It is a truth universally acknowledged that life and its worries get in the way of being young.
Good thing, then, that our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew always supported young people to achieve their full potential, knowing that they would lead Singapore one day.
Here are some of Mr Lee’s views on overcoming challenges and going even further to make a positive impact on the people around us. They are time-tested — they remain relevant for youths like us today.
Resilience: Stand firm against life’s setbacks
Never be depressed, never be deflated by setbacks. We suffered setbacks. And we do not pretend to ourselves…We face facts. And this is one of the greatest strengths about Singapore — its willingness to face reality.
— “Facing Facts and the Willingness to Face Reality.” Speech at the National Day Rally at the National Theatre on the Eve of National Day, August 1966
Over half of Singaporeans were under the age of 19 and Singapore’s very existence was at stake when Mr Lee addressed the nation during this first-ever National Day Rally speech.
We were expelled from the Federation the year previous and left to fend for ourselves. Most of our young population was poor and blue-collar and it looked as though this would be the state of affairs going forward. Appropriately enough, it was a season of heavy clouds and rainy skies during these first-ever National Day events.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
But Mr Lee never lost sight of what Singapore — and these young Singaporeans — could be. He had a goal in mind for our people, as well as a real responsibility to them, and took these difficulties in stride.
He was resilient, and his attitude is good to remember when life throws us curveballs. He did not dwell on what was, or pretend that things were better than they were. The situation was what it was and this fundamental acceptance would drive great, good changes for Singapore — why despair when one could roll up one’s sleeves and work towards a better tomorrow?
Leadership for youths: Do the right thing, not the immediately popular thing
I do not believe that a popular government means you have to be popular when you govern. It means that at the end of your term, those unpopular policies which you have had to implement have produced results that enable you to win the popular vote again.
— Interview with Ann Morrison, Asiaweek at the Istana 2000
Life will give you plenty of opportunities to be a leader, whether in your community or at work, or even in your family.
There will be times when this leadership means choices: Do the popular thing for short–term gain, or take the harder path for larger long-term payoffs?
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Mr Lee would walk that more difficult path, like when he cleaned up the Singapore River. Sure, it was expensive and time-consuming, but the Singapore River is one of the places that makes us proud to be Singaporeans today.
He could have ignored the problem, but Mr Lee knew that short-term gains can often mean one ends up back where one was at first, or even cause more problems than they “solve”.
So think and think again about those quick-fix options, and do not underestimate the people you are responsible for: At the end of the day, they will remember the results you gave them.
Activism: We can ride that rainbow
For the young, let me tell you the sky has turned brighter. There’s a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not-so-old, I say, look at that horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it.
— “Picking up the gauntlet: Will Singapore Survive Lee Kuan Yew?” Speech to the Singapore Press Club at Raffles Hotel 1996
Mr Lee chased that metaphorical rainbow in the sky throughout his years as Singapore’s leader and knew that material success was not everything in life. Causes matter.
“When I set out, my Singapore dream was of a democratic society, keen and vibrant, a united people who regardless of race, language and religion, and based on justice and equality, achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for the nation,” Mr Lee also told the Singapore Press Club in that 1996 speech.
Plus, his advice that young Singaporeans should set forth on activism for a better world was particularly strong since our youth wing, Young PAP, was an established force then. Over the decades, it has become known as somewhere for young Singaporeans to develop that “fire in the belly” — and change Singapore for the better.
There was a small taste of this continuing spirit of adventure and activism this past weekend (Oct 21), with 142 young Singaporeans from Young PAP and Young NTUC embarking on an Amazing Race through Singapore to rediscover locations important to Mr Lee.
“As we move forward, let us remember and draw inspiration from Mr Lee’s legacy, ensuring that our future generations continue to benefit from his remarkable contributions because he was a true Singaporean,” said former Minister for Manpower and for the Environment Lim Swee Say at the event, which also saw the launch of Centennial Reflections: 100 Inspirations from Lee Kuan Yew, an e-book containing a hundred of Mr Lee’s quotes.
Source: Young PAP, Young NTUC
These quotes were curated to inspire today’s youths.
“They gave me a deeper insight into the thinking of Mr Lee and what drove him to do more for the country in its early years of nation building,” posted MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang GRC) who was also there at the launch with MP Desmond Choo (Tampines GRC).
“And one of the best ways to thank Mr Lee will be how we can keep improving Singapore together for future generations,” he continued.
Want to find out more about Young PAP? Read more about their philosophy and history here.
