Paradigma 2010!

14th July saw over 300 participants in Anderson Junior College’s Auditorium for the annually held Paradigma 2010, a platform for our youth to engage their peers and leading experts in discussion on global and national issues pertinent to them.

This year, we saw over 130 external participants include Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang JC, Tampines JC, Temasek JC, Yishun JC, Meridian JC, National JC, Anderson Secondary School, CHIJ St Nicks Girls School, Deyi Secondary School, Zhong Hua Secondary School and Catholic High School. Over 170 participants from Anderson Junior College also took part in the event.

Before the forum officially begun, the fringe publicity events encouraged participants to list out some traits of being a Singaporean.

Singlish? Kiasu? Competitive? Pink I/C?

The seminar started at around 2pm, with the Principal from Anderson Junior College, Ms. Susan Leong delivering her opening speech.

Following that was a presentation by the Paradigma Research Team on this year’s theme, (Re)Perceiving the Singaporean Identity. The Team presented their paper that they have researched for the past four months. The Team spoke about the evolution of the Singaporean Identity by first identifying the role of the Government in shaping the Singaporean Identity. The presentation covered the issue of  What does it mean to be a Singaporean today? and listed out the threats to the Singaporean Identity, mainly Globalization, Migration and Socio-Economic Division. The Team presented their proposed strategies to strengthen the hearts and minds of Singaporeans and to encourage Singaporeans to play a more active role in the discourse of what exactly is the Singaporean Identity. They were a 2011 Song Writing Compeititon, a 2065 Time Capsule, new platforms for interaction such as an heritage trail, as well as layman historians to capture Singapore’s history.

The Research Team was commended for their efforts by our Guest of Honor, Mr. K. Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs. He remarked that the Singapore Government has in fact made similar plans to the proposed strategies. Next was a Question and Answer session where participants put forth their questions for the Minister.

Participants also got to interact and share opinions with the Minister during the refreshments break.

After the refreshments, our esteemed panelists, (from left to right) Mr. Aaron Maniam, President of Mendaki Club, Dr. Leong Chan Hoong, Research Fellow, Institute Of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy National University of Singapore and Mr. Zaqy Mohamad, MP for Hong Kah GRC took the stage to share their comments on the Research Team’s presentation.

They also shared their insights during the Questions and Answer session.

In all, Paradigma 2010 was a success! Once again, we thank you for your active participation during the seminar and for your support throughout these few months. We hope you will continue to show your support for Paradigma! Ciao.

A Reflection

After months of arduous work, the efforts of some 48 AJC students came to fruition on 14 July 2010. While it was an arduous and undoubtedly testing experience, particularly for the J2s who were in their ‘A’ Level year, I think everybody in the student organising committee for Paradigma 2010 felt a great sense of achievement and learnt a great deal in the process. As a member of the student organising committee, let me share with you some of my thoughts about the entire experience.

Firstly, it must be said that organising Paradigma 2010 demanded and received the cooperation of every student organiser. From the presentation of the research report to the ushering of our distinguished guests, there was a great deal of coordination involved to ensure the smooth running of the event. Receiving the guest of honour, for example, was not a one-man affair. The ushers were responsible for the reception of the guest as he arrived in AJC; the hosts welcomed him at the doorstep of the auditorium; and the stage committee prepared the audience and music for his entrance. It was a chain whose loss of a link would have caused systematic failure. Such significance was imparted to the students at an early stage by the teachers and ample rehearsals ensured proceedings went without a hitch. For the AJC students who will go out into society and become leaders in their own ways, it was a valuable learning experience.

Paradigma sought to expand the horizons of the students and inspire them to initiate paradigma shifts in society. While we are not able to spark such dramatic changes yet, we surely learnt a great deal from our guest of honour, Mr Shanmugam, Minister for Law, as well as our three other esteemed panelists Mr Zaqy Mohamed, Dr Leong Chan Hoong and Mr Aaron Maniam. They each presented a different perspective on the Singaporean identity and expanded greatly on the talking points in the research. Speaking of which, the research report impressed our guests and garnered an “A-” grade from Dr Leong, who is a well-established academic in Singapore. He remarked that the report exceeded the standards expected of junior college students. Research team, you deserve a good pat on the back!

For me, Mr Maniam really captured the imagination of the audience. He brought up a wide range of anecdotes based on his many experiences, such as in promoting racial and religious understanding through the cultural exchanges at different religious sites. He sparked thoughts about fascinating possibilities about how the future is essentially quite unpredictable, particularly with rapid technological improvement changing our idea of a city everyday, and that we ought to be open-minded and welcoming of change. It was all conveyed with a personal touch, as he related to us about his diverse heritage, and with his characteristic humour, as his comparison of various beverages to his extended family drew laughter from the audience. It was illuminating for an average student and I feel AJC was very privileged to have him with us on that day.

I can say the members of the student organising committee were not quite clear what we were getting ourselves into when we signed up as organisers of Paradigma. But forays into the unknown rewards the brave and I can say for myself quite certainly that Paradigma 2010 provided me with one of the best learning opportunities of my student life. I hope future student organisers of Paradigma can achieve beyond what we did and learn even more than us. And of course, inspire paradigm shifts of their own in society. It’s surely possible!

The photos are in!

Paradigma 2010 concluded on 14th July 2010 to over 300 participants. External participants include Hwa Chong Institution, Nanyang JC, Tampines JC, Temasek JC, Yishun JC, Meridian JC, National JC, Anderson Secondary School, CHIJ St Nicks Girls School, Deyi Secondary School, Zhong Hua Secondary School and Catholic High School. Over 170 participants from Anderson Junior College also took part in the event.