The gentle wind caressed my face as i sat outside the steps of my HDB flat, letting all the day's troubles sweep away. Now, being a student, I really missed those carefree days where i had no homework, no responsibilities and most of all, no stress. Yep, being a 14 year old student in Singapore sure is hard. Sometimes, i really wonder what it would feel like to be living overseas. Would never have to deal with overbearing parents, no stress from the education system, and I'm sure the culture there would be different as well.
"Ah girl ah, come quickly eat your dinner, Ah Mah just cooked your favourite herbal chicken. " Ah Mah's voice trailed out from the living room.
"Yeah I know. Wait for a while. I'll come and eat later. " I groaned as my few minutes of peace and quiet disappeared with a gust of wind into thin air.
That evening, as i had dinner with my grandmother, i shared my thoughts with Ah Mah and was rebuked instead.
"Stop daydreaming and start studying. If you don't study hard and score well in school, you won't be able to get a degree and you will not find a good job and earn more money. Do you want to be a road sweeper like your Nai Nai? Stop thinking of all these useless thoughts. Back in my days, there was no such thing as freedom to express yourself and it's not going to begin now. Eat quickly and continue studying." Ah Mah's words ended up making me feel so discouraged and irritated.
Why must we work and study all day? Why can't we have dreams other than to become the person who earns more money or has the highest degree?
Why are we so competitive?
Those thoughts swirled in my mind that night as i lay in bed.
KAMU SEDANG MEMBACA
Worldly Desires
Fiksi RemajaStudy hard. Get a degree. Have a well paying job. Earn more money. Be rich. My name is xiao mei gui, or as people would call me, Rose. All my life, I've been hearing these words. They were my nursery rhymes and bedtime stories. However, growing...
