Singaporean Teens want to Migrate???

The topic I am writing about today is about a survey that was done not too ago. It surveyed teens from many Asian countries, including China, India, Singapore etc. It was very (or rather not too, if you have been noticing) surprising to the adults that 53% of the teens in Singapore wanted to emigrate (to Australia and the U.S.A) I have been very lucky to experience life in another country (New Zealand) for a few months this year. I have been in their school, and I know what kind of life they have. It was a very easy and peaceful life. In NZ, we start school at 8:45 p.m. and end at 3:15 p.m. (not to mention lunch break and recess). In Singapore, we start school at 7:30 and end at 2 (but we have extra activities that can end at 5-6:30) The syallabus there is very easy, and the tests are too.

I did not really enjoy some of my time there, because I missed all of you. I have encountered a couple of racist remarks. A student said one of the reasons why S'pore teens wanted to leave was because we place so much emphasis on marks and materialism (think: billabong), that we sometimes lose track of what we want to do in life, or our dreams. Others said that it was too boring in Singapore, too much stability and peace. When my dad's NZ friends came over, they said Singapore was exciting and there was so much to do. I remember that shops close at 5 in NZ. However, I still liked the general life in NZ better. Singapore seems too predictable. Very few people go to university in NZ, yet they are very contented people (not like us, the least happy people in Asia)

The question I want to ask though is, what dreams!? I asked my friends, what do you want to do in life? Ans: Dunno. Anything also can.
So I asked, what do you do in your free time. They replied, "Study, or play computer games".
When I asked my NZ friend what he wanted to be, he replied, "Botanist, Geologist or zoologist. Maybe an accountant or tour guide." Sure, our immediate thoughts as Singaporeans will be, How much do they earn? Tour guides may or may not earn much, but travelling is definitely interesting.

I doubt they earn much, but they are really interesting jobs. If you like rocks, study Geology. If you like animals, zoology. As simple as that! The main difference is, the students in NZ are exposed to many many different things. Their lessons are interesting and light. Ours? Full of cramming, full of facts, until we are so dulled that we do not know what we want to do. I have my hobby (this is my hobby), or I like to collect interesting articles (artefacts, not written articles) when I travel. Hobbies take us out of our daily, boring, routine life. Even if its reading.

My best friend want to be a scientist. That is cool, because at least he has a goal to work towards. I want to be a mental scientist. At least thats something I can work towards (I am now :) I heard that someone wants to be a pastor. Pastors don't earn much, and thats why I'm glad that this person does not care about money. Some of my friends want to be policemen, architects, teachers, engineers. I am happy that they have a goal, but I think that being a zoologist or botanist is more fun (haha, thats just my opinion). Ask your mum and your dad tonight, are they happy with their jobs? Is that their dream job? Good for you if they are! I think my dad likes his job too much (he leaves with us, and comes back at 7)

P.S. Life in NZ would be the best, if only all of you were there! And, running away (emigrating) is not the solution. We have to create our own sub-cultures in this culture.
And also, you do need to make sacrifices for what you want to achieve and do. For example, I take so much time to write this that I sleep at 12 mn (and now getting to 12:30 am) and I know you all also sleep late, but its just that I can sleep much earlier if I don't. And those enlightened ones among you may notice, We are not created to serve God. Its the opposite. God's powers are for us to use. I'll write about why I was a Christian for some years, and now why I am not (and once I understood, these things started pouring into my life.) But this is a sensitive issue, religion.

Aaron