Content
Busy chasing dreams? These resources will help you get there faster.
Check out our playlist for a collection of short videos/podcasts to inspire you in exploring possible careers for your future.
Check out our learning package to get a glimpse into what it takes to achieve your aspirations with these articles and activities.
Playlist
A collection of short videos and podcasts to inspire you as you make that all-important decision on what career path to take.
Playlist: A Day in the Life of Dream Chasers
From 'Fun Holiday Job' to Zookeeper: Why This Young Woman Chose to Chase Her Passion (5 mins)
While looking for a fun holiday job, Delvinder Kaur never expected that it would turn out to be the career for her. Watch this video to see what she does as a zookeeper, and why she decided to make it her full-time job.
Working with My Mother: Puffs and Peaks Bakery (3 mins)
From chasing her passions to opening up her own family bakery, this owner of local bakery, Puffs and Peaks, shares the choices she made that shaped her path into the food industry.
Pursuing a Career in Music with Estelle Fly - Ask Me Anything Ep 1 (13 mins)
How can you prepare yourself for a career in music, who can you approach and what platforms are suitable? Is it as daunting as it seems, and what does it take to get there? Learn all this and more from singer, dancer and musician, Estelle Fly, as she shares her personal experiences in pursuing her dreams.
Playlist: A Day in the Life of: Healthcare Professionals
On My Way!: A Day in the Life of a Surgeon (5 min)
Join Dr Hamid Razak as he gives us a peek into the true life of a surgeon.
Nursing for Life Episode 1: Growing Up Years (3 min)
Follow the journey of five nurses as they see patients through every life stage.
What It’s Like Being A Medical Social Worker In Singapore (4 min)
A medical social worker from Jamiyah Nursing Home explains how his role is different from social workers and touches on some of the challenges he faces at work.
Needs or Wants Playlist: Part 1 - Money, Savings, Economics
#LifeAtTSL: How Much Do We Spend In a Week? (18mins)
Most of our colleagues are pretty thrifty, but a few of them are big spenders! On this episode of Life at TSL, we followed the thriftiest and biggest spenders in TSL to find out how much they spend in a week!
MilKids - Ages 13-15 - Your First Job and Earning Money (2 mins)
By using the SMART method, my sister and I have a solid plan to meet our goals. I can even do this for those other car expenses I hadn’t planned on.
By setting SMART goals, working hard, and saving we can earn the stuff we want. You can, too.
the student guide to personal finance 💸 adulting 101 (21 mins)
In today's video we shall discuss jobs for teens, budgeting, saving, and the basics of money management.
- 0:43 the bare bones basics
- 1:50 income + jobs
- 4:26 income + jobs, continued
- 5:09 checking accounts + how to avoid losing money to them
- 7:58 budgeting + a simple template
- 9:15 must-have spending (student loans, bills, groceries, etc)
- 10:58 nice-to-have spending (going out + shopping)
- 12:34 credit cards + building your credit score
- 14:21 savings in high-yield accounts
- 16:23 investing in stocks + bonds
- 19:09 retirement + why to start saving ASAP
Learning Package
Get a glimpse of what it takes to achieve your aspirations with these articles and activities.
Needs! Or... Wants?
Needs are things we must have to survive (e.g. food, water, clothes, shelter)
Wants are things we would like to have, but are not required for survival (e.g. luxury goods, games, toys)
Learn about needs and wants in the little game titled:
The 10 Bean Allowance
Adapted from “The Bean Game” by Jana Darrington, this game helps you better understand your spending choices and priorities. Everyone starts off with 10 beans and decides on which areas they would like to allocate the beans to. The four areas are: Food, Clothing, Leisure, and Transport! Let’s bean-gin!
Guiding Questions
1.How did you spend your beans?
2. Did you spend mostly on needs or wants?
3. If your allowance next month is reduced to 5 beans…
how would that change your spending choices?
Making Financial Decisions
Let’s learn about Principal and Interest!
Principal is the initial amount of money borrowed before interest is accrued.
