Gen Y Speaks

Raj Nadarajan/TODAY

Gen Y Speaks: I was never a clubber. Now, going to clubs and parties with my mum, 59, has made us close for the first time

Not many people my age find themselves in a nightclub accompanied by — of all people — their mother.

By Nelly De Castro

Growing up, the author Damien Poh had imagined himself following a "conventional" career path like others.

Gen Y Speaks: I’m a ‘serial entrepreneur’. Here’s why I prefer working on multiple ventures to 1 full-time job

By Damien Poh

Despite his initial reluctance, Glen Lee (above) is glad he undertook a formal degree after all.

Gen Y Speaks: I never cared about a degree, until my first 2 businesses failed. Now I see how education isn’t just a piece of paper

By Glen Lee

Befriending people from different backgrounds is one small step towards fostering racial harmony, says the author (centre), pictured here with her friends, Hairianto Diman and Yana Gagarin. Photos: Munah Bagharib

Why we need to engage in conversations about race

By Munah Bagharib

As a secondary school student, Edison Ang Huixiang failed all his science subjects: Chemistry, physics, and biology. The 36-year-old is now an assistant professor of natural sciences and science education at NIE/NTU Singapore.

Gen Y Speaks: I was a science dunce in school. But I refused to give up, and now I'm a science professor

By Edison Ang Huixiang

In the months leading up to her 30th birthday, Alvona Loh Zi Hui found herself grappling with Fogo — the fear of getting old.

Gen Y Speaks: I was anxious about turning 30 — but now I'm loving it

By Alvona Loh Zi Hui

Gen Y Speaks: What early onset balding taught me about life, loss and what it means to be a man

By John Lim

Gen Y Speaks: I wanted to leave the nest by age 30 to be independent — but by staying home, I ended up gaining much more

By K B Ryan Joshua Mahindapala

Gen Y Speaks: I was a ‘ne’er-do-well’, but my mentors helped me turn my life around. Here’s how I’m paying it forward

By Ryan Goh

In 2017, national sprinter Shanti Pereira (above) felt like "a complete failure" due to a series of setbacks in both her professional and personal lives, including not being able to clinch a gold medal at that year's SEA Games. Here's how she found her footing again over the next few years.

Gen Y Speaks by Shanti Pereira: How I learnt to build resilience, both on and off the track

By Shanti Pereira

As young Singaporeans, we work long and hard. What can be so wrong with spending our own money on things that seem like imprudent purchases to others, but provide to us some unconventional or intangible benefit?

Gen Y Speaks: Doing 'girl math' used to make me feel guilty, but here's why I decided to stop feeling bad about it

By Alvona Loh Zi Hui

After years of feeling lost and struggling with money problems, finance feels like a real calling for Gen Y Speaks writer Danish Said.

Gen Y Speaks: I used to rely on odd jobs to make ends meet. Studying finance has taught me to save and set money goals

By Danish Said

Edwin Gan, 34, has Grade 3 astrocytoma, a malignant, incurable brain tumour that affects one in 100,000 people.

Gen Y Speaks: I was diagnosed with brain cancer 3 months before my first child was born. The hardest part was learning to lean on others

By Edwin Gan

Avery Lim's journey as a software engineer started out smoothly — but the further she progressed, the more the shadows of imposter syndrome began to creep in.

Gen Y Speaks: As a former film student, I felt like a fraud in my coding career. Here’s how I overcame imposter syndrome

By Avery Lim

Can you remember the last time you disagreed with somebody?

Gen Y Speaks: We’re too afraid of disagreeing with each other, but here’s why we shouldn’t be

By Melissa Lee Suppiah

Gen Y speaks writer Rishma Theru, 28, poses for a photo at the POSB Work Permit Account Service Centre on March 27, 2024. She is a business manager for the Work Permit segment at DBS Bank's Consumer Banking Group where she works with migrant workers.

