Study hard, take exams, get a good degree. Rinse and repeat. This is what students have been told countless times.
Education consultancy Crimson Education and tuition centre School of Thought are joining forces to host the Real Life Conference to provide 15 to 19 year old students from Singapore with a different narrative: there’s more to life than chasing academic excellence.
The conference consists of talks and workshops that explore themes such as using their privilege as a force for good, dealing with failure and fostering innovation. The full day event on 19 January 2019 will bring together young leaders from all walks of life to help students discover their passions and determine their own higher education and possible career paths.
Quek Xin Er, general manager of Crimson Education and guest speaker at the Real Life Conference says, “Especially in a competitive society like Singapore, students have to deal with expectations from their school, their parents and themselves to perform well as academics are placed above all else. In real life however, there is more than one definition of success, and more than one type of intelligence. By putting students in contact with these inspiring, young speakers, some of whom have faced adversity and all of whom are contributing to their communities, we hope to demonstrate that.”
Speakers include 2018 Singapore Youth Award winner, published poet and co-founder of the non-profit ReadAble Amanda Chong, Director & Founder of Ground Up Innovations Labs for Development Ibnur Rashad, and economics teacher at Eunoia Junior College David Hoe, who defied Singapore’s education system to go from the Normal (Technical) stream to attending the National University of Singapore on a scholarship.
In line with government policies to curb students’ obsession with grades, the Real Life Conference aims to drive home the importance of exploring interests beyond the world of academia and widen the horizons of students by exposing them to aspects of the real world. In addition to learning from the experiences of these thought-provoking speakers, students will have the opportunity to attend workshops focused on delivering practical skills, such as creating their own roadmap towards their dream university, and securing a meaningful internship post Junior College.
Held at the School of Thought Auditorium, registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and priced at SGD 20 (half-day) and SGD 30 (full-day) for students at http://bit.ly/RealLifeConference.
PROGRAMME:
Morning Talks | 10am-1pm
10am – 10.45am: “First in my family: How and why I got into Yale University”
Meet Xin Er, a Yale graduate who was the first in her entire family to head to university. Listen to how she managed to get admitted, and even secured financial aid without her parents’ help.
10.45am – 11.30am: “How can you use your privilege for good?”
Meet Amanda Chong, a young lawyer educated in Cambridge and Harvard who is also a published poet. She believes that everyone should be empowered to tell their own story. She works towards this by teaching literacy to underprivileged children and migrant women, in the hope of eradicating social inequality. Listen to how she channeled her talents to the community and how she found her purpose.
11.30am – 12.15pm: “Beating the odds: Being a “failure” in the education system”
Meet David Hoe, a young Singaporean teacher whose unconventional education route got him from N(T) to Express to JC, and onward to university. Listen to how he defied the odds and statistics to prove that he was more than what the system told him he was.
12.15pm – 1pm: “Why reinvent the way we innovate”
Meet Ibnur Rashad, a young innovator whose job is finding solutions to our society’s complex social problems. Listen to how he got started as an innovator and how a young person can make a social impact.
Afternoon Workshops | 2pm – 5pm
For current JC students:
2pm – 3.30pm: “One-stop guide: Create your roadmap to your dream university”
This workshop will cover a comprehensive and detailed overview of the components and steps each application system (U.S., UK and Singapore) consists of. Using case studies of students that got into the best unis in the world, we’ll also delve into how you can harness your interests into an edge that stands out. Come listen to the experts as they give you advice on how to start planning early to impove your chance at getting into your dream university!
3.30pm – 5pm: “Student panel: How did I make the most out of my JC life?”
Would you like to know if you have made the right choice in subject combo? Want to know how to prepare for competition season? Come listen to a curated panel of students who have graduated from JC, and listen to the best pieces of advice and tips on how to make JC life easier and more interesting.
For JC graduates:
2pm – 4pm: “Post-JC internships: what to apply for and what is available”
For many, graduating from JC and army can be a very confusing time. Many are inundated by possibilities and often have no real clue on what to choose, much less prioritise. Come listen to Tong Yee as he talks how you can meaningfully spend your precious time before university (he will also give you details on available internships).
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
- JC students looking to build a more meaningful JC life
- Graduates consciously deciding on their next step
- Students interested in learning how they can make a positive impact in their communities!
Event details at a glance:
Date: Saturday 19 Jan 2019
Time: 10am to 5pm
Venue: School of Thought Auditorium
222 Queen Street, #04-01
Singapore 188550
Price: $20 for half day (either morning or afternoon session)
$30 for full day
First come first serve. Reserve your spot now to avoid disappointment! To sign up, please visit at http://bit.ly/RealLifeConference.