Interest is the price you pay to borrow money or the cost you charge to lend money. Simple Interest is the interest calculated on the original principal loan only. Compound Interest is the interest that accrues on both the original principal loan and the accumulated interest from previous periods.
Let’s further our understanding of Principal and Interest with the next activity!
Let’s Help John!
John wants to buy a new phone, but it costs $1,000! He only has $300 now and he can only save $100 a month, what are his options?
How should we advise John?
1. Does John need the item immediately?
2. Does John mind paying a little extra to split the payment into instalments?
3. Will John have enough to pay off the credit card bill on time, and in full?
4. Is there a trade-off for using the money now?
If you are interested to find out more, check out these titles available at NLB!
Click here to borrow the ebook!
This learning package was created by Chow Hui Xuan, Ernest Lim Jingjie, Lim Jing Hong Brandon and Rachel Ong Lin Hui, as part of the National Institute of Education Group Endeavours in Service Learning Group 10 (Sec/JC2022).
You may download the complete package as a PDF here.
Time to Get Started! Part 1
It’s a brand new year – and the perfect time to begin planning out activities that can help forge your future path. Whether it’s during term time or during the holidays, here’s how you can get started on your future aspirations.
Part 1: Discover Yourself and Explore What’s Out There!
Unsure of where to start? Getting to know yourself a little bit better is a great first step, like knowing what you excel in, or knowing what sort of lifestyle you would like to live.
Take the time to do quizzes like these: Know Yourself . Just log in (based on which school you are in) and get started to find out about your interests, skills, values and learning styles.
Take a look at what is available from platforms such as these: Singapore Industry Landscape for a better idea of what future roles and responsibilities might suit you. Knowing where you could be headed is a great starting point to planning the steps you will need to take to get there.
Remember that all these tools are here to guide you along and not to instruct you, so answer honestly and don’t feel pressured. Some jobs in the future might not even currently be available yet as the world is always changing!
Check out this book for more ideas on how to get started:
A Teen's Guide to Getting Stuff Done: Discover Your Procrastination Type, Stop Putting Things Off, And Reach Your Goals
Author: Jennifer Shannon
Publisher: New Harbinger Publications, 2017
Do you procrastinate? And if so, what’s your procrastination type? In this fun and illustrated guide, author Jennifer Shannon blends acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and cognitive behavioral strategies to help you recognize your procrastination habits, discover the strengths of your unique procrastination type, and find the motivation you need to meet important deadlines and reach your highest goals.
Synopsis from New Harbinger
The book covers and synopses are the copyright of the respective publishing companies. (All websites were last accessed on 16 March 2022.)
Come back next week for Part 2 of Time to Get Started!
Time to Get Started! Part 2
Aside from being a great way to de-stress and have fun, extra-curricular activities and hobbies are often where our passions lie. From sports to arts and music, the pursuit of these interests could even form the backbone of your future career.
Use the time you currently have to start creating or working on projects – this can help build up your portfolio and develop your own style which you can use to track your growth and showcase your repertoire of talents. Discover which online or offline platforms suit you best and start learning about them. For example, if you have a passion for animation, you may work on a short animated clip of your choice which you can post on your blog or Instagram reel as a way to showcase and get feedback on your work.
Use the opportunities you have to get experiences and get in hours of practice. Find like-minded communities and immerse yourself in a wide variety of projects and activities that will expand your range and exposure. For example, if you enjoy designing and knowing how things work, you can join NLB’s MakeIT community on Facebook where you can find like-minded tinkerers as well as programmes you can attend.
Some of these passion projects can be turned into temporary or permanent businesses along your career path. You will need to be very self-motivated and consistently work on your skills, but there is no time like the present to try out these ideas if you have the capacity, resources and have done the due research.
