We Dropped Out Of Secondary School: Here Are Our Stories | On The Red Dot: Dropouts - Part 1/3

Key Concepts:

• Underage Parenthood: Challenges and responsibilities of becoming a parent at a young age.
• School Dropout: Reasons for leaving school, including mental health issues, gaming addiction, and academic struggles.
• Warehouse Work: The nature of the work, pay, and challenges of working in a warehouse.
• Personal Responsibility: Taking ownership of one's actions and decisions, especially in the context of parenthood.
• Mental Health: The impact of mental health issues on education and personal life.
• Gaming Addiction: The negative consequences of excessive gaming.
• Family Support: The role of family in providing support and guidance.

Early Life and Work:

• The individual started working at 16, switching between three different warehouses within a year.
• The job scope involves picking and sorting, with night shifts.
• Pay varies depending on the day, with Sundays paying $12.25 and Fridays paying $10.5.
• The individual withdrew from school at secondary three, expressing sadness when seeing peers studying.
• Commuting takes about 2 hours, resulting in 14 hours spent outside of home.
• The individual acknowledges hating the routine but sees it as the best way to earn income at their age.

Daily Routine and Leisure:

• Spends about 3 hours cycling or walking at MBS (Marina Bay Sands) for exercise.
• Spends 3 days outside, with other days involving waking up early, reading, showering, and having breakfast.
• Enjoys socializing and talking to people at MBS.
• Expresses tiredness from the long work shifts.

Parenthood:

• The individual has a daughter, born when they were 15, and is now 17. The daughter is 1 year and 2 months old.
• Helps with household chores and childcare duties.
• Recalls an incident where the daughter got diarrhea due to improperly washed bottles, causing feelings of guilt.
• Notes that being a father has changed them, making them more patient and less prone to anger.

Educational Background and Challenges:

• Primary school results were consistently A's and B's, with positive feedback from teachers regarding cheerfulness, encouragement of peers, and contributions to group discussions.
• Grades dropped significantly in secondary school, despite 100% attendance.
• Science and math were difficult subjects, while languages were always A's or B's.
• Felt pressured by parents and tutors to attend more tuition classes, leading to a loss of interest and motivation.
• PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) score was 163, resulting in entry into NA (Normal Academic) stream.
• Struggled to make friends in secondary school and felt isolated.
• PSLE was the last qualification obtained.

Family Dynamics and Dropout:

• Parents are camera-shy and do not want to be interviewed.
• Family was supportive despite the individual dropping out, but the individual isolated themselves due to embarrassment.

Past Experiences and Mental Health:

• Recalls PSLE results and a past incident where they ran away from home and missed pre-exams.
• Was hospitalized for a month, leading to involvement of a social worker and placement in PES (presumably a program for students with behavioral issues).
• Ran away from PES on the first day due to feeling uncomfortable.
• Was sent to Gom (presumably a reformative home) and studied set one and set two.
• Continued secondary two in normal schools but felt uncomfortable due to the age gap and others finding out about their past.
• Felt judged for tattoos, leading to the decision to leave school.

Gaming Addiction:

• Started gaming in primary school as a form of relaxation.
• Played shooting games and games with voice chat to interact with new players.
• Stopped going to school in secondary 1 (2021) due to mental health issues and gaming addiction.
• Played for 2-3 hours a day, sometimes up to 15 hours, and isolated themselves for 1.5 years.
• Parents expressed concern, but the individual pushed them away.

Family and Pregnancy:

• A friend, Azra, was pregnant.
• The individual's house caught fire due to a PMD battery issue.
• Azra was taken to the hospital and found out she was pregnant.
• The individual's father told them to take responsibility for their actions.
• The individual dropped out of school to work and provide for Azra.
• The individual's mother encouraged them to consider returning to school.

Conclusion:

The video portrays the life of a young individual navigating the challenges of underage parenthood, working in a warehouse, and dealing with past struggles related to mental health, gaming addiction, and dropping out of school. Despite the difficulties, the individual demonstrates a sense of responsibility towards their child and a willingness to work and provide for their family. The video also highlights the importance of family support and the potential for personal growth and change.