First-Year Writing Competition (AY2425 Term 2)

I thought doing Guard Duty in National Service would be the last time I had to stay awake at unearthly hours. A year later, I find myself up at 4 a.m. again – not at my camp’s gate, but outside my home’s toilet as I wait for my grandmother to relieve herself for the third time tonight. Her dementia makes her forget when she last visited the toilet, and her refusal to wear diapers means my family and our foreign domestic worker must arrange shifts to assist her. The sleepless nights have taken a toll, making us more irritable.

Such memory problems and stubbornness are just a few symptoms of dementia. In 2023, there were 73,918 adults aged above 60 with dementia (Institute of Mental Health, 2024). By 2030, this figure would double to 150,000 (Agency for Integrated Care, n.d.). With dementia likely comes a slew of other health problems, as patients have a 31% higher risk of developing comorbidities compared to non-dementia controls (Xiao et al., 2023). Comorbidity refers to coexisting conditions that develop independently. Unsurprisingly, comorbidity is associated with more hospital visits (McPhail, 2016). Most working caregivers including my parents must sacrifice their precious annual leave to accommodate these visits, as only 13.2% of private firms provide eldercare leave (Ng, 2023). Therefore, with the growing caregiving burden driven by the rising number of dementia patients and associated comorbidities, the government should minimally mandate unpaid eldercare leave to support working caregivers. 

Other similar countries have successfully implemented eldercare leave, including Norway, where employees are entitled to 10 days of unpaid ‘adult family care leave’. It had the world’s 9th largest GDP per capita in 2023, just ahead of Singapore (World Bank, 2023). 18% of its population was aged above 65, compared with Singapore’s 17% (Population Reference Bureau, 2023). Neither the labour market participation, nor absenteeism rates, have been negatively impacted by the introduction of this added entitlement since its legislation in 2010 (Gautun & Bratt, 2024). In Japan, home to one of the world’s oldest populations, employees are entitled to short-term care leave of 5 days and long-term care leave of 93 days (Ikeda, 2024). These leave schemes have kept companies’ turnover rates low (Ikeda, 2020). Besides having a negligible impact on economies, mandatory eldercare leave also reduces financial stress for working caregivers as they can better manage their caregiving responsibilities and work commitments without being pressured to leave their jobs and suffer income loss (Niimi, 2021).

In recent parliamentary debates, there has been a push for flexible work arrangements (FWAs) as an alternative. Comprising flexi-place, flexi-time, and flexi-load arrangements, they help employers ensure work is still being done even when employees are away for caregiving duties. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic abated, companies have been shying away from FWAs, with the proportion of them offering FWAs in 2023 being about 20% lower than in 2021 (Ministry of Manpower, 2023). Applying for FWAs is also tedious, as requests need supporting reasons and can take up to two months for approval. This is unviable, especially when medical emergencies arise.

If employers are unwilling to offer employees a more supportive environment for their families, the government should act for their well-being. Since it has already increased parental leave, the next sensible action is to mandate eldercare leave. The harsh truth is that, unlike newborns, the elderly cannot contribute to Singapore’s economy decades later. However, this is the least we can do to recognise their past contributions. They may have forgotten about us but let us not forget about them.

Reference List

Agency for Integrated Care (n.d.). All About Dementia.https://www.aic.sg/caregiving/all-about-dementia/

Gautun, H., & Bratt, C. (2024). Caring for older parents in Norway – How does it affect labor market participation and absence from work? Social Science & Medicine (1982), 346, 116722–116722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116722

Ikeda, S., Niimi, Y., Yamaguchi, M., Ookaze, K., & Zhou, Y. (2020, March 30). Combining Work and Care under the Re-familization of Elderly Care in Japan. The Japan Institute for Labour Policy and Training. https://www.jil.go.jp/english/reports/jilpt_research/2020/no.204.html

Ikeda, S., O’Loughlin, K., Rakar, T., Filipovič, M., Hlebec, V., Ruzik-Sierdzińska, A., Perek-Bialas, J., Williams, A., Aldman, L., & Sennemark, E. (2024). Combining Work and Care: Carer Leave and Related Employment Policies in International Context. 1st edition. https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447365723

Institute of Mental Health (2024, August 28). IMH study shows decrease in prevalence of dementia and improvement in treatment gap among older adults in Singapore over the past decade [Press Release]. https://www.imh.com.sg/Newsroom/News-Releases/Documents/WISE%202%20Press%20Release_28Aug_IMHFINAL.pdf

McPhail, S. M. (2016). Multimorbidity in chronic disease: impact on health care resources and costs. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 9, 143–156. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S97248

