Access Singapore to survey youths on attitudes towards success, aims to build consensus on definition of success

What does it mean to be successful in Singapore? 

To find out youths’ sentiments on the definition of success, non-profit organisation Access Singapore, announced the launch of the biennial Success Indicator Survey on Friday (Nov 18).

Access Singapore is a social mobility non-profit organisation that aims to provide career exposure opportunities for disadvantaged students.

The survey will examine the ever-evolving definition of success based on 12 themes which were identified following Access’ year-long outreach to over 2,000 youths and students aged 15 to 25. 

The themes are: Academic Success, Balance, Being a positive influence in the community, Career, Fame, Family, Happiness, Health, Independence, Peace, Recognition and Wealth.

The announcement was made at an engagement session, which supports the Forward Singapore movement, hosting more than 120 participants as well as Guest-of-Honour, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing.

Commenting on Access’ effort to lead the discourse, Mr Clarence Ching, founder and Executive Director of Access said: “With rapid developments as a nation in the last two decades, people have made significant progress to adapt to the changes. Generations view success differently and it is important to have a conversation on what success means to us as a nation, and how we might define them at different stages in life. What defines success in the 2000s would differ in (the) 2020s and beyond.

“We need to collectively decide on the way forward for our society and make the necessary trade-offs, in order to uplift the bottom at a faster pace. We must level the playing field and open doors to opportunities for all.” 

This survey is part of Access’ #WeWriteOurRules campaign which was launched in March, meant to celebrate successes beyond grades, education, and career paths.

As part of the campaign, 25 Singaporeans from different backgrounds, from business owners like the founder of Beyond The Vines Rebecca Chew to professionals like self-made photographer Yik Keat and even celebrities like Ronny Chieng, shared inspiring stories of the unconventional journey they took in their education and career paths.

Their journeys were captured on the campaign’s Instagram page and have also been documented in a newly launched booklet titled #WeWriteOurRules: Redefining Success. The booklet was unveiled by Mr Ching and Mr Chan during the session.

Physical copies of the booklet will be progressively distributed to students at partner secondary schools and Institutes of Higher Learning.

Members of the public are also invited to join in the conversation and share their definition of success and their story through Access’ website or Instagram page, using the hashtags #WeWriteOurRules and #WWOR.

Mr Ching shared: “I think it’s important to change how mindsets are…We really want to make the whole society at large think wider. Even if you come from a private university, you’re as good as someone coming from an autonomous university.

“I don’t want people to judge people just because they’re not doing well enough. They may be just happy with where they are.”

An e-copy of #WeWriteOurRules: Redefining Success is also available for download.

For more content about Forward SG and how youths can participate, click here.