Our Nation, Our World

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UNIT 1: FINDING MY VOICE

The aims of this Unit are to help students:

• understand their individual roles and communal responsibilities and seek
meaningful purposes in their lives,
• find their voices and plan their actions as they engage themselves and the
local and global community
• understand the responsibilities involved in the voicing of one’s opinions

Quote

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live,
it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I
die, for the harder I work the more I live. ~George Bernard Shaw

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Activity 1: Roles in Our Lives – Finding our Voice

According to the last Population Census, the live expectancy of Singaporeans (Male
and Female) is _________years. (Do an immediate online search to find out the
magic figure) That means that most of us will live to that age. During those
_________years, what are some of the roles that we are likely to play? List down at
least 10. (you need not repeat roles which are long term ones e.g. ‘sister’)

From 1-10 years: ___________________________________________________

From 11-20 years: __________________________________________________

From 21-30 years: __________________________________________________

From 31- 40 years: __________________________________________________

From 41-50 years: ___________________________________________________

From 51- 60 years: __________________________________________________

From 61- 70 years: __________________________________________________

From 71-80 years: ___________________________________________________

Beyond 81 years: ____________________________________________________

Activity 2: Roles and Responsibilities Versus Society

and Self Expectations
From the above roles, select three major roles you will play in your life. What do you
think are the responsibilities society expects of you in these roles?

Role One: ____________________

______________________________________________________________

Role Two: ____________________

______________________________________________________________

Role Three:____________________

______________________________________________________________

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What are the responsibilities you expect of yourself in these roles? Do they match
the responsibilities society expects of you? Why?

Role One: ____________________

______________________________________________________________

Role Two: ____________________

______________________________________________________________

Role Three: ____________________

______________________________________________________________

Activity 3: Major Categories and Milestones

From some of the roles highlighted in the earlier activities, it is clear that they can be
classified under some major categories. These may include:
• Family and Friends:
• Education:
• Career/Job:
• Marriage/Relationships:
• Home/Property
• Spiritual/Religion:
• Health/Wellness:

For each of the categories, which is at least ONE goal that you may set for yourself.
Do provide a timeline (in brackets)

Category Specific Goals (Age)

Family and Friends:

Education

Career/Job

Marriage/Relationships

Home/Property

Spiritual/Religion

Health/Wellness

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What are your reasons for setting yourself these goals? Provide at least THREE
reasons.

1. ______________________________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________

Activity 4: Strategies to Realize Goals

As you work on your goals in the specific areas, what is important includes how you
are going to realise your goals. You need some kind of strategy or plan. For each of
the goals listed above, list down what are certain actions you must take to ensure
that they are met.
Category Specific Goals Strategies

Family and
Friends:

Education

Career/Job

Marriage/
Relationships

Home/Property

Spiritual/
Religion

Health/
Wellness

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Activity 5: Obstacles Along the Way

Sometimes, there are obstacles along the way as we are working towards our goals.
What do you think are some possible obstacles and how will you handle them? List
them in the table below.
Category Specific Goals Obstacles Solutions

Family and
Friends:

Education

Career/Job

Marriage/
Relationships

Home/Property

Spiritual/
Religion

Health/
Wellness

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Activity 6: What about Your Larger Community?

As you assess your goals, your strategies to achieve them, the obstacles
along the way and your solutions to handle them, did you pause to consider how
much of your goals involve the larger community?
What makes up the larger community? These include your family and
relatives, your friends in school and at work, your colleagues etc. Beyond that, it
could be fellow citizens, your neighbours in your housing estate and fellow citizens of
your country. Even beyond that, did you consider the global community.
Increasingly, global events like climate change, political conflicts, financial and
economic crises have a greater impact on our lives.
What are our roles and responsibilities in the larger community? Let’s
categorize some of these areas so that we can appreciate the extent of our role in
the _______number of years we can expect to live in this world. List as many as you
can under the three categories listed below.

In case of overlaps, just write in the column that is most relevant

Local
Social Political Economic

Global
Social Political Economic

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Activity 7: The Importance of Engaging the Larger

Community – Extending our Voice
Let’s refer back to our life expectancy of ________ years. With that in mind, what do
you think are the roles we play in the larger community? List at least three for each.

As Citizen of our Country:

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

As Citizen of the World:

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

Investing in your community in terms of the time and effort you put into it is like a
form of insurance. You need to invest in it because when you really need it (like in an
emergency), it is likely to be no longer available.

Activity 8: So now that you’ve found your voice…

Assuming that you are now all charged up to be an active member of your
community, eager to start questioning and taking issues to task, what are avenues for
doing so? Of course, you may already be familiar with some of them. The following
are some channels of communication for you to voice your grievances.

The Straits Times Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/ST+Forum/ST+Forum.html

Voices, Today Online: http://voices.todayonline.com/default.aspx
ECitizen: http://www.ecitizen.gov.sg/
SINGOV Government Information: http://www.gov.sg/
REACH: http://app.reach.gov.sg

IMPORTANT: Please read the next page…

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Important: As you approach some of these issues, you must remember to

exercise responsible behaviour. Always ask yourself these questions:

a. Is my criticism fair? Is it constructive or destructive?

b. Are my reasons for voicing my opinions valid, fair and justifiable?
c. Have I assessed the issue in terms of the various points of view that exists for
not just myself but others.
d. What are the impacts of what I have to say on myself, the people directly
involved and the larger community?
e. Have I approach the people directly involved in the issue before making it a
full blown affair?
f. Are there no other avenues for me to voice my grievances which may reflect
badly on myself, the people directly involved and/or the larger community?
g. Is the mode of giving my opinion (newspaper, online media etc.) an
appropriate one?

What are the SP Core Values in relation to the above?

• Self Discipline
• Personal Integrity
• Care & Concern
• Openness
• Responsibility
• Excellence

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