Ministry of Manpower (2023). Proportion of Establishments Offering Scheduled Flexible Work Arrangements [Data file]. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://stats.mom.gov.sg/Pages/EmploymentConditionsTimeSeries.aspx

Niimi, Y. (2021). Juggling paid work and elderly care provision in Japan: Does a flexible work environment help family caregivers cope? Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 62, 101171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjie.2021.101171

Ng, A. (2023, April 14). 'It really is not enough': Parental care leave should be made mandatory, advocates say. Channel NewsAsia. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/caregivers-parents-family-care-leave-eldercare-3395286

Population Reference Bureau (2023). 2023 World Population Data Sheet [Data sheet]. https://2023-wpds.prb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2023-World-Population-Data-Sheet-Booklet.pdf

World Bank Group (2023). GDP per capita (current US$) [Data file]. Retrieved February 10, 2025, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true

Xiao, X., Xiang, S., Xu, Q., Li, J., Xiao, J., & Si, Y. (2023). Comorbidity among inpatients with dementia: a preliminary cross-sectional study in West China. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 35, 659–667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-023-02349-3

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The erratic thumping of footballs against the concrete walls wasn’t just noise, it was the war cry summoning children to join the battle on our neighbourhood court. Back then, neighbourhood multi-sport facilities buzzed with life, with laughter and shouts echoing through the estate until the streetlights flickered on. Today, however, these spaces lie eerily empty. Singapore’s sporting culture is fading, not because we stopped loving sports but because we no longer have the space to play. The decline in playing spaces has reduced training facilities, forcing athletes to juggle financial burdens while youths adopt more sedentary lifestyles. To address this, Singapore should integrate multi-sport facilities into underutilised spaces, ensuring accessibility for both professional athletes and the general public.

This decline in playing spaces has left national and professional teams struggling to secure dedicated training grounds due to intense competition for facility bookings. Despite excelling internationally (The Straits Times, 2023), our national cricket (Ganesan, 2023) and tchoukball teams still lack dedicated training venues, often “having to share with multiple squads”, making “focused training sessions difficult” (Lim, 2023). Without reliable access to training spaces, these athletes are forced to find alternative arrangements, often at their own expense (Liu, 2023). Over time, these rising costs force many to quit (Hee & Fraser, 2021), weakening Singapore’s professional scene. With fewer role models and viable pathways to sporting success, youth participation will decline, shrinking the talent pool and further eroding our sporting culture. If even top athletes are left scrambling for places to train, what does that mean for everyday Singaporeans?

The struggles of professional teams reflect a broader issue: play areas have become increasingly restricted for Singaporeans. Once a common sight, children playing football in void decks have become rare with the rapid emergence of "No Ball Games" signs, and cordoned-off void decks in extreme cases (Chan, 2023) to discourage play. Furthermore, existing public sports facilities are often neglected, with faded court markings, broken nets, and uneven surfaces making them unappealing and unsafe (Samsuri, 2024). With fewer well-maintained public facilities, many youths turn to online entertainment (Tang, 2025), fuelling rising sedentary lifestyles (Tay, Chen, et al., 2022) and worsening Singapore’s obesity epidemic (HealthHub, 2022).

Despite these concerns, critics argue that given Singapore’s scarce land, we should prioritise housing, transport, and commercial development over sports facilities. Furthermore, with existing public ActiveSG sporting facilities offered at subsidised rates, the issue may lie in Singaporeans’ shifting lifestyles rather than space constraints. Given these factors, large-scale investments to improve our sporting culture seem impractical. 

However, this perspective overlooks the frustration of booking public sports facilities, with scalpers using bots to hoard and resell slots at inflated prices (Yeap & Yeo, 2024). Instead of relying on limited facilities, Singapore should invest in public multi-purpose sports hubs which are reserved for professional teams during peak training hours. Given Singapore’s land constraints, these facilities should be integrated into existing underutilised spaces such as HDB rooftops, multi-story car parks, and commercial buildings. Cities like Seoul (Kwon et al., 2019, p. 13) have successfully adopted similar models with multi-sport complexes, proving that land scarce environments can still foster a strong sporting culture without compromising essential infrastructure.

We have established that our sporting culture has declined due to the lack of sporting facilities, and restoring it requires action. The government must prioritise sports in urban planning while Singaporeans must once again embrace it as a unifying force. From supporting local teams to encouraging play in shared spaces, the change starts with us. We must fight for more accessible playing spaces before the sound of play slowly fades from our communities.

