The young and the reckless?

How far will youth today go for ‘thrills’ such as illegal driving or underage sex? YouthInk writers speak up.
A result of poor parental supervision?
IN ANY age, youth will always rebel against authority and seek thrills for the fun of it.
My generation might go for such thrills as illegal driving or unprotected sex, but I am [...]

S’poreans v the ‘outsiders’

Why are some S’poreans so unwelcoming towards foreigners? YouthInk writers speak up.
Contributing in their own way
SOME weeks ago, I was immensely annoyed with a construction worker from China working on the lift outside my flat.
He was shouting at the top of his voice in a thick incomprehensible accent, disturbing my enjoyment of the Olympics’ table [...]

Exams, rankings, stress – isn’t there more to school?

YouthInk writers wonder what it will take to bring some balance into the school system.
Why must life be a competition?
I ONCE met a trumpet player from the United States and asked him which competitions his school band had taken part in. Stunned, he replied: ‘Not everything in life is a competition.’
It was inconceivable to me [...]

Elderly cleaners – Is it a choice or a necessity?

Are elderly cleaners an inevitable consequence of an ageing society? YouthInk writers weigh in on the issue.
It reflects badly on us
MANY elderly people choose to return to the workforce because they do not have the means to retire comfortably.
Some prefer an active working life to retirement.
However, rather than offering back-breaking jobs such as cleaners, other [...]

Wanted: Heart and soul for Singapore’s next PM

What makes the perfect political leader? YouthInk writers weigh in.
Empathise, be humble
IT IS a given that the political leader of this country has to be of an excellent intellectual pedigree.
But brains aside, there should be a more human face shown by the holders of political office.
Empathy ought to be on top of Singaporeans’ wish list [...]

Rising prices: Here’s food for thought

YouthInk writers weigh in on how to eat well on a budget.
Creativity keeps you from going bananas
THE rising cost of food has hit many people worldwide, not least frugal overseas students.
Cyclone Larry’s attack on Queensland two years ago caused the price of bananas in Australia to rise to a whopping A$14 (S$18) per kg.
During that [...]

Soft skills matter – but are they more important than good grades?

Employers have spoken. They want soft skills. Problem is, just what exactly is that? YouthInk writers consider the prospects.
Employers should get creative
I DISAGREE with the notion of soft skills defining the employability of an individual.
Soft skills differ from person to person, as much as talents do. I do not believe there is any one proven [...]

Is there a need to increase public transport fares?

It was announced that MRT fares will be unchanged but bus fares will go up by one to two cents on Oct 1. Youth give their views.
Published
Nationalise public transport sector
THE current economic structure of our public transport industry results in private operators focusing on pursuing profit.
These operators should be commissioned as statutory boards.
As autonomous government [...]

How 9/11 has affected S’pore youths

On the eve of the sixth anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, YouthInk writers consider the impact on their lives.
Published
Numbed by media attention
THE constant media onslaught in recent years covering terrorist events, from car bombs in Iraq to anthrax scares in the United States, has numbed us to the facts.
The [...]