges in communicating with others, however he did not give up. Edison developed his first invention at 22 years old, and thus embarked on his journey as an Inventor. His road to making his first successful invention was full of failures. He faced monetary issues, and was met with rejection from potential investors. However, Edison was unrelenting and persevered through every setback that he faced during his many attempts to successfully invent the lightbulb. He repeatedly challenged

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the process after every failed attempt, eventually developing the perfect formula for the lightbulb. Edison’s unwavering perseverance was the key to his success, allowing him to be a leading inventor for technological advancements in the 19th century. His numerous inventions helped to pave the way for the betterment of mankind.

Edison’s story proves that “Fire is the test of gold and adversity is the test of man”. His unquestionable success was due to his perseverance.

In a nutshell, there are many different qualities that one would perceive to be contributing factors for success, with adaptability, determination and perseverance as crucial factors that map out the success route. I strongly believe that youths who have these three traits will go far in life and obtain success by their own merits and by their own definitions of success, and in turn, help to construct the future for generations to come.

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

By Seah Shi Qi, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

Youth is the time where our futures can be made to come true in our dreams. It is the time in which everything and anything is possible should we will it. It is the age to dream, hope and live to see a better tomorrow. Indeed, no segment of society can match the boundless idealism, hope and enthusiasm that youths have for their dreams.

However, as with every stage of life, our youth is fraught with decisions that impact our future. Many often say that youth is the stage in which our choices have the longest lasting impact on our lives. Living in a region that is distinctly becoming more globalised yet retaining its Asian roots, youths constantly ask; what is the definition of a good job?

The Asian society’s stereotype would say that it is a stable, wellpaying and respectable job. However, the global mindset is that any career that fits the individual’s passion is a good job. ASEAN youths from every age and background now face this inevitable question: Should I pick to follow my passion or take up a profession? My answer is to make our passion our profession or find passion in our profession.

Should we choose to follow where our passion leads, it is a path of the unknown. Living in the moment, some youths are prone to seeing only the immediate effects of their actions, and not the 94

intermediate. Choosing to stay true to their emotions and what they love brings much joy to youths to the detriment of planning for a ‘safe and secure’ future. There are many examples to see across the vast spectrum of youths choosing to take the path of an uncertain but passionate life following their interests. There are many who choose to take this leap of faith, to stake their youth on following their passions who are rewarded.

We have often seen the success stories: Walt Disney whose love of drawing led him to unsuccessfully found many animation companies before drawing Mickey Mouse; along with countless others from all fields of careers. Following their passion is a trope often immortalised in films documenting their successes. However, taking this path is not without its perils. There are many who fall short of reaching the other side of the leap of faith: college students taking art degrees but failing to sell their masterpieces and provide for themselves when they enter the workforce, musicians pursuing higher education in music failing to join professional orchestras or become music professors. Science PhD holders being unable to stay long in research firms as researchers or failing to publish their theses in renowned science publications.

The stories of youths failing in their endeavour to reach the profession of their passion are often untold.

There is another road youths can choose to take: entering a safe profession. What is a ‘safe’ profession? It is a job that provides economic and social security. In short, a job that ensures a comfortable lifestyle, pays the bills and reaps many benefits. Some examples of typical safe professions are; Engineers and architects, medical specialists and surgeons, lawyers and attorneys, bankers and financial managers to name a few.

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These jobs are well recognised to pay a sizable salary and raise one’s socioeconomic status (SES).

Numerous youths choose to study for university degrees and educational qualifications to get these high paying jobs and thus, ensure their comfort and socioeconomic status elevated to a higher standing. Likewise, the number of youths pursuing profession only to fall short of gaining the profession that would provide them this security is large due to the tremendous competition. Even if the job is attained, at what cost would it have been? The youth gaining it might have had to sacrifice his passion for a job he or she may loathe doing, even if it reaped great rewards.

