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Life for young people in sg was better in the past than it is today (OV) Life was less stressful and moved at a slower pace in the past. There was less competitiveness in the society then. Students have packed schedules of tuition, school, and enrichment classes, to the extent that they have little time left to enjoy other activities. Higher stress is linked with not only physical but also psychological ailments like depression, hence the incidences of young people committing suicide due to inability to cope with studies, relationships etc.
In the past, education was a simple process, there was no streaming, ranking of schools, or other initiatives which would apparently increase the level of stress in students. The burden of university loans and proportion of income that has to be spent on necessities have become more oppressive than ever It is increasingly challenging to make decisions and commit to them as young people are inundated with the pressures of adult life, the access to a variety of opportunities lead to increasing uncertainty about the future.
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“ Ok, let me say I’m extremely satisfy with the result while it was a last minute thing. I really enjoy the effort put in. ”
Yet, it is an undeniable fact that the youths today not worse off in any aspect than those in the past.
One common argument is that youths today are under much more pressure to succeed due to parental pressure as well as pressure from social media. As such, many youths today are studying, day in day out, “mugging”, as they affectionately termed, evident from the fact that Singapore’s tuition industry is one of the world’s most lucrative.
They have little or no free time for themselves, resulting in low quality of life as their recreational and spiritual needs are not met. Unlike the carefree days in the past, when times were simpler and there was no need to live up to expectations of self and others. Hence, I concede to Singaporean youths having it worse than those in the past due to pressures to do well. Young people today have unprecedented access to knowledge and information. The Internet has provided a plethora of information across almost all of areas of knowledge, making informed decisions more accessible. Education standards have improved greatly to the extent of recognition by the United States, a global power, for its teaching methods, especially in the field of mathematics.
With effective and up-to-date teaching materials and methods, the Ministry of Education (MOE) ensures that the education system produces skilled and competent youths who are able to actively participate in the society and the economy. This is evident from Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 5.5% in 2011, which has been sustained since 2005. Many educational initiatives were introduced to empower the young in this modern age. (EG IT master plan). Edusave accounts and subsidies are given to allow more students to take up enrichment courses. With economic growth, the youth are able to enjoy better amenities and higher standard of living due to the surplus in the nation’s earnings. High education standards also allow better opportunities to undertake well-paid jobs because Singapore’s education system does not only emphasise on knowledge accquisation, but also the development of the twenty-first century skills, increasing the competitiveness of the youth in Singapore. As such, the youth in Singapore are better able to compete in the global market and are able to enjoy high standards of living, much higher than those in the past. Some say that the working environment was less competitive and job requirements were less demanding.
While I will not deny that though jobs are more specialised today, people will need to be able to multi-task in order to stand out among the rest. Now, more jobs require advanced skills and fewer high-paying factory jobs require a little more than a high school diploma. The influx of foreign labour and foreign talent further increase the intense competitiveness in Singapore now, making it more difficult for young people today to find jobs. Foreign talents including expatriates may cause youths, or fresh university graduates to be unable to find jobs, and thus be unable to pay for their university loans, making life tougher today as compared to the past. However, there is a fairer working system today based on meritocracy that gives equal opportunities to females and the minorities. Moreover, the unemployment rate in Singapore has actually decreased to 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 2.0% in the third quarter of 2014. The cost of living is lower in the past as compared to the present. Higher costs manifest through GST increase and transport hikes, etc. Young people are also consumers of certain goods and services which have costs increasing over the years like movie ticketsIn the present society, despite material wealth and comfort, children forced to grow up faster due to parental neglect.
Family ties were stronger in the past, as there were larger families, and thus more adults to see to the need of the youth. With Singapore’s declining birth rate, people have on the average only one or two children, and single children may feel more lonely and dependent on their parents. Moreover, with access to social media now, stories of fame and success are all but the same, about money. Young people in the past were contented with the simple pleasures and entertainment in life. Young people today are induced to think that being successful, having money and fame is what matters. They no longer appreciate non-tangible side of success, such as strong familial ties and a good moral upstanding.
They have a greater dissatisfaction with life and believe that there is a better way of living, which in turn makes young people today keep their options open in hopes of something better in terms of career choices or personal relationships. 2 Life for young people in sg was not better in the past than it is today (SV) The modernization and growth of Singapore’s economy due to globalisation has enabled people today to bask in material satisfication, comfort, wellness and protection. There are more opportunities open to different sectors of the youth population. (The age of technological dominance. ) Young people have inherited a world that is acutely aware of human rights and equality among people.
After the era of colonization, revolutions and 2 world wars, young people today enjoy an unprecedented standard of welfare protection, voting rights and rights to education. There is more gender equality, many women are part of Singapore’s workforce. People today enjoy a cleaner environment and have proper sanitation and enjoy good physical health. Improvements in health standards due to technological advancements in medical science has brought about more comfort which may not have been readily available back in the past. Today, general practioners are located in the hearts of every estate and neighbourhood, providing easy access to medication and consultations. Children today are vaccinated against many diseases which have previously endangered and taken the lives of many children in impoverished states. There is little worry that any ailments or nasty symptoms experienced cannot be treated due to the advanced medical science in Singapore now.
There is an undisputable argument that health standards today contributes to better lives for young people. The high standards of living today leads to a lower infant mortality rate, and more young people own branded goods and make use of services of higher quality like eating in restaurants. Many young working adults also own credit cards, making it very easy to spend. They own state-of-the-art gadgets, toys, branded apparel and have domestic helpers to tend to their every beck and call. There is little need to fear for safety due to the general stability of the country and harmonious society. Young people today enjoy rich and diverse experiences and have many choices and variety in what they do.
Technology gives many benefits and comforts, many choices in recreational and entertainment activities such as TV programmes. There are many computer and online games to keep ourselves entertained in the comfort of an air-conditioned room, with fast food and snacks to munch on. Good standard of living, more joy. Though life may appear more stressful now, the range of entertainment and leisure activities that young people can choose to engage in has increased. People are more able and willing to pamper themselves.
Youth in Singapore: Evolving Challenges Amidst Advancements. (2016, Sep 15). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/life-for-young-people-essay
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