Ili Nadhirah Mansor/TODAY

Gen Y Speaks: Helping migrant workers as part of my bank job has opened my eyes to the needs of the vulnerable

Whenever someone asks me what I do in a bank, they’re surprised when I tell them I work with migrant workers.

By Rishma Theru

After being unable to find a job for nine months, the author finally embraced the reality of being self-employed.

Gen Y Speaks: How I transited from a full-time salaried job to self-employment

By John Lim

Gen Y Speaks: A panic attack taught me I can still be an 'independent feminist' even if I slow down and seek help

By Grace Ke

Tan Wan Ting, the 33-year-old founder of digital marketing agency Weave Asia, says she made it a point to balance her team's workload to prevent them from overworking like she used to.

Gen Y Speaks: Hustling too hard led me to burn out at 26. Now I know there's no prize for being 'the busy one'

By Tan Wan Ting

Former home baker Lee Su Fang, 27, says opening her own shop is the hardest thing she has ever done, but she does not regret her decision one bit.

Gen Y Speaks: From home bakes to pro cakes — how opening my own shop taught me to reframe my relationship with doubt

By Lee Su Fang

Gen Y Speaks: Success always came easy to me, until a tough job forced me to reckon with failure. Here's what I learnt

By Nathanael Lim

Gen Y Speaks: My struggle with post-natal depression led me to art. Now, I draw to advocate for mental health awareness

By Paige Lee

Gen Y Speaks: How I discovered my youngest child has a rare disease inhibiting her growth and what it means

By Robyn Wong-Niamkongkit

Is making and keeping friends simply impossible in Singapore?

Gen Y Speaks: Making and keeping friends as an adult is tougher than I thought. Here’s what helped

By John Lim

Jeremy Oh, director of OHBOY! Pictures, on Dec 1, 2023.

Gen Y Speaks: I let everyone go from the startup I founded while it was still doing well. Here's why I decided to start afresh

By Jeremy Oh

Samara Gan, artist and author of graphic novel How to Date a Dozen Men, on Nov 30, 2023.

Gen Y Speaks: I used to think my art wasn’t good enough, until I learnt what it meant to people

By Samara Gan

Grace Ke, 32, developed bilateral patellofemoral osteoarthritis as a result of body dysmorphia and eating disorders. She recently underwent surgery for both knees.

Gen Y Speaks: At 32, I thought getting diagnosed with osteoarthritis was the end — but I’m learning to see beauty in the pain

By Grace Ke

Despite her initial scepticism, Juliana Jorimi quickly found a sense of empowerment working as a delivery driver to provide for her kids.

Gen Y Speaks: I became a delivery driver to support my kids as a single mum. I didn't expect to fall in love with the job

By Juliana Jorimi

While many of her peers tend to move from job to job, being able to help people keeps Gina Toh passionate about being a customer service officer.

Gen Y Speaks: Overwhelmed by self-doubt, I pivoted to a customer service job. 8 years on, I'm still going strong

By Gina Toh

For event organiser Ash Abdullah (centre), the satisfaction of seeing a project come together is akin to receiving a standing ovation at the end of a theatre performance.

Gen Y Speaks: Being an events manager has been challenging. Here's how my background in theatre helps

By Ash Abdullah

For Sylvester Lim, the significance of microbial therapeutics extends beyond public health: The prospect of being able to treat his own condition of IBS is inspiring.

Gen Y Speaks: My obsession with zombie flicks inspired me to research groundbreaking treatments for chronic diseases

By Sylvester Lim

Alfian Bin Redzuan (left) attending to a patient at Ren Ci Community Hospital.

Gen Y Speaks: An accident crushed my rugby dreams, but also led me to a rewarding career in physiotherapy

By Alfian Bin Redzuan

Gen Y Speaks: I was recently hospitalised for the first time. It taught me the importance of empathy and preparedness

By Alvona Loh Zi Hui

Gen Y Speaks: A 4-day work week feels a pipe dream, but here’s why I hope to see it happen within my generation

By Linette Heng

Mr Dale Liu Dong Liang, 38, a banker with DBS and a national underwater hockey player. He represented Singapore in the 2019 Sea Games.