Making the difficult choice between passion or profession is an issue of identity. Will youths prioritise material wealth over immaterial happiness? Should youths choose material wealth and a secure, comfortable lifestyle, they are often realists; placing practicality over everything else. If chasing passion and thus, happiness is the choice youth makes, they are easily satisfied in being happy and living for simple joys.

As a youth myself, I would choose to marry together both passion and profession. By becoming a professional and entwining or finding our passion in our career, we have the best of both extreme outcomes. We can use our passion to fuel our drive to do our best in our profession.

Now, with a stable vocation in which we can find joy in, youths can support themselves in terms of their socioeconomic status while finding happiness in what they do. While those who choose to find a balance within passion and profession may or may never reach the heights of success that their accomplished counterparts on the

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extreme ends of the spectrum of passion and profession, they find the best match of both extremes to match their situation.

This not only lets youths find the “perfect zone� to love and work hard in their careers, it gives them a sense of purpose and ambition to strive and surpass their goals in their fields of work. The parity in having the perfect ratio of content and yet zeal to reach greater heights will not place extreme stress and unhappiness on the young adult.

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Which Path Should I Take: Passion or Profession?

By Tailor Maitri, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School

In the 21st century, with a global human population of 7 billion, it is almost impossible to earn a stable income and a rank because of the fast-paced life we are living as well as the competition. In fact, the world is a separate society on its own and people’s ranks are usually determined by their economic status, profession and popularity. In spite of how difficult it is to earn it, every one of us wants to be recognised and appreciated. We want to be able to make our mark on this planet and be remembered. We do this by taking a path, for example getting a job, which might define us as a person. This decision is mostly influenced by a person’s passion and their profession.

Passion is where a person experiences an extravagant interest, enthusiasm or a compelling desire for something. It can be an emotion so strong that it can drive us to the edge of insanity if we are restraint from doing something we are passionate about. Yet, passion can act as a driving mechanism that can help us achieve our goals in life. Come to think of it, it is like an adrenaline rush.

Passion is an amazing sensation that brings an individual pleasure, joy and satisfaction. When we are passionate about something, we feel compelled to do it regardless of the consequences. Passion is a means by which people express their strong emotions such as anger, trepidation, hatred and even despair. However, many people do something they are passionate about to show their happiness.

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Passion is an important factor in every human being’s life.

Everyone’s life revolves around their endurance of their passion. It is a test and obstacle we all face every single day.

Profession, whereas, is usually associated with a paying occupation that requires a prolonged training and a formal qualification. It might not be something a person is interested in although they are good at it. It can be a job that a person loathes. However, a profession is a necessity for every individual so that they can earn enough to suffice for their basic needs. It helps us cope and earn a stable lifestyle. Therefore, many are compelled to pick their profession for a brighter future. A person’s profession can also determine his or her rank in a society. It is a race everyone is running every day to survive.

Although, passion and profession are two very different things, it is bound together by one word: mind-set. An individual’s mind-set can change his or her perspective of a happy, stable life. A person can be sure that he or she will be happy and stable by taking the path of their passion and earning less as it is their mindset.

A person could even decide that he or she will be happier and have a more productive life by taking the path of their profession as their mind-set of a ‘happy life’ is one where they are quite wealthy. Such a mindset would make them do what would be more logical and produce a more fruitful outcome. Therefore, many times, passion is the sacrifice people make for their profession as they are unwilling to take the risk that comes with it.

When an individual comes to the stage where he or she is required to make the decision of which path to choose, they make a decision which could be based on factors such as their moralities,

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values and even their upbringing. Sometimes, a person might be unwilling to take a risk but is strongly passionate about an activity like travelling.

A person can try achieving this in quite a few ways. Travelling needs quite a lot of funding and so a person can work in his profession for a period of time until he has enough money to fulfil his passion for travelling. Alternatively, the same person could take up a job in his profession which could allow him to travel a lot as well.

