The UrbanWire

A recent conversation between my close friend (let’s call her X) and I went something like this:

X: Would you live elsewhere if you could?
Me: In a heartbeat.
X: So, what’s holding you back?
Me: My family, the food, my friends, um. Did I mention the food?
X: You mentioned ‘food’ twice.

Then, it suddenly hit me like a brick. I’ve got no personal bond to this country and I’m not alone in my thinking, even with all the nationalistic fervour gearing up to fever pitch with the coming National Day celebrations.

A 2007 survey conducted by Singapore Polytechnic found that “37 per cent of Singaporean youths say they are not patriotic. In fact, more than half want to migrate overseas if given a chance” (Forss, P., 2007, para. 2).

This is further substantiated by the recent Straits Times’ Saturday special report, which found that 1,000 Singaporeans give up their citizenship annually. Many cite the hectic and competitive lifestyle as the main reasons why they can no longer bear to sweat it out here.

Now, the notion of emigration is, of course, nothing new. Singaporeans have been seeking greener pastures abroad for the longest time. But what’s alarming about these figures now, is the fact that “for every 1 Singaporean who leaves”, at least 6 foreigners take his/her place (Seah, C. N., para.11).

If this phenomenon goes on, this country’s going to be void of Singaporeans and will become home instead, to the foreigners – a situation truly unique to Uniquely Singapore.

Singaporeans, you ask, what Singaporeans?

Well, I don’t know about you but I’d certainly hate to see this happen. It scares me to realise that I’ve got nothing pulling me back here except for the presence of my loved ones and food.

Believe me when I say that I do love this country in all its tiny glory but I really could do without participating in the crazy paper chase.

To borrow a line from Barack Obama, current Democratic presidential nominee, “the big house and the nice suits and the other things that our money culture says you should buy… betrays a poverty of ambition”.

How very true. The pursuit of narrow self-interest serves only to create a life of shallowness.

I understand that we’ve got no natural resources and that our people are the only assets and liabilities Singapore has got. Hence, the fervent paper chase that’s oh-so-evident in today’s society.

But life is so much more than a piece of paper. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you love and following your heart in all you do. It’s about waking up every morning, knowing deep down, that you’re not shortchanging yourself in any way. It’s about fulfilling your passion and not selling out to a 9-to-5 job, just to pay the rent.

Sadly, such is not the culture in Singapore and until a compromise can be made, those seeking a better work-life balance might just find themselves toying with the idea of a life abroad.

So I say, let the chips fall where they must and if you find yourself less financially endowed as you’d like to be, at least you’re living the life you want to lead and not settling for less.

That’s what education is truly all about – moulding people who will make the world a better place, in their own unique way.