Teenagers and those wondering about their paths in life will find good advice in and inspiration from Melanie Lee's We Are Singaporeans.
Who else loves pairing a good book with a comforting cup of tea? đ€ Throwback to the weekend when I enjoyed Melanie Lee's We Are Singaporeans Vol. 1 & 2 with a fragrant cup of honey orchid dancong hongcha.
We Are Singaporeans is a collection of interviews with Singaporeans who have gone against the grain and found success in unconventional careers, with the latest volume featuring ten inspiring life stories, including those of author & comics publisher, Felicia Low-Jimenez and choir conductor & composer, Darius Lim.
Having also taken the 'unconventional' route, I could relate to the doubts and struggles some of the interviewees had faced. I particularly love comedian, Sharul Channa's words, "...there's actually nothing more important for women in Singapore than to be sure of why they do what they do and not just conform to the traditional norms of society. Keep asking: what do I want? How am I going to achieve it? And most importantly, how am I going to remain confident despite all the stones thrown my way?".
I'd highly recommend these books for teenagers and anyone wondering about their own paths in life: the stories are packed with good advice and they did make me wish I had read something similar when I was a teen and know that it's okay to choose what's not part of the norm. In fact, my 11-year-old read Vol. 2 and it opened her eyes to careers she didn't know existed. She was impressed by the journeys of photojournalist, Wong Maye-E, and Fossa Chocolate creators, Jay Chua, Charis Chia and Yilina Leong đ
Thank you, Mel, for sending these books and the tea over. They really made my weekend â€
Disclaimer: My opinions and reviews here are strictly my and my familyâs own.
©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.