Reference List

Anand, A., & Tang, L. (2025, February 4). Singapore teenagers spend nearly 8.5 hours a day on screens: CNA-IPS survey. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/screen-time-devices-survey-teens-spend-daily-stress-4908281

How is it possible for something to be mandatory and voluntary at the same time? After all, one is an obligation while the other is based on free will. Yet, many schools require mandatory student volunteering in their curriculum to foster empathy and civic responsibility (Chan, 2019). I for one, am unable to comprehend why volunteering needs to be enforced upon students, because let’s be real: who likes having their autonomy taken away from them? Thus, mandatory student volunteering is often ineffective due to a lack of intrinsic motivation, undermining its intended goals of fostering empathy and meaningful impact on beneficiaries. To enhance these programmes, schools should assess students’ skills and interests and match them with the organisations’ needs.

Mandatory service may lead to counterproductive outcomes for both parties.  Predicated by the lack of choice and agency, students tend to be apathetic when it comes to volunteering and may even resent it (Gallant et al, 2010). Some even perceive it as homework instead of an opportunity to make a positive difference (Cloyd, 2017). We’ve all been there, dreading the idea of homework and rushing through it with minimal effort.  So, if we view volunteering similarly, it’s no surprise that we will treat it the same way too. This mindset where students prioritise compliance over genuine engagement leads to half-hearted efforts, undermining empathy which is the heart of volunteering. Consequently, students who view mandatory service requirements as a hurdle for graduation may perform the service poorly, ultimately harming rather than helping recipients (Chan, 2019). I’ve seen it firsthand — volunteers who avoid asking follow-up questions often come across as disengaged, making beneficiaries feel unheard and hesitant to open up. In some cases, this may even perpetuate negative stereotypes, such as the perception that younger generations are indifferent towards the elderly. This in turn weakens support for the beneficiaries and diminishes the true purpose of volunteering. 

Critics argue that mandatory service-learning boosts higher participation rates, as schools enforce requirements like the minimum fulfilment of volunteering hours. This is particularly effective for non-profit organisations in desperate need of volunteers (Henderson et al, 2014).  However, this overlooks a key fact that quality triumphs quantity when it comes to meaningful volunteer work, as reciprocal relationships build trust and participation (Chen, 2018). 

Hence, matching students’ values and interests with organisations’ needs on top of the current system is the way to go. A schoolwide survey can gather this information, allowing nonprofits to match students with suitable roles.  This approach mirrors research in strategic volunteer management, which highlights how organisations should know the ‘ASK’ (abilities, skills, and knowledge) of their volunteers and capitalise on them (Kunert, 2018).  This reinforces the idea that student volunteers are more than just manual labour. Why should a promising artist clean houses when they could teach the elderly handicrafts? Why make a budding coder pack food when they could teach underprivileged kids coding? Students like you and I, have our own unique skill sets, that when properly utilised can ameliorate the volunteering experience. While skills-based volunteering help students gain autonomy (Kunert, 2018), it also boosts quality engagement, leaving a greater impact on the beneficiaries (McCallum, 2013). Therefore, implementing a survey to match students' skills and interests with organisations' needs will magnify the benefits before they decide where to volunteer.

By enhancing the existing system with the matching of skills to needs, volunteering becomes more meaningful for everyone involved. With this approach, I am hopeful that the words ‘mandatory’ and ‘volunteering’ need not be at odds but can coexist.  Let’s stop forcing students to volunteer and start inspiring them to care.

Reference List

Chan, S. C., Ngai, G., & Kwan, K. (2019). Mandatory service learning at university: Do less-inclined students learn from it? Active Learning in Higher Education, 20(3), 189–202. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787417742019

Chen, J. (2018). Understanding development impact in international development volunteering: A relational approach. The Geographical Journal, 184(2), 138–147. https://doi.org/10.1111/geoj.12208

Cloyd, M. (2017). When Volunteering Is Mandatory A Call for Research About Service Learning. In Multicultural education (San Francisco, Calif.) (Vol. 24, Numbers 3–4, pp. 36–36). Caddo Gap Press.

