How does your school ‘brand’ you?

Values, not brand name
I SPENT my junior college days in Hwa Chong, a notably premier institution whose achievements include having produced 49 President’s Scholars – a record among junior colleges here.
But what matters more to me are the values it inculcated in me.
My identity stemmed greatly from its can-do mindset, and I was constantly encouraged [...]

Female Ministers: Glass ceiling broken?

Meritocracy should come first
WHILE gender equality is an important aspect of a modern, developed society, it cannot and should not be at the expense of meritocracy.
Which is why the Government should be commended on how it has slowly but surely worked women into and up the rungs, rather than indulge in popular appeal and [...]

Service jobs: Menial or rewarding?

Nothing wrong with service jobs
AFTER working part-time at an ice cream shop for almost a year to supplement my income, I see nothing wrong with work in the service sector.
Despite having to stand for seven to eight hours four days a week, plus the less than glamorous cleaning duties and having to work on some [...]

Jury’s out on Net effect of online engagement

The power of new media
THE recent liberalisation of rules governing political activity in cyberspace not only signals the Government’s recognition of its influence on younger voters, but is also a tacit admission that tight regulation of the Internet is impossible.
New media is the most effective way in engaging us, as it is an integral part [...]

It may be time to rethink how we relate to foreigners

One in four Singapore residents is a foreigner. How are Singaporeans grappling with new stereotypes? Youthinkers weigh in.
Can’t tar all with same brush
IN THE hostel where I stay at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), female students share a toilet, and I have spent two of the past three years cleaning up after the Chinese nationals I [...]

What price for a pound of flesh?

YouthInk writers give their take on whether human organs should be traded.
Allow it, but regulate it
AS A young doctor, it is not difficult to take one side of this debate, especially after witnessing first-hand the suffering and scepticism of patients on an organ transplant waiting list.
It is frustrating not to be able to save a [...]

Should fringe event conform to mainstream standards?

The Complaints Choir aborted its recent public performances after the Media Development Authority said foreign members could not perform. Here’s what YouthInk readers think of the issue.
Dealing with a double-edged sword?

SECURITY, stability and sovereignty are the apparent watchwords of Singapore’s governance.
Sovereignty, I dare suggest, was the issue behind the Media Development Authority’s (MDA) decision to [...]

Work as service staff? Thanks, but no thanks

Seven out of 10 jobs that go unfilled are in the service sector. Why do Singaporeans shun these tasks?
Long hours, low pay, rude customers
I CAN’T visualise Singaporeans being in the service sector – we just don’t smile enough.
The job is demanding – long hours, subsistence pay and irregular shift work.
The only time that I’ve worked [...]

What price ‘posh’ public housing? Homing in on the issue

The latest public housing comes at a premium, but YouthInk writers wonder if the cost is worth it.
Going beyond the basics
THE humble, historical background of the Housing and Development Board (HDB) differs significantly from the new and niche flats of the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS).
Some would argue that the latter goes against the [...]

Is tech getting too intrusive?

YouthInk readers debate the pros and cons of portable video technology.
Published
Impose laws
PORTABLE video technology has empowered individuals to capture media evidence and broadcast it to a larger audience, with little or no censorship.
Like a double-edged sword, some use it to report crimes and make newsworthy contributions, while others abuse it through sensationalism, voyeurism, violence (as [...]