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NTU Social Science Challenge 2024
I participated in the NTU Social Science Challenge 2024, where we engaged in policy writing and attended masterclasses that detailed the intricacies of policymaking. Following this, we conducted research on single-parent families and decided to focus on enhancing housing accessibility and employability for these families. Our approach involved drafting a policy memo that introduced new policies to address these issues. We then developed a creative presentation using a customized card game, inspired by the Singaporean Dream, to effectively illustrate the problem and our proposed solutions in a compelling and interactive manner.
During our project, we encountered significant challenges, particularly with the complexity of the HDB housing issue. We realized that addressing the needs of single-parent families would inevitably impact other priority groups, such as traditional family units and low-income households. This led us to grapple with opportunity costs and trade-offs, as any adjustments to benefit single-parent families could disadvantage other groups. Balancing these competing needs required careful consideration to determine which changes were most impactful and justifiable, making it a complex task to prioritize effectively.
However, despite the challenges, our group spent time brainstorming our policies, although not perfect but we had ample guidance from our mentor, Emily to improve our policies throughout the process. Finally, I am proud to say that our group had clinched the Second Place in the competition and was awarded a $750 cash prize for our efforts. This experience was truly enriching.
[GROUP 21] NTU SSC 2024 POLICY MEMO (1).docxNUS Sejarah Inquisition 2024
I participated in a competition themed "Singapore’s Dying Traditions," where students were invited to delve into the socio-cultural history of vanishing traditions. We attended classes by experts in Chinese opera and Malay wayang, exploring issues such as cultural barriers and the contemporary efforts to preserve these traditions through media and youth engagement. While these modern approaches can sometimes dilute traditional values, they also help pass down knowledge to future generations.
Our research focused on the cultural heritage of traditional pastries, specifically 'kuehs.' We prepared a skit that depicted the story of a second-generation pastry shop owner hesitant to continue the family business due to declining interest. The competition was particularly challenging because it required us to integrate historical sources, similar to academic source-based questions, where we analyze articles, cartoons, and statistics as evidence. This experience highlighted the value of out-of-classroom learning in enriching our understanding and presentation skills. Overall, I am proud to say that our group advanced to the finals to be qualified as the Top 3 Teams, and I was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award.
LKYSPP: Singapore Futures Youth Competition '23
ufo3zo1t_1690535162809.pdfThe competition theme, centred around envisioning Singapore 27 years into the future, ignited my imagination to think beyond the boundaries of the present while remaining grounded in reality. The first day started with Workshop 1: Futures Thinking where we used various future thinking like Future Cones and Kancils to develop our envisioned Singapore. Before that, we were also promoted to analyse the societal gaps in Singapore and our project focal concern. The process involved gathering future signals, looking back at history, identifying driving forces of change, creating future scenarios, generating ideas, and ultimately sharing the story of their envisioned future.
As we work on our project idea, we were encouraged to break down the time between the present and their envisioned future into blocks, considering what actions needed to be accomplished in each period. We also explored uncertainties and potential challenges we might face along the way, thereby coming up with contingency plans and build resilience to adapt to different scenarios. We learnt that ultimately, striking the right balance between innovation and practicality is essential when envisioning a future that is both promising and feasible. We tried to avoid being overly unrealistic while still unleashing our creativity to explore potential solutions that could positively impact society.
We also attended a panel discussion centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Panellists from various backgrounds, including LGBTQ+ advocates, interfaith dialogue mentors, social workers, and disability advocates, shared their experiences and perspectives, which I learnt that policymaking is complex such that different stakeholders are needed to be taken into considerations.
In our project, the emphasis on HOW we wanted to achieve our envisioned future was crucial. We recognized that simply envisioning a better work-life balance and embracing advanced technologies wouldn't be enough. The HOW encompassed actionable steps and strategies aimed at fostering real change. Implementing flexible working hours, leveraging AI for productivity optimization, and encouraging community-building activities were some of the concrete HOWs we proposed. By focusing on practical and achievable steps, we ensured that our vision translated into tangible improvements in people's lives.
On the other hand, the WHAT aspect of our project centered on the desired outcomes and the overall vision for a better future. It defined the changes we sought to bring about in the workplace and society at large. Our WHAT included achieving a healthier work-life balance, promoting a more supportive work culture, and fostering a strong sense of community. The WHAT aspect provided the context and purpose for our project, emphasizing that our ultimate goal was to create an environment where people could thrive both personally and professionally. By clearly defining the WHAT, we were able to align our efforts towards a shared vision, ensuring that all project ideas contributed cohesively to the desired future outcome.
Singapore Model Cabinet / 2023
Being able to learn about the complexities involved in policy-making was certainly eye-opening. Role-playing as cabinet ministers enabled me to have a broader understanding of the feasibility, trade-offs and stakeholders involved during the policy-making process. My group, Cabinet 3, was assigned the topic of housing, where I had the opportunity to role-play as the Minister for the Prime Minister's Office for my cabinet. We embarked on the topic of housing affordability through a comprehensive policy proposal for which we aptly named, Home for One, Home for All.
Our policy proposal sought to provide recommendations that would deliver comprehensive and holistic solutions through a three-pronged approach, namely through the family, home and society aspects. This outcome was strived to be done by enhancing existing policies and proposing new policy recommendations. At the end of our constructive brainstorming sessions, we had the opportunity to present our policy proposal to our esteemed panel of judges.
We also had an engaging and eye-opening dialogue session at the end of the event, with Minister for Education Mr Chan Chun Sing. His inspiring responses and words of wisdom, filled with deep conviction and determination, truly resonated and sparked in me an inner desire to contribute more beyond my personal pursuits.
Overall, the SMC provided me with a remarkable platform to engage and gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of public policy, sparking my interest in further pursuing the humanities and policymaking.
Cabinet 3 Memorandum.docx.pdfPage updated
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