“While a bit morbid, I would like to recommend the movie “127 Hours”. As a quick summary, the movie details how a man undergoes a canyoneering accident that leaves his arm pinned under a boulder, trapping him for a span of 127 hours. The movie goes to great lengths to speak about the true tenacity of the human spirit - how his innate will to live manifests in the grit and determination to perform such a courageous act in order to save his life. While such incidents fortunately do not befall most of us, this movie helped to put into perspective my personal view of suffering, while also inspiring me with his indomitable will that I one day hope to emulate.”
- Silas Yeo Shuen Yu, Smart Nation Scholar
“One of my favourite musicals (and movies on Disney+) is ‘Hamilton’ by Lin-Manuel Miranda, which narrates the life of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers, from his early life as an orphan to right-hand man of George Washington and America’s first secretary of the treasury. In one of the songs, ‘Dear Theodosia’, Hamilton tells his young son – “you will come of age with our young nation/ we’ll bleed and fight for you/ we’ll make it right for you/ if we lay a strong enough foundation/ we’ll pass it on to you, we’ll give the world to you/ and you’ll blow us all away/ someday, someday”.
Especially in long-term planning, the plans are iterated over time and may take decades to materialise, but it is a reminder and encouragement that the work we do today has an impact on future generations – and that is meaningful. There are various other themes explored, including – love/loss, forgiveness, history/legacy.”
- Gloria Pang, URA Local Scholar
"The movie ‘Iron Man’ definitely played a part in inspiring me to pursue an engineering career. I vividly remember the scene where Tony Stark was held captive in a cave and in order to escape, I found it incredible that he built the very first Iron Man suit out of spare parts and scrap metal. Although the story is fictional, I think it reflects the nature of engineering work, where we utilise whatever inventory we have to create something special and meaningful. Fundamentally, I enjoy the idea that we can build something out of nothing, and this is what inspired me to go down the engineering path.”
– Matthew Ryan Teo, Public Service Commission Scholar (Engineering)
“A book that has been incredibly impactful in my personal journey and career is ‘Mindset: The New Psychology of Success’ by Carol S. Dweck. This book delves into the power of our mindset and how it profoundly influences the way we approach our goals, challenges, and relationships.
Carol Dweck introduces the concept of the ‘fixed’ versus ‘growth’ mindset. A fixed mindset assumes that our character, intelligence, and creative ability are static givens which we can’t change in any meaningful way. In contrast, a growth mindset thrives on challenge and sees failure not as evidence of unintelligence but as a springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities.
In my personal journey and career, adopting a growth mindset has been transformative. Having a growth mindset has empowered me to view any challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than as an obstacle that is difficult to overcome.”
– Anisah Binte Abdul Rahman Zamawi, Singapore-Industry Scholar
“During my time in National Service, I was recommended a book titled Mr Pip by Lloyd Jones. It had won multiple awards including being shortlisted for the Man Booker prize in 2007. It revolves around a teacher, Mr Watts, and his impact on an island amidst the backdrop of the Bougainville civil war. While the story is rather tragic, it is equally inspiring in showing Mr Watt’s flexibility and resourcefulness as a teacher, using unconventional teaching methods that have a profound impact on his students.
This book was particularly impactful as a showcase of teaching in a very ‘raw’ state. Without extra materials or resources, it was the richness of his lessons and the personal connections forged that created unforgettable learning experiences.”
– Seet Xuan Yang Derek, MOE Teaching Award Recipient
“Since childhood, I have been inspired by media that puts a creative twist and explore the potential of science and technology. These include movies such as ‘Meet the Robinsons’ with its imaginative take on time travel, ‘Jurassic Park’ with its portrayal of the revival of dinosaurs, and ‘Big Hero 6’ with its focus on robotics. These works fuelled my passion for STEM and gave me an optimistic outlook on the future, motivating me to pursue a path in technology and innovation.”
– Tan Jia Min, Smart Nation Scholar
