Do you feel that singapore is only for people who have a smooth life ?
Im middle class who lives in a 3 room flat.My dad was a chronic gambler who every month gambled his all of his pay away and my traditional mom refuse to divorce him.
Every month the night before payday he comes home at 5am gambles all his pay at the gambling den at chinatown. When he lost he come back and beat up my mom until once my mom had head bleeding and spat at my mom. My mom supported the family using her pay of 2.5k.
We couldn’t qualify for any financial aid because of my dad pay.
I did manage to get ok o level to the polytechnic , however at that point I didn’t have good emotional sense to manage the chaos at home. My dad lost his job and it was madness. I dropped out of poly and did odd jobs.
So after that I did a private diploma and I faced so much prejudice during the interviews and in daily life.
Singapore is only a place for people who are lucky enough to have a smooth life
Netizens’ comments
- You did great with the cards you were dealt.
SG is definitely a place for ppl who are at least middle/upper middle class – you can solve a lot of problems with money like e.g. if your mom earned 10-15k instead. She could definitely support you + you wouldn’t have needed to drop out and work odd jobs. Money allows you to pay away some of the important problems in life like all the minor stresses of budgeting, etc or the over reliance on a single parent.
But this is the same problem in most cities I guess, and the definition of a smooth life can vary too. You could move into the desert and join a wandering tribe, living the rest of your days there and you could live a smooth life. But is that what you want? - Singapore is playground for the filthy rich. But i believe the education and to some extend meritocratic system allows for relatively easy upward socioeconomic mobility from lower to middle class.
But this is based on the assumption that you are smart and can achieve good academic results. But obviously IQ is normally distrbuted, so u need to be at least average. Along with some good life choices, this alone can move you into middle or upper middle class. - Actually, I don’t.
Singapore is certainly great for people who have a smooth life but it’s also not so bad a place for those who have to rise up from more challenging circumstances.
And I am saying this as someone who has never met his parents, raised by strangers, lived in rental flats for decades and, like you, a school dropout (twice) who have also done his fair share of odd jobs. I get your frustration being less well-off, being seen as inferior academically and losing out on having a proper family.
With our circumstances, life will be challenging regardless of the country we are born in. Perhaps some countries might be better for people like us, but I like to think our life will be worse off in many many many other countries. Imagine being born in any country around Singapore. Not any better, right?
I am literally an uncle now. And I look back and I feel kind of lucky that in all places I could have been born in, I was born here.
In Singapore, poverty does not default us to a life of crime. We are also safe from serious crimes. We are free to choose our religion, or none at all. The environment is beautiful. We have the NLB. Great internet. Wr have beaches. Everywhere’s clean. Decent healthcare. We have air-conditioned places we can hang out for free to hide from the Sun. There are always jobs available locally, so we don’t have to slave in another country.
Our financial system is great – and this is a big one for me, once you have some income going, you have easy access to loans. You can use the loans to make progress. Or buy stuff. I also like to think we have relatively cheap luxuries. SAFRA gyms and swimming pools come to mind. CC courses.
Our currency is so strong, even I, a short man, can become an attractive male to many ladies beyond our shores. Also, being born here means with some hard work and discipline, I have the option to retire elsewhere later in life, in relative comfort, if I want.
Most Singaporeans I’ve met are actually good people. Many are understanding and are very willing to help. Sure, many will ask questions and doubt the veracity of our tales, but these questions mostly stem from a curiosity of a backdrop unfamiliar to them. Singaporeans are generally nice people and many will want to give the underdogs a chance. Who doesn’t like Rocky?
Maybe I am wrong objectively and Singapore’s truly solely for the rich and smooth sailing lives.
But if I have to view the glass, I will, sure as hell, choose to view it as half-full and enjoy the half that I have. We can’t change glasses now anyway, can we?