My advice to u is... what ever ur passion is, u still need the paper to survive in Singapore. This is not like other countries where u dun need paper qualifications. I mean, u can still pursue ur passion, ur interest, but at the end of the day if that fails u to earn a decent meal on the table, u will still have ur papers to fall back on.
Sad but true..
My 2.5cents worth.
My personal opinion
(not taking anything away from gothviruz's stance of course. His point is very valid and respectable point as well) is to weigh it out. Don't limit your passions to just Singapore alone because if you do, you are selling yourself short.
What type of life do you want to lead? If you are passionate for something, and you know with your heart mind and soul that this IS what you want to do, DO IT. And keep DOING IT and don't give in.
Having to 'rely on paper qualifications' is a VERY Singaporean mindset, and it is precisely why local bands do not go as far as they DESERVE to. It's because as they pursue their passions, at the back of their minds there is always that "I'd better be a practical Singaporean' mentality. There fear of being branded in our society as a 'failure'. I just have one thing to say to that; lovelovelovelove it!
The greatest inventors, the greatest revolutions, the greatest artists, the greatest poets, the greatest scientists, the greatest musicians, ALL suffered for their art, science and passions.
ALL of them. Thomas Edison failed at creating the light bulb 10,000 times before hitting the nail on the head. Heath Ledger locked himself up in a room for a full month with no human contact to perfect his Joker role. Einstein was seen as a lunatic in school. Michael Phelps trained years and years and years to become the world's best swimmer. There are countless more examples. Creative Technology's founder is a Singaporean, yet he went overseas to make a name for himself, even when there was no recognition here initially. The vendor that supplies curry puffs and paos to your local coffee shops is a MILLIONAIRE. There are countless, countless more cases.
So how are you, being a Singaporean, ANY DIFFERENT from being one of them?
YOU are NOT defined by your geography. You are defined by your passions.
YOU are NOT defined by your society. You are defined by your individualism.
YOU are NOT defined by your failures if you are able to define yourself with your successes
And most of all
YOU are NOT defined by your paper but by the number of people you inspire and influence in your life.
It is all about that vision you hold onto.
Life is much, much, MUCH more than about paper qualifications. It is about the richness of the experience of living life without 'what ifs' and 'what could have been'.
And what better way to fill your life with richness than to pursue your passion? Endure the heartache, endure the temporary difficulties, and I assure you, with sacrifice comes big rewards.
Only those who stand fast in their beliefs will stand strong, and only those who stand strong DESERVE the rewards.
At the end of the day, a paper is a paper. There are tons of people who have gone on to become millionaires, or at the very least, earn a decent living, without paper qualifications. And there are tons of so-called graduates who cling onto that paper tightly while they work for people without qualifications.
Do you want to be a person that could have been?
Or the person who became what he wanted to be?
It's really your decision
But at the end of the day, as I always say,
you're a short time living, and a long time dead So make full use of the opportunities you have, and if there aren't any, CREATE THEM for yourself. It is possible, if you look, slave, strive, struggle, and sweat for your art and your cause.
Nil Sine Labore
That's Latin (and Victorian!) for 'Nothing Without Labour'
Levan
P.S. On a small personal note, I studied in Victoria School, scored 6 points, went to Temasek Polytechnic, scored the Top 5 percent in grades, and somehow turned down the opportunity to study in a University overseas to be in a band. I am also going to quit my job at LIME to pursue music again overseas. I will be poor, I will probably sleep in a bloody van, but that's alright. I'm not saying this to 'show off'. I'm just trying to tell you, my SOFTie friend, that
YOU are probably much much more capable than I am at finding your own path (Given that I have the guitaring skills of a duck with webbed fingers, er...feet?). Have faith and work damn bloody hard. Good luck! Don't give up.
P.P.S. Another naggy motherly long-winded post from me. Eeeks!!(Slaps myself with a fish!)
<////\\---< FISH!
<////\\---< FISH!
<////\\---< FISH!
<////\\---< FISH!
