Hello.
What does success mean to you? Conversely, what is failure to you?
These were questions discussed widely over the last two weeks, since Singapore’s only Olympic gold medallist Joseph Schooling announced his retirement from competitive swimming.
In a reflection on her own journey into retirement, former national swimmer and four-time Olympian Joscelin Yeo writes about the courage it takes for athletes to walk away from the one thing that is so linked to their sense of identity. “Walking away from swimming was not failure, failure was me not being true to myself,” she said.
How we respond to challenges in our lives helps shape growth and resilience – not just for those in elite sports, but for students and those in the working world too.
Many young people today are anxious and uncertain about transitioning from school to the working world, writes NUS lecturer Jonathan Sim. Often, it’s because they lack meaningful interactions with adults who can share their experiences.
In another heartfelt commentary, cancer survivor Kristen Juliet Soh, who was diagnosed at 29, explores the concept of “living funerals”. A living funeral acknowledges the reality of the situation, she says. It flips the script on traditional funerals, allowing for open conversations about death, and gives the terminally ill a platform to share their wishes, fears and love for those they are leaving behind.
We hope you enjoy our selection of commentaries this week.
Alison Jenner
Supervising Editor, Commentary
