SHENTONISTA

Tell us what you study and why you decided to pursue this particular field. I’m in my final year as a literature…

“I used to want to be a YouTuber when I was younger, but did a 180 when I dabbled in creative coding in my school’s InfoComm Club and decided to do a double degree in Media Arts and Computer Science. They might seem like two ends of the spectrum, but they’re actually quite similar in nature, because with the technology we have now, it’s only natural to use new tools to create art.”

“At 22, I’m starting to feel the pressure of growing older as my 25-year-old brother just got married. I do want my parents to see my children grow up, but I still have a lot more that I want to achieve and explore before I finally settle down, so I’m not in a hurry.”

“I decided to become a kindergarten teacher because I just love being around children; my students even call me “Mum” sometimes! Even though they’re so young, we’re like good friends, and I’m so happy when I’m with them.”

“I moved to Singapore from China to study because I wanted to get some breathing space and physically distance myself from my parents for a bit so that I have the freedom to pursue my own interests without causing any form of unhappiness at home. Ultimately, I hope that being in Singapore will transform me into a better person—someone that my parents can be proud of.”

“I’m studying Culinary and Business Management in Republic Polytechnic, which used to be something I was passionate about. Sadly, due to the stressful environment, I’ve lost interest in pursuing it professionally. Maybe I’ll try something related to food science, or even enrol in fashion school next.”

“My love for musical theatre started from movie adaptations of musicals. I was also exposed to lesser known classics in my school band and found a deep appreciation for orchestral music. To me, musicals are the full package of performative arts. There’s singing, dancing, acting, live instrumentals—what more can I ask for?”

“I was a hairstylist for 10 years back in Tokyo where I’m from, but I’ve wanted to work overseas since I was a student. When my boss offered me a chance to cut hair in Singapore, I had to say yes.”

“Since moving out, I’ve learnt that it takes a lot of intentional effort to maintain a home. When I lived with my parents, everything ran so smoothly and I never noticed the consistency needed to keep the house running. Even when I was living in hall or abroad on exchange, it always felt temporary, plus I was only in charge of a much smaller space, so living independently in an actual home is quite a change.”

“In the barbering industry, there are still people who think that only men can cut men’s hair. But in spite of that, I started up a barbershop of my own, Dee Yonder. My dream is to have Dee Yonder be fully women-run, so I’m looking for new barbers to join me.”

“My photography studio, How Light Falls, combines three things I love—photography, sincere connections, and community service. More than just a name, it’s a life motto about slowing down enough to observe how light falls (literally), and feeling gratitude for life’s little moments.”

“I love art because it’s such a good way to learn about something or someone that you would have never otherwise thought or conversed about. Each work means different things to different people, so by talking about art with someone else, you could gain a very different perspective about a certain issue.”