However, in some cases, as one foregoes his passion for his profession, over time his passion could change and become his profession. Hence, a person’s profession is crucial to help them financially.

This is not to say that one’s passion can never become a successful career and profession. An example of a person like that would be Sachin Tendulkar. He is an Indian cricketer. He is an idol for many people in India and they worship him for his talent and extreme success.

At a young age, Tendulkar already developed a deep passion for cricket and it had made him make a decision at a very young age of developing a career at only fourteen. Fate toyed with him twice, when he was rejected for the “Best Junior Cricket Award” and also when he tried to train as a fast bowler but was told fast bowling was not for him. Yet, his passion for cricket had driven him to try harder the third time; perhaps luck was on his side.

This was his boost of encouragement and therefore now he has made it this far in life, earning thousands of dollars. Now, he has earned the title of being India’s wealthiest cricketer. This proves 100

that a person’s passion can become his successful career as well as his well renowned profession.

In conclusion, although passion and profession can be two different things for a person, in my opinion, these two strong abilities and feelings should go hand in hand when a person chooses a path to take for his future. After all, every black and white picture is only lacking in colour because no one filled it in with colours. Like Oprah Winfrey once said, “Let passion drive your profession.”

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ABOUT US

All In! Young Writers Festival All In! Young Writers Festival is an annual gathering for aspiring writers between the ages of 12 and 25.

It brings together a wide array of writing mentors and industry players in publishing, broadcasting, blogging, creative and genre writing, screenwriting and journalism, among others, to meet, mingle and share their expertise with today’s young writers. The Festival intends to highlight successful industry players who have chosen writing careers and show the paths they took to get there.

Starting off as a one-day event in 2009, we only dreamed that All In! would become as broad and as exciting as it is today, with a packed programme covering different fields of writing and related activities.

The Festival hopes that its varied programming is able to inspire and entice more young people to develop their love for writing.

Moving forward, the Festival sees itself as a platform that brings together professionals and students in a mesh of shared discussions, while creating opportunities to extend collaborations beyond the festival dates. It hopes that more attendees will leverage the networking platform and opportunities for interaction that All In! gives its delegates.

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The Book Council

Singapore Book Council (SBC) (formerly the National Book Development Council of Singapore) is a charity founded in 1968 and is currently chaired by Ms Claire Chiang, co-founder of Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts.

SBC’s vision is to Build Our Imagine-nation by developing creativity, imagination and original thought through writing, reading, illustrating and storytelling. Its mission is to fulfil this vision through books and literary art events, workshops, and awards.

Over the years, SBC has been at the forefront of the literary arts scene in Singapore, having played an instrumental role in the Festival of Books, National Reading Month, and many other key initiatives. SBC supports the community at all levels, from language programmes and books for children, to aspiring individuals and professionals like writers, illustrators, storytellers and relevant industry partners by providing a platform to learn, network and collaborate.

It also organises events to foster professional and community engagement like the annual Asian Festival of Children’s Content and All In! Young Writers Festival, and grants prestigious awards, like the Singapore Literature Prize, to recognise and encourage excellence.

In support of its goal to become a hub for Asian Content for the world, and encouraging stories to be told across platforms, SBC offers publishing-related and literary arts-focused courses and workshops to enhance skills and encourage lifelong learning 104

through its training arm, the Academy of Literary Arts and Publishing. SBC also offers aspiring writers advice on publishing via its Writers Lounge through consultations in person, email or over the phone.

Through telling our own stories by writing or illustrations, it promotes understanding, impacts legacy and connects Asia with the world.

Because it all starts with a story. www.bookcouncil.sg

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Launched iin 2016, YOUTHspeak features student academic essays on a variety of topics.

Guided by their teachers as mentors, the papers promote critical thinking, while allowing young writers to explore their understanding of how the youth are affected by both internal and external factors such as their visions of the future, social media mobility, and where they believe the youth stands in this ever-changing world.

This book is the third compilation of essays submitted for the competition.