Writer's Block: Running Things

18 August 2008 @ 08:18 pm

What would you change about your country if you could be in charge for a day?

First question listed was submitted by gentle_dream. (Follow-up questions, if any, may have been added by LiveJournal.)
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What would I do…? Well…

I would first change the education system! YESYES! The Singapore system sucks so badly! Okay, you know what; it might actually just be my school. We don’t even have enough sabbaticals! What IP Programme is this? No fun at all! Actually now that I think about it, I was hoping that my brother would go to ACS(I) instead so that I have an excuse to join him in Year 5. He just HAD to join HCI. Great.

I think I will also allow the students more freedom and variety in what kind of subjects they would want to study. And give CCA a little more priority so that people will not use the excuse that they have to study for a test, so they do not have to go for CCA. I mean, it is important to be all-rounded, no?

Next, I’d do something about the state of our country’s athletes. We had a little forum the other day in school discussing our performance at the Olympics. A teacher commented that at the Singapore Sports School, the students were over-trained at such a young age, and this can totally kill their talent and interest.

Well, that may be true, but personally, I think it’s the system that prohibits full commitment to sports. Even at the Singapore Sports School, the students have to put academics as a priority. The Asian stereotype still remains: to do well in life (i.e. get a great job, earn lots of money, etc) means that you have to get a degree.

Get a scholarship too, if you can. That’s even better. This is the reason why even if we can spot talent among Singaporeans, we still can’t get them to play for Singapore. After the athletes are past their prime, what then do they do? Do they have the experience to look for a job and be accepted?

I think the Singaporean Government really needs to take care of its athletes. Perhaps they could support them financially, or simply help them along in their job search after they have retired from sports. This way, Singaporeans won’t really mind doing their part for Singapore in this area, because they will know that they have something to fall back on.

Okay… That’s all I can think of for now. And I have to get back to work anyway. DAMN! This is exactly what I’m talking about! ARGH.


Current Location: at home
Current Mood: Contemplative
Current Music: "Kohaku" by Shimokawa Mikuni