H O O K E D - NUS Dreaming: Big Dreams. Bigger Ambitions?

NUS Dreaming: Big Dreams. Bigger Ambitions?

Written by Yeo Zhi Qi and Rachel Xu

HOOKED sets out on an adventure to dig deep into a few graduating students' memories, just so we can uncover a few ~~insane~~ astounding childhood ambitions.

"I mean how do you know what you're going to do till you do it? The answer is, you don't. I think I am, but how do I know? I swear it's a stupid question."

- J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

Some people know all their lives what they want to do "in the future." When "in the future" transforms to the present moment, they change their minds and abandon that childhood dream of being a baker, to be a banker instead.

We all have dreams, some last for two days, others stretch out for years till we graduate. Whether these dreams are influenced by the people around us or by the media, it has become a way, for some, to cope with an ambiguous future. And it seems that the term "childhood dreams" is rightly appropriate, after all, they remain as fluffy images in our minds, as we chuckle and think fondly about the days when we were less jaded, before we learnt that we're "little cogs", "little men clinging to little jobs".

In this issue, Hooked goes around campus to speak to some graduating Honours students, most of whom are about to depart the academia world for good to join the great big workforce out there. After a long sixteen years of studying, are they ready to live out that childhood dream of theirs?

        Dewi is a 4th Year Sociology major, who once envisioned herself delving into the deep seas to be a marine biologist. Her love for the ocean was inspired by her dad who was an avid sailor.

        However, fate intervened in curious (natural) ways and Dewi has found that her aptitude lies in Sociology, not baffling neutrons and protons.

        She enjoys Sociology because it heightens her knowledge about the world around her and at the same time, raises thought-provoking (harrowing) questions about life as we know it.

Dewi now hopes to be a housewife in the future. Before any masochistic feminist commentary begins, let's set things straight. This sassy young lady hopes that being a housewife will free up more time for her to do NGO work and thus, give her a chance to be involved in what she is truly passionate about.

‘My mom said that I'll be a prime minister.'

His mother's belief sparked Dong Thou's childhood ambition to rise up to be the most powerful figure in North Korea. Currently in his 4^th year in NUS, Dong Thou has found his passion in Sociology and renounced his childhood ambitions for the continual (continual, continual, continual...) pursuit of knowledge. Dong Thou will be aiming to attain his Masters in Sociology after he completes his honors.

Who knows if his childhood ambition will one day materialize? Look closely at this face for it may just happen to graze the papers in the future!

melvin

        Affable Melvin, a regular in the Navy, is quick to share that he has no particular ambition in mind when he was young and has only seen the light in the past two years.

        This Year 4 Sociology student now aims to be in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). His interest was piqued when he watched a fighting video clip he downloaded and he has since been pursuing his interest by joining the varsity's Muay Thai Club.

        Melvin hopes to work (out) towards his ambition by concentrating on building up ‘em muscles when he graduates.

        We can't wait to see him beat the living daylights out of crummy fighters and bring some glory to us supposed nerds in NUS.

Shu Fen is an awe-inspiring 4th Year student who has a big heart to match her huge aspirations.

She had toyed with the idea of being a doctor when she was younger but decided it was not her calling when she realized Biology eluded her.

Now a Sociology major, Shu Fen aims to become the entrepreneur of the year within the next 10 years. This ambitious young lass has it all well thought out, including a plan to horde massive amounts of cash (otherwise known as capital accumulation) in the next three years.

Aside from achieving this goal of hers, this driven young lady hopes to set up a school in possibly Brazil or Gana. She hopes that she can use her Dad's business affiliations to help make a difference in these communities. Shu Fen hopes that her school will help the children in these communities hone skills which will enable them to make a living.

Jun Xiang

We bumped into Jun Xiang, a Year 4 Economics major, while he was hard at work behind his bulwark of books. After invading his territory and insisting for a response, he took some time off all the facts and figures and confided in us that his childhood ambition was to be a teacher because he felt that it would be a relatively easy job.

Now armed with the knowledge, talent and a thirst for the more tangible things in life, Jun Xiang hopes to become an analyst in the future.

However, he thinks that one should not be too bent on ideas or ambitions for many dreams can pass. ‘It can all change,' he quipped in a knowing manner.

Kenneth

Inspired by childhood heroes such as Fandhi Ahmad, Kenneth used to be extremely keen on becoming a professional football player. Practicality, however, has come in between his childhood dream and himself and now, he feels that he may well end up starving if he chooses that path.

Discovering his capability in Economics, Kenneth is excited to be surrounded by numerals in his future aspiration as an analyst/investment banker.

From this insightful yet inconclusive poll, it seems that many relinquish their childhood dreams due to unforeseen circumstances (or the lack thereof). Be it pragmatism, the whiff of wads of cold hard cash, or after years of daunting studies, the metamorphosis of dreams suddenly seems to have become part and parcel of growing up.

Nevertheless, in the face of such pessimistic developments, we should aspire to look upon the loss of childhood dreams as a mere progression, as success often begins with small faltering and possibly wrong steps (or so we would like to believe). HOOKED

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