MEETING THE FUTURE LEADERS

Lost travellers at sea looking for refuge from the ravaging torrents will seek a lighthouse to bring them to safety. The beam of light represents a beacon of hope to all that seek its hospitality.

This is what students from National Junior College likened Singapore to - a lighthouse that never sleeps, providing guidance to all who approach.

With the tagline 'The Singapore Lighthouse: Light Beyond Our Horizons', theirs was the winning presentation for the Temasek Seminar Tagline Competition, a new element in the annual event that aims to generate greater interest in public service and to raise junior college students' awareness and appreciation of security-related issues.

The theme for this year's seminar is 'Singapore: More than a Red Dot'.

"We think that it's really significant as it symbolises what Singapore really is - like how Singapore is able to help others in need," said Ms Fadzillah Nur, a student from National Junior College.

"The recent tsunami inspired us; that Singapore is not only able to prove that we can lead but that we're also able to be there to help," she added.

More than 440 students from 17 junior colleges attended the seminar at the SAFTI Military Institute on 27 Jul.

To prepare for the seminar, the students had to participate in a series of pre-seminar activities, which included visits to Singapore Armed Forces camps and several workshops.

"What struck me most was how Singapore is able to become one of the most respected countries in the international community, despite of its small size," said Mr Joshua Gouw, a Catholic Junior College student.

"For young males like me, it makes me look forward to National Service and helps me understand what young people like us can do in the future," he said.

Minister for Defence, Mr Teo Chee Hean, expressed his hope for the younger generation. He told them to strive for excellence and a brighter future for Singapore.

"Excellence is the thread that ties everything together and explains why we have succeeded while others have not. It is this that has allowed us to break out of our physical constraints and to become a model that other countries want to learn from," he said.

From the lively presentations and attention put in by the students, it looks like Singapore's future will be in capable hands.