Are we really a heartless generation?

Our generation has been dubbed as selfish, uncaring, and cold.

Some people say that it is because of our hand phones reducing the face-to-face interaction we share with people, which leaves us as an emotionless generation. Others claim that we are too young to care about the world beyond ourselves.

However, I do not believe that we are as uncaring and selfish as people make us out to be. Here are three things that I believe characterise our generation.

1. People with a heart and a powerful hand

Equipped with platforms like social media, where we can express our thoughts and opinions, we have become people with a powerful hand to make a difference.

Although amongst us are a few black sheep who abuse the platforms they have been given, these bad testimonies are but a minority, and barely qualify as a representation of all the youths in Singapore.

Many of us youths care, and want to show it.

One such example is OccupySG. Founded by a few youths who wanted to be a blessing to the community, these youths used their own pocket money to buy drinks and hampers for the foreign workers, random strangers, and underprivileged families in Singapore.

Originally inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, which was one of protests and riots, these young Singaporeans took the idea and improvised on it, occupying Singapore with acts of kindness.

We do not only have a powerful hand for change, but are driven by the heart we have for the people around us.

2. Appreciators of our everyday heroes

Instead of needing watching-over like many believe, youths nowadays are the ones watching out for things people tend to overlook or ignore. We make good use of the platforms we have to shed light on day-to-day acts that deserve appreciation.

One such example involved Ngee Ann Polytechnic student, Chelsey Chow, who left her laptop on the bus. Because of the kindness of a bus driver who watched over it, Chelsey was reunited with her laptop.

Feeling appreciative of the kindness of a bus conductor she did not even know, Chelsey wrote a post on Facebook about all he had done.

Within a day, the post went viral, with shares and comments flooding through. Youths from all over Singapore joined in, appreciating the bus conductor for his excellent service.

It doesn’t just stop there. We also believe in appreciating and giving honour where honour is due.

We use our gifts and abilities to draw attention to things we want noticed in society, and appreciate the ones who have sowed in our lives, giving them the due respect and honour they so deserve.

One such example is the tear-jerking video created by a Republic Polytechnic student, Dominic Chin, 20. Dominic explains that the video was to appreciate and acknowledge all the then Minister Mentor, the late Lee Kuan Yew, had done.

He wanted Mr Lee to know that he was “appreciated and celebrated, and there are a lot of youths here that really treasures [him].”

So are we really selfish and self-centered? Or is that simply a stereotype society hasn’t let us off for?

We are more than the sum of a few bad eggs. Let our actions speak for ourselves.