Gallant, K., Smale, B., & Arai, S. (2010). Civic Engagement Through Mandatory Community Service: Implications of Serious Leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 42(2), 181–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2010.11950201

Henderson, A., Pancer, S. M., & Brown, S. D. (2014). Creating Effective Civic Engagement Policy for Adolescents: Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluations of Compulsory Community Service. Journal of Adolescent Research, 29(1), 120–154. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558413502532

Kunert, S. (2018). Strategies in Failure Management: Scientific Insights, Case Studies and Tools (1st ed. 2018.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-72757-8

McCallum, S., Schmid, M. A., & Price, L. (2013). CSR: a case for employee skills-based volunteering. Social Responsibility Journal, 9(3), 479–495. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-04-2012-0053 

Growing up, I often heard, “We’re staying together for you.” It was meant to be reassuring, but for me, it was a slow-burning fuse. My parents’ marriage – strained by conflicts, emotional outbursts, and long periods of cold silence – was an ever-present storm cloud.

In high-conflict marriages, divorce is not a failure but a necessary intervention. While often stigmatised, my personal experiences and research suggest prolonged marital discord harms children more than an amicable separation.

In traditional societies like Singapore, the stigma surrounding divorce paints it as selfish, shattering families. But what if staying together does more harm than good? Frequent, intense, and unresolved interparental conflict leads to long-term emotional and behavioral issues in children, affecting their social development, academic performance, and future relationships (Harold & Sellers, 2018). My own experience affirms this.

I remember one trip to Japan – a bonding experience turned battleground. A joyful escape became another painful memory of resentment and hostility. That trip left me broken, a stark reminder that no holiday, no temporary escape, could heal what was already shattered. It affects me, till this very day.

Some argue that staying in a high-conflict marriage provides stability, but this overlooks the psychological toll of a tense home. According to Lansford (2009), persistent parental conflict, not divorce itself, is a stronger predictor of negative child outcomes. This challenges the notion that divorce damages children; instead, ongoing conflict causes the real harm. Rather than debating whether a high-conflict marriage is preferable to divorce, we should focus on the timing of separation, as this significantly impacts a child's well-being. Younger children experience greater distress, while adolescents tend to show more resilience. (Demir-Dagdas, 2020)

So, what’s the alternative? A divorce that is mediated with children in mind. Separation does not have to mean destruction. Co-parenting strategies, child-centred mediation, and therapy can provide stability after a marriage dissolves. While it's widely believed children fare better with cooperative co-parenting, research is mixed. Beckmeyer et al. (2014) found no significant difference in children's adjustment based on post-divorce co-parenting style. However, theory suggests effective co-parenting reduces conflict, improves parent-child relationships, and fosters stability (Ahrons, 2007; Sobolewski et al., 2005). Prioritising cooperative co-parenting remains crucial for children’s well-being.

My mother once attempted suicide when I was in primary school. I can still hear my voice breaking as I begged her to open the bathroom door, my younger sister trapped inside with her. Hours passed before she finally did. Only years later did I understand why. That was when I learned some things are more painful than walking away. Parents think their children don’t notice marital strain – but we do. We hear the raised voices behind closed doors. We feel the cold indifference at dinner. We learn, subconsciously, that love means endurance, even when it shouldn’t.

Divorce is not the easy way out. It is the courageous choice to recognise that a broken home is not defined by separation, but by suffering. It is a choice to give children the chance to witness love not as an obligation, but as mutual care and respect. The solution is not simply divorce – it is thoughtful divorce, prioritising mediation, cooperation, and children’s well-being.

We need to change the narrative. Divorce should not be a tragedy, but a decision that brings healing. Staying together for the children should never mean keeping them in an environment that teaches them to fear love, distrust happiness, and accept pain as normal. I want my parents to get a divorce – not because I want my family to break apart, but because I want us all to heal.

Reference List

Ahrons, C. R. (2007). Family Ties After Divorce: Long-Term Implications for Children.
https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.smu.edu.sg/doi/full/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2006.00191.x

Beckmeyer, J. J., Coleman, M., & Ganong, L. H. (2014). Postdivorce coparenting typologies and children's adjustment. Family Relations, 63(4), 526-537. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12086

Demir-Dagdas, T. (2020). Parental Divorce, Parent–Child Ties, and Health: Explaining Long Term Age Differences in Vulnerability. Marriage & Family Review, 57(1), 24–42. https://doi-org.libproxy.smu.edu.sg/10.1080/01494929.2020.1754318

Harold, G. T., & Sellers, R. (2018). Annual Research Review: Interparental conflict and youth psychopathology: an evidence review and practice focused update. https://acamh-onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy.smu.edu.sg/doi/full/10.1111/jcpp.12893

Lansford, J. E. (2009). Parental Divorce and Children’s Adjustment.
https://www-jstor-org.libproxy.smu.edu.sg/stable/pdf/40212308.pdf?refreqid=fastly-default%3A64703ca7095be5e27445e9da5fb31348&ab_segments=&initiator=&acceptTC=1

Sobolewski, J. M., & King, V. (2005). The Importance of the Coparental Relationship for
Nonresident Fathers' Ties to Children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(5), 1196-1212. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2005.00210.x

For many Malay Muslim women in Singapore, the reality of their bodies remains unknown—until a medical issue or an intimate discussion forces them to confront a hidden truth.