Gen Y Speaks: How I chased national glory in a self-funded sport while pursuing a banking career

By Dale Liu Dongliang

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Gen Y Speaks

Gen Y Speaks: I was never a clubber. Now, going to clubs and parties with my mum, 59, has made us close for the first time

Gen Y Speaks: I’m a ‘serial entrepreneur’. Here’s why I prefer working on multiple ventures to 1 full-time job

Gen Y Speaks: I never cared about a degree, until my first 2 businesses failed. Now I see how education isn’t just a piece of paper

Why we need to engage in conversations about race

Gen Y Speaks: I was a science dunce in school. But I refused to give up, and now I'm a science professor

Gen Y Speaks: I was anxious about turning 30 — but now I'm loving it

Gen Y Speaks: What early onset balding taught me about life, loss and what it means to be a man

Gen Y Speaks: I wanted to leave the nest by age 30 to be independent — but by staying home, I ended up gaining much more

Gen Y Speaks: I was a ‘ne’er-do-well’, but my mentors helped me turn my life around. Here’s how I’m paying it forward

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Gen Y Speaks by Shanti Pereira: How I learnt to build resilience, both on and off the track

Gen Y Speaks: Doing 'girl math' used to make me feel guilty, but here's why I decided to stop feeling bad about it

Gen Y Speaks: I used to rely on odd jobs to make ends meet. Studying finance has taught me to save and set money goals

Gen Y Speaks: I was diagnosed with brain cancer 3 months before my first child was born. The hardest part was learning to lean on others

Gen Y Speaks: As a former film student, I felt like a fraud in my coding career. Here’s how I overcame imposter syndrome

Gen Y Speaks: We’re too afraid of disagreeing with each other, but here’s why we shouldn’t be

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Gen Y Speaks: Helping migrant workers as part of my bank job has opened my eyes to the needs of the vulnerable

Gen Y Speaks: How I transited from a full-time salaried job to self-employment

Gen Y Speaks: A panic attack taught me I can still be an 'independent feminist' even if I slow down and seek help

Gen Y Speaks: Hustling too hard led me to burn out at 26. Now I know there's no prize for being 'the busy one'

Gen Y Speaks: From home bakes to pro cakes — how opening my own shop taught me to reframe my relationship with doubt

Gen Y Speaks: Success always came easy to me, until a tough job forced me to reckon with failure. Here's what I learnt

Gen Y Speaks: My struggle with post-natal depression led me to art. Now, I draw to advocate for mental health awareness

Gen Y Speaks: How I discovered my youngest child has a rare disease inhibiting her growth and what it means

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Gen Y Speaks: Making and keeping friends as an adult is tougher than I thought. Here’s what helped

Gen Y Speaks: I let everyone go from the startup I founded while it was still doing well. Here's why I decided to start afresh

Gen Y Speaks: I used to think my art wasn’t good enough, until I learnt what it meant to people

Gen Y Speaks: At 32, I thought getting diagnosed with osteoarthritis was the end — but I’m learning to see beauty in the pain

Gen Y Speaks: I became a delivery driver to support my kids as a single mum. I didn't expect to fall in love with the job

Gen Y Speaks: Overwhelmed by self-doubt, I pivoted to a customer service job. 8 years on, I'm still going strong

Gen Y Speaks: Being an events manager has been challenging. Here's how my background in theatre helps

Gen Y Speaks: My obsession with zombie flicks inspired me to research groundbreaking treatments for chronic diseases

Gen Y Speaks: An accident crushed my rugby dreams, but also led me to a rewarding career in physiotherapy

Gen Y Speaks: I was recently hospitalised for the first time. It taught me the importance of empathy and preparedness

Gen Y Speaks: A 4-day work week feels a pipe dream, but here’s why I hope to see it happen within my generation

Gen Y Speaks: How I chased national glory in a self-funded sport while pursuing a banking career

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Gen Y Speaks

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