Forum: Don't just rely on schools to pick a hobby
While there has been greater emphasis on holistic development, schools alone cannot meet every student's needs. Some struggle to maintain the breadth and scale of their co-curricular activities – something I've experienced first-hand in my junior college .
This makes it all the more important for students to take ownership of their personal growth. We should not wait for schools to offer opportunities, but instead take the initiative to explore our own interests.
Today, picking up a hobby is easier than ever. Online platforms and public libraries provide free or low-cost resources on everything from photography to foreign languages. ActiveSG sports centres also offer a wide range of classes – from kickboxing to yoga – many of which can be paid for using the Government's recent top-up of ActiveSG credits.
Hobbies can make our youth far more enriching – and who knows where they may lead us.
Jaden Tee, 18
More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
a day ago
- Straits Times
The Chic Home: Mother-daughter apartment in Meyer Road
Find out what's new on ST website and app. SINGAPORE – Ms Lynn Ng chose Mr Dennis Cheok, founder and creative director of UPSTRS_, to design her home after many months of following the local firm's work. Ms Ng, who works in finance and did not give her age, lives in an 883 sq ft two-bedroom condominium in Meyer Road. She shares the home with her daughter Tessa Liew, a 24-year-old law graduate. 'I wanted a separate and standalone walk-in closet, which I do not mind sharing with Tessa. I also wanted Dennis to work with a new sofa I had acquired,' says Ms Ng. The home's size and layout were challenging to work around, but proved to be opportunities in disguise for Mr Cheok. For one thing, the private lift lobby was small, dark and claustrophobic, and did not have enough space for the owner's shoes. The designer replaced the foyer's solid timber door with a slatted timber screen. PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG To resolve this, Mr Cheok built full-height concealed shoe closets along two walls of the foyer. By removing the solid timber door separating the foyer from the rest of the home and replacing it with a slatted timber sliding screen, daylight from the living area can filter through to the vestibule without sacrificing privacy. The living and dining areas are the social spaces that form the heart of the home. Taking pride of place is a Gallotti&Radice Audrey Sofa from Singapore retailer Marquis QSquare. The sofa's gentle arc echoes the curved profile of the balcony beside the living area. The home owner requested a round dining table to encourage connection and conversation. PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG Ms Ng requested a round dining table to encourage connection and conversation. Suspended overhead is a pendant lamp from IIII, with a twisted LED profile covered with semi-transparent fabric for a moire effect. The living and dining areas are her favourite hangouts in the home. These are also where her friends gather when they come over. This was part of Mr Cheok's design intent, he says. 'We planned the living and dining spaces to be open and seamless to encourage an uninterrupted and organic flow. A small group of friends can gather and shift between the living area and dining table, while a larger group can fill this space and engage in conversations across both spaces unobstructed.' Along the walkway leading to the two bedrooms, a row of half-windows lines one wall. This custom-designed brise soleil lets natural light into the previously dark corridor. Detailing it as a casement window allows the screen to swing open for service access to the air-conditioner ledge. Custom-designed half-windows let natural light into a dark corridor. PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG After exploring various iterations of the layout, Ms Ng and Mr Cheok agreed on a galley-style walk-in wardrobe that connects the two bedrooms. Ms Liew's bed is elevated on a platform, with a desk at the corner that overlooks the neighbourhood. Decked out in a similar light wood palette is her mother's bedroom, designed as a cosy and restful retreat. The owner's bedroom is decked out in a light wood palette. PHOTO: WONG WEILIANG The design and construction took three to four months, while the renovations took another four and cost about $200,000. Mother and daughter moved into their renovated home in July 2024.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
Zouk nightclub secures 5-year lease extension
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Zouk's chief executive said the lease renewal means a renovation and diversification towards F&B and live music offerings. SINGAPORE – Zouk Singapore, the Republic's longest-running nightclub, has secured a lease renewal from landlord CapitaLand that will keep the iconic venue's doors open until 2031. Zouk's new lease will commence in June 2026, following the expiration of its current agreement in May 2026. The River Valley Road nightclub, which first launched in 1991 on Jiak Kim Street, is Clarke Quay's anchor nightlife tenant and has long been one of Singapore's defining nightlife establishments. Mr Andrew Li, Zouk Group's chief executive, told The Straits Times in an email statement that there are no changes to the leasing terms regarding operating hours. But the company intends to extend the operating schedule for several of its venues, by increasing both the number of operating days and daily operating hours, he said. The nightclub currently comprises three spaces: Zouk, its flagship; Capital, aimed at working professionals; and Phuture, aimed at young adults. Asked about what lies ahead for the venue, Mr Li said: 'We