I first encountered the term female genital mutilation (FGM) at a student-led exhibition on gender-based violence. The graphic details of FGM and its pain disturbed me, but I brushed them aside. This wasn’t my reality, was it? However, a lingering unease led me to ask my mother, whose abrupt dismissal confirmed my fears. The silence deepened the stigma around FGM, leaving many of us unaware of what had been done to our bodies. Over time, the topic fades into secrecy.

This normalisation comes at a heavy cost. Often performed at an early age, FGM involves the partial or complete removal of a woman’s vulva for non-medical reasons (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). This harmful practice inflicts lifelong physical and psychological trauma while reinforcing gender inequality. Despite its consequences, it remains largely unspoken, often dismissed as a minor ritual.

However, the harm goes far beyond the initial cut. FGM significantly increases the risk of prolonged labour and postpartum haemorrhage, with survivors being 2.18 times more likely to suffer haemorrhage and 1.60 times more likely to require a caesarean section. Basic bodily functions like menstruation and urination may be painful, affecting 8% to 53% of survivors. Some, in severe cases, require reconstructive surgery (Sarayloo et al., 2021).

 The deepest scars are often invisible. Studies show that over 30% of women who have undergone FGM suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and memory loss—both significantly higher than in women who have not undergone the procedure (Behrendt & Moritz, 2005). The excruciating pain, often inflicted without anaesthesia, leaves lasting psychological scars. What cuts deepest is the betrayal—the realisation that the very hands meant to nurture were the ones that inflicted harm. The damage ripples through a woman's life, fostering deep distrust.

Often framed as a practice for women, FGM is, in reality, a tool of patriarchal control. It is reinforced by the false belief that it benefits women, suppressing female autonomy. Many see uncut women as 'promiscuous,' making FGM a prerequisite for marriage (Asmani & Abdi, 2008). Justified as a means of ensuring chastity, it reduces a woman’s worth to her purity, reinforcing gender inequality.

Supporters argue that FGM fosters cultural identity, while others claim it has religious roots, even though no sacred texts prescribe it (WHO, 2025). Many religious leaders have denounced FGM, yet myths persist, allowing it to continue under the guise of tradition. However, cultural traditions must not override fundamental human rights. Just as societies abandoned foot binding and child marriage, harmful traditions like FGM, which offer no benefits, must be eliminated (WHO, 2025). True progress protects individuals, not outdated practices.

Breaking the silence is the first step towards change, but lasting solutions require a multifaceted approach. Women alone cannot drive change—men must actively join the conversation. Education is crucial; public awareness campaigns have successfully reduced FGM by shifting societal attitudes (Matanda et al., 2023). Religious leaders can also help dispel misconceptions as public condemnation weakens support for the practice. Strengthening legal frameworks is also essential; countries like Burkina Faso that have criminalised FGM have seen significant declines in cases (UNFPA, 2025). With these measures in place, Singapore can work towards eradicating this harmful practice.

Many wrongly equate ending FGM with losing cultural identity but true progress lies in evolving beyond harm. Singapore prides itself on being progressive, yet as long as FGM persists, progress remains unfinished.

Silence is complicity. It is time for Singapore to confront this hidden wound.

Reference List

Asmani, I. L., & Abdi, M. S. (2008). Delinking Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting from Islam. https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/De-linking%20FGM%20from%20Islam%20final%20report.pdf

Behrendt, A., & Moritz, S. (2005). Post traumatic stress disorder and memory problems after female genital mutilation. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(5), 1000–1002. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.5.1000

Matanda, D. J., Van Eekert, N., Croce-Galis, M., Gay, J., Middelburg, M. J., & Hardee, K. (2023). What interventions are effective to prevent or respond to female genital mutilation? A review of existing evidence from 2008–2020. PLOS Global Public Health, 3(5), e0001855. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001855

Sarayloo, K., Latifnejad Roudsari, R., & Elhadi, A. (2021). Health Consequences of Female Genital Mutilation: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(13), 7195. https://doi.org/10.22086/gmj.v8i0.1336

UNFPA. (2025). Female genital mutilation. United Nations Population Fund. https://www.unfpa.org/female-genital-mutilation#summery120403

World Health Organization. (2025). Female genital mutilation. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs241/en/