Post by Andrew Yong Chuan TAN

I agree that fresh graduates need experience and soft skills, but have we considered the value of the skills gained during National Service? What about those two (or 2.5) years of national service we all dedicate ourselves to? Shouldn't we recognize that as well? The soft skills we gained during National Service—leadership, command, teamwork, and the willingness to make sacrifices for national development—deserve recognition. However, unlike a scholar who receives additional payment beyond the NSFs’ allowance, does our contribution to the NSFs also reflect the experience and life skills we have gained? It's not easy being a graduate, and it is even harder to be a male graduate as by the time one graduates from a 4 years course, he would be at least 24-25. Should he come from the poly route, and take a gap year (or two) to do internship, he would be 26-27 by the time he graduated. By then, he would be facing the pressure to find a job, date a life partner, apply for BTO (with the pressure to save enough for a downpayment), I can understand why the birth rate is so low. Just by writing this post, I feel so much to my younger generation of males in Singapore. All I can say is “thank you for your contribution towards Nation Building”. Chart your own journey and all the best.