CNA Article - The Big Read: Fuelled partly by youths' anxiety, the internship rat race has unintended effects
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lee_yl\" post_id=\"2135260\" time=\"1718804129\" user_id=\"17023:
But after they grow up, they will realise that there are jobs where the ipad is affordable with X hours of work vs Y days of work.
We were all young before…. I can remember when I first stepped into the work force, I wanted to showcase my ability to my bosses. At 21yo, don’t tell me one has no ambition but at 62yo, one wants to climb the cooperate ladder?! It is simply natural for young persons to have dreams and work hard towards realizing their dreams. Psychologically, young persons have higher energy level and have time on their side.
For the example of the civil servant you quoted, when Mr Kumar was younger, he also worked very hard, clinched the PSC scholarship, took Law at Cambridge and worked for 2 ministries before he decided to call it a day.
My DD1 told me if she can’t take the stress in high finance, she will take a step back to do some backend data analysis jobs, I told her it’s ok!
I remember 2 years ago, I shared about my DD2 who said she only needed an iPad, a bed and a NTUC cashier salary to survive for the rest of her life.
My words shocked many parents in ksp because this is not what is expected of a 17yo. Ironically, when now I said young people should be naturally ambitious, I got rebuffed. Oh well…
Comfort level of mattress also vary.
Am taste also vary within their broad categories.
Nothing wrong whichever one chooses. For myself, will prefer kids be aware of more destinations and discetion to choose. -
Imp75\" post_id=\"2135235\" time=\"1718785736\" user_id=\"2358:
Need perfect GPA? So stressful… even 1st Class Hons also do not need perfect GPA.
Yes quite sad. Forgot to say….besides only spending 30% in curriculum, yet they expect perfect gpa! Machiam like superman!!! I just close both eyes…..
I think I know the reason, because there are people who showcase their good GPA on their LinkedIn profile !!! -
Imp75\" post_id=\"2135252\" time=\"1718793407\" user_id=\"2358:
My answer will be 陪你一起走。累了，可以依着我。
Hypothetical qn. What happens if your young partner is very driven and spend 24/6 in office enjoying his work and climbing up the corporate ladder? Would you do the same so you both can retire young retire rich or would you choose a job that got work/life balance but you end up being very free while your partner is not there most of the time. -
Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=\"2135234\" time=\"1718785605\" user_id=\"195250:[quote=\"Liew Nga Wing\" post_id=2135234 time=1718785605 user_id=195250]
Of cos I know don’t need 1st or 2nd upper still can get married and buy a BTO lah.
I don't know what your DD has encountered. Every year, there are fresh graduate joining my company, just last week two fresh graduate joined my department. Not everyone are 1st or 2nd Upper degree. Our HR and bosses chosen them - are largely depend on their performance during interview. Once they joined us, no one will care whether they are 1st or 2ne degree. We only concern whether they are willing to learn, willing to work hard and how to handle their interpersonal relationship (operate with others) in our office.
My DS is not 1st or 2nd Upper degree, still can get good jobs and relatively good pay - at lease sufficient for getting marriage and a BTO HDB house.[/quote]
But it is very real that some jobs only look for 1st and 2nd upper. Even for some ministries, 2nd upper and 2nd lower can mean being recruited into different schemes of service.
There must be a reason why undergrads hope to get at least 2nd upper what. Get, give oneself more options, don’t get, life still goes on. -
Coolkidsrock2\" post_id=\"2135263\" time=\"1718805051\" user_id=\"48901:
Clap clap super supportive partner!!
My answer will be 陪你一起走。累了，可以依着我。 -
lee_yl\" post_id=\"2135264\" time=\"1718806875\" user_id=\"17023:
My kids also reasoned with me and told me all their lives they had worked hard since pri Sch to sec to jc and then to uni to get to where they are, along the way, definitely sacrifices were made but they are ok with it because at the end of the day, they also want to graduate with a degree that provides the most options for them. But I really didn’t expect this last leg is not an easy experience (ie graduating is easy but to build up the portfolio takes a lot of effort)so have to provide a lot of mental and physical support whenever we could.
Of cos I know don’t need 1st or 2nd upper still can get married and buy a BTO lah.
But it is very real that some jobs only look for 1st and 2nd upper. Even for some ministries, 2nd upper and 2nd lower can mean being recruited into different schemes of service.
There must be a reason why undergrads hope to get at least 2nd upper what. Get, give oneself more options, don’t get, life still goes on. -
Imp75\" post_id=\"2135265\" time=\"1718807072\" user_id=\"2358:
No lah, the cheapest thing in the world is \"talk\". 更动听的 also can say. Heart sure melt if say \"我不在乎你飞的多高，我在乎的你累不累“
Clap clap super supportive partner!!
DH told DS not to believe any single word if anyone says things like this to him.
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Imp75\" post_id=\"2135265\" time=\"1718807072\" user_id=\"2358:
No lah, the cheapest thing in the world is \"talk\". 更动听的 also can say. Heart sure melt if say \"我不在乎你飞的多高，我在乎的你累不累“
Clap clap super supportive partner!!
DH told DS not to believe any single word if anyone says things like this to him.
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Imp75\" post_id=\"2135266\" time=\"1718807734\" user_id=\"2358:
Break down the process into bite-size goals. Once a goal has been achieved, work towards the next aspiration. This makes the next one more achievable.
My kids also reasoned with me and told me all their lives they had worked hard since pri Sch to sec to jc and then to uni to get to where they are, along the way, definitely sacrifices were made but they are ok with it because at the end of the day, they also want to graduate with a degree that provides the most options for them. But I really didn’t expect this last leg is not an easy experience (ie graduating is easy but to build up the portfolio takes a lot of effort)so have to provide a lot of mental and physical support whenever we could.
遇强则强 whatever can hurt / kill you can hurt / kill others too. Treat it as a learning opportunity.
Our kids are still young - plenty of opportunities to pick themselves up. Just ensure not the same mistake twice.
Personally feel that they are luckier than us as they do not need to support the family in the way some of us have to. And they have the benefit of better guidance and experience. 起跑线不一样了 -
There may be advantages from having a long list of internship experiences on graduates’ resume. It’s like between us 2 adults, the one with 10 years of working experiences stand better chance than another with 2, with everything else being equal. But it’s also important those internship experiences are relevant to what the recruiting company is looking for. A graduate with 2 internships, doing emerging market analysis will be in better position than another that did 10 internships, doing coding, when both graduates apply for same economist job. My relative told me during his undergraduate days they started to figure what sector they want to build a career in, then plan backwards, look for internships during Uni days in those flagship companies that can build their portfolio, to let them stand out after graduation.
If the internships competitions get too much, when it mean have to sacrifice something else, like basic leisure time, then I think it’s better don’t join the frenzy, even if it’s may mean losing out in the beginning. From my own experience, sometimes after getting what we dream of, the feelings that come with it are not as wonderful as we imaging them to be. Some may think, maybe try even harder next time, to earn even more, then will be happy. Sometimes this is not the case at all.
I guess it’s important to be aware what is the real motivation behind wanting to build up impressive list of internships: to get that first job with a billion dollar company? In order to have a successful career? To earn lots of money? To live a comfortable life? Will we really be comfortable at the end of the day? Do we really need that much to live that comfortable life? I think some people don’t see any alternative of a good life other than making lots of money. But I also believe this group in minority. The other minority are on the other end of the spectrum: “bo chap”. The majority are in the middle, moderates
The article title has the word anxiety. I think it accurately describe the motivation behind the frenzy. If youth can invest sometimes in building up their sense of security too, it could help in reducing the stress from needing to do more that are mean for reducing anxieties.
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