Decoding the Mindset of Young People in Singapore

In the field of design research, a golden rule to abide by is to shed off all assumptions and have as little bias as possible. It is no secret that young people are generally labelled in society and the media as being entitled, self-centred, lazy… the list goes on.

After having previously done research on young people in Singapore as part of a project, those were the kinds of preconceived notions we left at the door, and sure enough what we discovered in the end was a completely different narrative — young people who are facing challenges but remain dynamic, resourceful, and active members of the community. The results were so intriguing that we wanted to build on our findings and spend more time developing and seeping through layers of this complex topic. In this piece, our goal is to showcase the stories of young people in Singapore, as well as some of the learnings that we extracted.

#1. Diversified and Non-linear Learning Beyond their Careers to Sharpen Skills

• Several young people are diversifying their learning methods beyond career focus or major, stressing that doing your best and working hard is the only way to achieve goals.
• In many instances, they have carefully thought about what they want to learn and how they want to learn it — a pragmatic and cautious approach that displayed a targeted output.
• Most people cited online videos, articles, workshops and courses to stay relevant in their industry, or pick up new skills they are interested in.

“It’s important to stay curious about life. I don’t want to only be good at what I do, but other things as well — this is why I am currently attending courses on Python and coding.”

#2. Short-term Experiences Overseas, Long-term Vision of Life in Singapore

• Many young people we spoke to have always imagined living in Singapore because it is home and they have grown accustomed to the lifestyle, not to mention their friends and family are here.
• Some have casually thought about moving to countries like Australia or New Zealand for a more relaxed way of life but don’t believe that they will be actively pursuing it.
• Some young people are open to considering working abroad for a few years to gain more exposure. However, they hope to eventually settle down in Singapore to be with their family.
• When it comes to travel experiences, young people tend to prefer adventurous vacations like backpacking to unconventional places to broaden their horizons and have an authentic experience.
• One young lady we spoke to referred to herself as a “cultural tourist” because she travels to experience another culture and learn about different ways of living.

“I try to travel as much as I can — I think we live in a stressful society and it is a good way to relax and see the world. I love talking to locals, soaking up the culture, and think about what it would be like if I grew up in another country.”

#3. Making Connections and Bringing Value to the Community

• Many young people see value in participating in sports or social clubs as it gives them an opportunity to be a part of a community of like-minded people.
• Schools often encourage young people to take on volunteer or community projects locally or internationally. Having experienced the value and importance of giving back, these students often continue to volunteer with the organisations even after they graduate.
• We have also spoken to young people who spend their weekends working with elderly folks or getting involved in religious groups to help empower other individuals within the community.
• Many of the young people we spoke to did not have to worry about basic needs, and now see a value in giving back and uplifting those that don’t have similar access to resources.

“I volunteered in Cambodia thinking I was going to help, but what I found is that they taught me so much more. I realized life is about people and you achieve success when you can bring joy to those around you.

#4. Prioritising Time for Themselves in a Highly Competitive Landscape

• Several young people admitted feeling pressures of living in a big city within a highly competitive and stressful environment. Due to this, they turn to self-care, travel or making sure they have a good work environment.
• In general, their immediate concerns are tangible and not long term, mostly about their career, as well as health and family well-being. They understand that having a good career allows them to take care of their family and start their own family — therefore, they are worried about getting a good job, even before some had even graduated.
• For some, self-care hacks include making dedicated time for themselves, usually in ways that are inexpensive and easily integrated into their hectic life. One young man at a university told us that in order to reset, he likes to plug in his earphones and get on the bus for hours, simply because he likes being surrounded by others and found that relaxing.
• Young people struggle to make time for self-care but understand the importance of it, and that if they take care of themselves well, they have more capacity to have love and empathy for everyone else.

“Be happy with what you have now, don’t always chase the next goal. Just try your best and don’t put too much pressure on yourself!”

#5. Taking Life Step by Step, Staying Open-Minded About Potential Changes Ahead

• We noticed that future plans and goals tend to be very tangible and achievable, the most popular ones being getting a house, getting married, and having a stable job.
• The approach to the future is a practical one, making decisions based on their strengths and following a process of elimination where they select potential career paths by evaluating a handful of choices.
• However, these young people are also very open-minded about pivoting and changing paths. In fact, some young people realised that they want a switch in career only after they have tried it, whether it be an internship or a major in university.
• Young people generally do not think too far out in the future because they anticipate changes in their decisions as they learn and grow — many have faith in the step-by-step approach where following a clear path will eventually lead to goals, despite changes along the way.

“Keep an open heart and an open mind. Every year you discover new things and priorities change. It’s hard to know what I will be doing in 10 years’ time. You grow, and your personality changes.”

This process has uncovered insights on young people in Singapore: the ever-present vibrant energy, appetite to learn through various ways and the desire to be part of something bigger than thou — but also a whirlwind of questions about the future in a rapidly-digitised world. Step by step, day by day, despite the fogginess and a feeling of uncertainty on one degree or another, many of the young people we spoke with displayed true force and perseverance to move forward in their respective paths.