Committee Picks: Youth Category

Caption
Took this series of pictures back in 2015 to commemorate SG50 and to reminisce my childhood days.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our busy lives we forget the simpler things we had once treasured. Since this image was taken, many things have changed for me. I've grown older and maybe a little wiser. I've been involuntarily plunged into a sea of trauma and pain. I've had to learn how to swim on my own, and I'm still finding my shore.

As a child, I've always dreamt of growing up and doing "adult things". Chasing my dreams of being a teacher, an artist, and a pilot all at once. Starting a family in my dream house. I've learnt that it's a lot more difficult than I had imagined. And I wish I had stayed a child a little longer, when life was much simplier and happier. We'd play catch with our friends at the playground, eat spaghetti with our Filipino maids at the void deck, and play hand games like zah and chopsticks with our classmates.

Less than a year after I took these pictures, I lost myself to anxiety and depression. I lost the motivation to do the things I had once loved, including photography. Self-hate and doubt told me that I would never be good enough, so why bother trying?

I still struggle with these doubts, but I now know that, if I don't try, I'll never know. So here I am, giving photography another shot. (haha get it) I've still got lots to learn, but I'm ready for the challenge! 😤✊🏼