Check out this book for more ideas on how to get started:
The Academic Hustle: The Ultimate Game Plan for Scholarships, Internships and Job Offers
Author: Matthew Pigatt
Publisher: Mango Media, 2021
The Academic Hustle gives a personal accounting of strategies uncovered while conducting research on high achievers. Through experience and research, Pigatt has refined a system that has been replicated by hundreds of other students to secure scholarships, grants, internships, and jobs—amounting to millions in funding for their career development. Learn how to: • Develop a plan for your career • Find and apply for scholarships • Win awards and be recognized • Cultivate a network for success • Master time and manage money • Develop an impressive résumé
Synopsis from Mango Publishing
This book can be found on Overdrive at https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/4300493
Other suggestions:
- You Are an Artist: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/4942740
- How to Draw Without Talent: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/5037149
- A Teen’s Guide to Getting Stuff Done: https://nlb.overdrive.com/media/3605281
Check out Part 3: Work, Volunteer, Intern next week!
Time to Get Started! Part 3
Real life experiences are important and valuable – it will help you stand out from the crowd. Apply for a temporary or part-time position related to your interests. This short stint can help you identify whether you are suited for this industry and show future employees that you are ready!
Be proactive. Do you know anyone in the industry you are interested in? Ask them more about it and if they have any advice or positions available. Write in to organisations to apply as an intern or volunteer – don’t give up your search even if you get some rejection letters, as there will be some companies who will give you the chance to learn on the job or shadow their professionals even if you do not have the relevant experience. While you might not get as much pay, this is still a great way to experience a job first hand and build up your resume.
Be resourceful. Even if you take on an unrelated volunteer role to give back to society, or a part-time job to earn a little extra income, make sure to keep a record of what you have done. There are many applicable skills you could list on your resume from these experiences such as leadership and teamwork skills, event planning and facilitation skills etc. For example, if you worked part-time as a waiter, you could list skills such as being able to work in a team, show good customer service as well as adapt to a fast-paced environment.
It’s never too early to figure out what you might want to do in the future and how you can get there. Remember that at the end of the day, there’s really no rush. Take a deep breath and take your time to explore. Every career path is crafted according to the opportunities you take and the effort you put in, while taking the rest you need to recharge. So be brave and step out!
Check out this book for more ideas on how to get started:
Successful Applications
Author: Bruce Woodcock and Jenny Keaveney
Publisher: Macmillan Education UK, 2019
Only available as an eBook on NLB OverDrive
Packed with top tips and helpful examples, this concise book takes students through the process of preparing and making successful applications for work placements, internships and graduate jobs. It encourages students to think about what they want from their career and to identify roles which match with their personality, strengths and experiences. Chapters provide practical guidance on researching opportunities, crafting CVs and cover letters and preparing for interviews and assessment centres.
Synopsis from Bloombury
Teen Things: Emailing 101
So you’ve just been assigned to email an organisation for a school project or a Values in Action (VIA) programme, or maybe you have to apply for an internship.
If you aren’t quite sure what goes into formal emails, we’re here to help you out! Check out some tips and tricks on writing emails that are sure to impress.
Here are a few more resources from the library to help you write better:
100 Ways to Improve Your Writing
Author: Gary Provost
Publisher: Berkley Books, 2019
Only available as an eBook on NLB OverDrive
This is the one guide that anyone who writes—whether student, businessperson, or professional writer—should keep on his or her desk. Filled with professional tips and a wealth of instructive examples, 100 Ways to Improve Your Writing can help solve any writing problem.
In this compact, easy-to-use volume you’ll find the eternal building blocks of good writing—from grammar and punctuation to topic sentences—as well as advice on challenges such as writer’s block and creating a strong title. It is a must-have resource—perfect for reading cover to cover, or just for keeping on hand for instant reference—now updated and refreshed for the first time.
Synopsis from Penguin
Eliza and Her Monsters
Call No.: Y ZAP
Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 2017
Also available as an eBook on NLB OverDrive
In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza’s persona is popular. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community.
Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart.
Synopsis from Harper Collins
The book covers and synopses are the copyright of the respective publishing companies. (All websites were last accessed on 8 October 2021.)