Secondly, art is a way to de-stress from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Art can be used to show complex feelings and emotions that we feel in our busy day. For example, when my friend is free after school, she would spend time at home drawing on her paper to express what she had encountered during the day, especially when she feels stressed or pressured. She feels that by doing so, it helps to calm down and lessen the weight and stress on her back. Thus, art should be taken more seriously as it can help my classmates to cope better with stress and mental health.

However, others may argue that

I think people in my country do not like to take risks. Singaporean culture often focuses on stability and long-term planning.

Firstly, they tend to focus more on academic performance and school curriculum only. They tried the traditional, tried and tested route to success. For example, my father who worked as an engineer followed the traditional way. Does not allow me to have my hobbies and non-school related. They wanted me to do well for school academic and get a job like lawyer and doctor. Hence, people in my country do not like to take risks.

Secondly, they think taking risk has a chance of failure.

These days school and workforce are really competitive which had a higher chance of failing. Due to that particular reason, they do not want to lose their faces and ruin their reputation. For example, during friends gathering, your friends are having a successful life while you are losing everything in your life. Which is why people do not want to take risk to fail and wanted to go a safer route.

However, there is still some risk takers in our country. They will take a different path from other people like focusing on studies, get into good college and get decent jobs. They want to achieve something huge and be more successful than other. For example, like doing investment and boosting their income not like other people working their all their life off.

Firstly art uses up too much time, I think that visual art will take up a lot of time from planning to executing it. Example, I have a friend who takes art. She took art very seriously and always burn midnight oil just to complete her art assignment. Resulting in her not having enough time to study for other subject and ended up almost retaining.

Next, I think that art is impractical, I think that art is useful only if one wants to take it up as a career. Artistic career does not offer a job security and people in Singapore mostly live a cookie cutter life. Example, in school we are taught that languages, math and science are the core subject needed to succeed in life. There from i think that art is not functional for majority.

On the other hand, others may argue that art should be taken seriously. To some, art may be a way to express their true selves and a therapy for others.

In conclusion, I think that art should not be taken seriously as I think that many does not know how to appreciate it or simply have no talent or interest.

Yes, trying something new appeals to me

Firstly, trying something new can help me learn a new skill. For example, trying out martial arts can train one’s discipline and patience. This is because of the tedious training martial arts give which forces one to go beyond their limits.

Secondly, trying something new can help me escape my boring life. Everyday my life is always repetitive which is waking up, going to school and then go back home to sleep which repeats again. Learning something new can help me explore a new interest. For example, when playing a sport for the first time at first one may not like it because of the hard work it requires but slowly after playing it more, one will start to like it and include it in their daily lives they might also develop a passion for it which makes them strive towards their goal. Personally, I play golf but at first I didn’t really like it however after my father pushed me to go a few more times I started hitting my shots and sometimes even getting an eagle which is 2 shots under par this made me feel good about myself and make me want to play more and get good at it.

However, some people may disagree by saying that learning something new poses a high difficulty level. Most elderly have a difficulty in learning and memorising things because of their brain development speed being slowed down by age. This will make it difficult for them to learn things and may try to avoid learning new things because of that barrier. For example, these elderly may not try to learn how to use electronic devices although it gives many benefits.

Overall, I think learning new things appeal to me as it can give me a wider view on the world itself and I can put myself in others shoes

One major factor is the culture, being that we focus more on long term planning rather than going wherever life takes us. We tend to focus more on studying and academics rather than taking up hobbies, so as to get a good, high paying job to secure our future. Influenced by parents, many stay rooted to their culture and live a low-risk, plain life.

Another factor to consider is the fear of failure, with us taking more calculated decisions rather than quick ones. This could be due to out character, being that we tend to be risk-adverse, as we are shaped by our experiences in failing. For me, the reason I am less of a risk-taker is due to my past failure in a competition, with this occurrence repelling me from similar opportunities.

However, some people argue that people in my country take big risks such as trying for major opportunities and competitions. For example, my country's sportsmen and women sacrifice their academics and free time to pursue their dreams of winning gold medals in the Olympics. Although, I would say that as our government opens newer paths in our school life, such as giving Normal Technical students the chance to pursue polytechnic courses, the risk of losing out diminishes.

In conclusion, although I maintain my belief that people in my country are more unwilling to take risks, as increased opportunities are available to us in the future, I hope that we could step out of our comfort zone and be willing to open up to more possibilities, however risky it is.

P) Firstly, I would say that people in my country like to take risks. (Disagree)

E) I would say people in my country still choose passion over pragmatic careers.

I have one friend in Polytechnic that is taking music as a career and another friend in Secondary School planning to take fashion design in their tertiary education.

In Singapore, they prioritize education and economy over the arts therefore it is usually frowned upon and not a lot of people would take the subject as it is risky.

P) Secondly, I would say that people in my country like to take risks. (Disagree)

E) I would say that people partake in risky and extreme sports. I have a friend who takes karate and he had to miss school lessons and examinations to pursue sport competitions. There are local athletes like Hassan and Joseph which go through intensive training which could lead to injury.

Alt. P) However, others may argue that some do not take risks.

Asian culture tend to priorities stability over passion. For example, parents want their kids to take business or engineering instead of the arts like music or fashion designing. They discourage them to stand out from others and to think outside of the box.

In conclusion, I still disagree. I believe that people still value their passion. People still do sports, music and aesthetic activities that lead them to opportunities to other colleges.