August 9, 1965.
Many people remembers 1965.
On August 9, 1965, Singapore gains independence. It is our National Day.
To many Singaporeans, August 9 will be taught and remembered as the day we gained independence. The day Singapore starts to fulfill its own destiny.
Within a short 30 years, Singapore has changed the landscape in the region. No longer is it a swamp land.
August 9, 1995.Netscape went IPO. It was the start of the dotcom.
1995 was also my first encounter of the Internet and this thing called web browser.
My first and subsequent work are all related to the Internet. I joined the Internet industry before the dotcom boom started in Singapore.
August 9 has duo meaning to me. As a Singaporean, I am raised, and educated here. I have also served my National Service. My roots are here. And now, I raise my kid here.However, August 9 is also the day Netscape went IPO. The day its rippling effect started the dotcom mania. The day globalisation and deregulation happens at a much faster pace.
While I grew up in Singapore, I also ‘grew up’ with the Internet and globalisation. Today, I can work in any place in the world and still receive my money.
I belong to the younger generation of Singapore that is well travelled and exposed to a much more diverse culture and mindset.
I belong to the generation who will experience the full effects of globalisation that has yet to come. I belong to what I called the ‘Mobile Worker’.
What does being a citizen in Singapore means to me? A valid question that I ask myself.
I have no answers, only more questions. Today, there is no stopping me from working in any parts of the world so long as I can connect to the NET.
My girl will grow up in a connected world. Will she even study and work in Singapore down the road?
What does the government do to entice the younger, more educated generation to stay and work here? After all, they are doing a lot to attract talents here.
What are the government intentions or plans to embrace the demands and ideologys of the ‘Mobile Worker’ generation and beyond?
In the years to come, what does it take for us to call a place home? What kind of environment do we need to foster in order to retain our people?