Even as Dengue cases fall slowly, we must continue to remember the importance of applying mosquito spray and being vigilant against Dengue. Dengue is not over yet and we must continue to follow the NEA’s BLOCK guidelines— Break up hardened soil in potted plants, lift and empty flowerpot plates, overturn pails and wipe their rims, change water in vases, keep roof gutters clear and place BTI insecticide. NEA officers and NEA itself are definitely doing their part by conducting extensive fogging, checks and timely reminders for everybody to stay strong. We must continue to play our part and apply mosquito regularly or by ensure we are up-to-date with all the recent announcements. Schools must also take a stance against Dengue. Education is the priority and children must be educated on the challenges faced by the community in fighting Dengue. Most of the Aedes mosquito’s best work is carried out in the day, when most children are at school. Perhaps introducing more measures to combat mosquito bites in school would also be helpful, such as allowing children to wear longer pants which cover the legs.Together, we can win this fight against Dengue, as a Singaporean community. 

We must continue to play our part.

One of the most prominent changes COVID-19 has brought to our world is the increase in technology in our day-to-day life. Now, jobs are available for people to work at home, always. While this will allows for more remote working and work-ations, this also increases the competition for jobs as people working overseas can also apply for jobs here. While digital security also poses a problem to a safe digital world, I feel that one problem that needs to be addressed is digital literacy. Many of the elderly are unable to use online platforms and may stumble, or, they may click links they are not supposed to, exposing them to scammers and hackers. Another problem that many parents face is that their children spend too much time on their devices and are unable to focus on their studies. Both these problems can be solved with one solution—the younger generation can help to educate the elderly, allowing the younger generation to spend time away from their screens while teaching the elderly to be digitally literate. Together, we can create a safe digital world.

Together, we can create a safe digital world.

In our modern world, fewer and fewer people are reading books. But we all need to understand the benefits of books, of reading and of writing. I have been lucky to have the chance to experience this a few times. For example, a few years ago a group of people came together in a project. ‘Live a Legacy’. Through this project, I was able to work together with my grandfather to write a book about our collective experiences. Finally being able to learn more about my grandfather, learn valuable life lessons and wisdoms, and bond with him through our shared love of writing was an enriching and meaningful experience. I am sure many, should the opportunity arise, will not hesitate to have this experience again. Another experience was when 15 children, including me, each wrote a book titled ‘My Culinary Adventures’, each one of us writing our own story and history of food. Mine began in ancient Persia, as I traced the journey the ‘samosa’ made to become our ‘samosa’, or the journey of ‘cha’ and ‘chai’. This adventure allowed me to explore my cultural and heritage roots, as well as play a part in charity, along with 14 of children I am proud to call my friends. This was made even more meaningful as funds from the books would be donated to the poor in Cavite, Philippines. These experiences have allowed me, and countless others, to realise that a book isn’t just pages and pages of words, it is many hands coming together to tell a story. A book. Go read (or write) one today, and experience what it means to feel a book!

A book isn’t just the words in it- it is the people coming together to tell a story.

As the year comes to a close and my brother settles in at his new school as a Primary 1 student, I can’t help but wonder, what makes a school a community? The friends, the teachers, and the parents. The parents that show up to every parent-teacher meeting without fail and who cheer you on from the sidelines. The ones who are there for you, always. I’m glad to know I have two of those parents. Unfortunately, not everyone does. This is precisely why there are Parent Support Groups. For parents that are Abel too, to support the school in ways that they can, to support their children and their peers while giving back to the community. Parents are cornerstones in the children’s learning, and they must support and help them in any way they can. This also allows parents to feel reassured about the school’s support systems and how to support their child or children better in terms of their holistic development. As a partner to the school, parents would be able to experience the school culture firsthand and would be able to help out when needed. This would allow schools to form communities and allow children to have a better and more united learning environment to grow and prosper, and for parents to find like-minded parents to arrange play dates, study meets, or in true Singaporean fashion, find out about tuition centres and studying tips. A true win-win situation, for the school, parents, children and new-founded community.

What make a school a community?

Many people do not realise the beauty of mentorship and guidance and the simplicity of asking for help. As our world is rapidly changing, more and more millennials are realising the need to ask for help when they need it. And this spirit needs to be echoed throughout the world. Asking for help, guidance or mentorship is not a sign a weakness as many so willingly believe, but is a sign of growth and achievement. As our world is rapidly changing, more and more opportunities are being offered to people of all ages, especially to the younger generation. Schools and other educational institutes are making a conscious effort to provide more opportunities to their students. One such form of opportunity is mentorship, even though it many not be quoted in the same terms. However, while our parents and teachers provide mentorship and coaching to us everyday, the terms are not used formally and in context, and it is important to note that formalising the procedures of mentorship may allow us and our generation to value the guidance offered by our teachers and parents. I am extremely lucky in this regard, and have found that my mentors are people I can trust and who value me, and vice versa. Their advice and coaching is extremely valuable, and I feel that defining the relationship as a mentor-mentee one allows me to better appreciate them and their advice. A mentor can truly make all the difference.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness but is a sign of growth and achievement.

As climate change and the deadline before our world falls into disarray nears, closer with every day that passes, we must start to take action. Our world is going to warm up, and if we do not act now, it will be much too warm. My generation, Generation Z, are responsible, as the future, the pioneers of tomorrow and what it brings. We shall suffer the impact of every action, every choice and every straw we use and this shall, in turn, decide this planet’s future. As the bearers of the impact of climate change, and contributors to it, we can perform simple every day actions, such as walking ,cycling instead of taking a car, reusing plastic bottles to fill hand sanitiser, wearing reusable masks and disposing one-use masks responsibly, we can halve carbon emissions by 2030. And there are many of us who are already playing their part. A few days ago, I stepped out for a stroll when I spotted a man carrying three bags of items to the recycling bins. I continued walking down the street, thinking he would just dump all of his ‘goods’ into the ‘general wastes’ bin. The idea of him individually sorting out every item existed only in the abstract form. Surprisingly, that was exactly what he did. Every item of his had been washed cleanly and he carefully opened one bag, methodically sorting it into the four rainbow-coloured bins. I stood there, amazed, my conscience prickling me. I would usually just dump all my trash into the ‘general wastes’ bin, not bothering to sort it. After all, I would console myself, who does it? Now, I finally understood the importance of each one of us doing our part to recycle, reuse and reduce. The impact of climate change will be not on us- Singapore alone but on the whole world. This is why it is important to be aware of our actions and their impact. Every piece of non-biodegradable plastic makes a difference, and so does every bit recycled. From that day on, I have adopted a practice of recycling my trash by throwing it in the right bins, and donating my old clothes, toys and other things to Salvation Army, a charity that accepts donations. I was inspired that day, by that man, and I made a change. If every person in the world- in Southeast Asia- in Singapore, played their part, made their change, we wouldn’t need to have this conversation right now. Unfortunately, there are still many people out there who think this doesn’t concern them, but we must convince them in order to beat climate change. So please, play your part, and together we can combat climate change.

My generation, Generation Z, are responsible, as the future, the pioneers of tomorrow and what it brings.