believe that our new set-up and renovations will enable us to develop new verticals by integrating food and beverage offerings and live performances.' Mr Li described these as 'additional revenue streams' which also enhance the overall guest experience. This strategy of diversification reflects broader industry pressures faced by nightlife venues in Singapore, including high operating costs, shifting consumer preferences toward sober experiences, and shifting appeal among Gen Z . Mr Li previously told ST that 2022 marked the nightclub's best year yet, due to post-Covid revenge partying, though business has softened in subsequent years. Amid evolving consumer tastes, Zouk has also sought to transform itself through enhanced music and events programming, featuring sell-out international acts such as American DJ Illenium. Zouk's evolution also reflects broader changes in the Clarke Quay area, which underwent a $62 million rejuvenation project into a day-and-night destination that was completed in 2024. The nightclub moved to its current location in 2016, after a quarter-century spent in its previous home on Jiak Kim Street.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Fun With Kids: Local breakfast plushies, makerspace at Children's Museum, free picture book on cancer
Find out what's new on ST website and app. The Kopi & Toast plush toy collection is inspired by traditional coffee-shop breakfast items. SINGAPORE – Make family time all the more special with these ideas and activities. Plush toys inspired by kopitiam breakfast Indulge in 'breakfast' with Kopi & Toast plush toys, a collection inspired by traditional coffee-shop classics. This playful line-up features eight items, including the Kaya Butter Toast ($15.90), Soft Boiled Eggs ($12.90) and Kopi Cup ($19.90). Don't miss the Teh Bing Tote Bag ($24.90), a whimsical tribute to iced milk tea served in a takeaway plastic bag. These plushies, designed by local game-play and entertainment brand Play Nation, are available at Kopi Shop, a pop-up retail space at Marina Square mall until Aug 17. The Kopi Cup, Soft Boiled Eggs and Kaya Butter Toast plush toys are inspired by breakfast classics at traditional coffee shops. PHOTO: PLAY NATION Watch staff members play-pretend and prepare your food at a serving counter – adding a dash of 'dark soya sauce' and 'pepper' to your 'soft-boiled eggs' and toasting the 'bread' – before they pack your purchase into a bag. Mini versions of the plush collection, complete with a keyring, are also available in blind boxes for $14.90 each. Spend at least $80 at the mall to redeem a kopitiam building block set worth $19.90. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Group CEO Go to for details. New makerspace exploring food heritage Ms Asmah Alias, museum director of Children's Museum Singapore, introduces the new makerspace Play + Make to pre-schoolers at a preview. PHOTO: CHILDREN'S MUSEUM SINGAPORE Children's Museum Singapore has a new makerspace offering your little ones hands-on learning about local food heritage. Launched on July 20, Play + Make runs until March 31, 2026, and complements the museum's ongoing play-based exhibition Into The Hawkerverse that pays tribute to hawker culture. Your kids can engage in various activities, such as designing crockery and assembling outfits on mannequins. Show them that creativity can be endless – just take inspiration from the maker's cabinet, which displays unique creations by local designers. These include a black pearl durian-inspired dress and sneakers influenced by the colours of Hokkien mee and nasi lemak. Your kids can also view exhibits related to local food heritage, such as the variety of moulds for making traditional kueh. Children's Museum is dedicated to kids aged 12 and below. Admission is free for Singapore citizens and permanent residents. Otherwise, it is $10 a child and $15 an adult. Only adults accompanying kids are allowed in the museum. Book online at before going. Tickets are available for booking 30 days in advance. Free picture book to help talk about cancer Breast Cancer Foundation member Chen Yi shares the story of The Adventure Jar with her sons. PHOTO: BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION Explaining a family member's serious medical condition to kids is often challenging. Picture book The Adventure Jar aims to spark loving conversations and help them feel secure. It offers a poignant look at a family navigating advanced breast cancer through the eyes of young Cassie. Despite the disruptions and uncertainty caused by her mother's illness, the girl learns to focus on the good in life. Published in August 2024, the book is a collaborative effort with eight breast cancer patients, a psychiatrist and biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences in the United States. Picture book The Adventure Jar draws inspiration from the real-life experiences of eight breast cancer patients. PHOTO: BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION The Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) in Singapore has made this book available on its website for free download in English ( ) and Chinese ( ). It is recommended for children aged six to 12. A recent survey conducted by BCF in collaboration with Gilead Sciences, involving 93 cancer patients and survivors, found that 85 per cent felt their children did not understand their illness. This highlights a concerning gap that can affect a child's emotional health. Through books such as The Adventure Jar, BCF aims to ensure that families feel supported and connected, even during life's most trying times. The non-profit organisation will be distributing the hardcover copies of the book to public libraries, selected breast clinics and healthcare organisations.
