How to Find Out Who You Are Outside of Your Occupation or Academics

One prominent feature of Singapore is our “kiasu” mentality” - the fear of losing out. Studies have shown that 86% of Singaporeans worry about poor grades, compared to the OECD average of 66%. While excelling in studies or climbing the corporate ladder shapes our lives, they do not define us. Whether it's collecting Popmart items or filming TikTok videos, external fulfillments help us discover more about ourselves, but how do we begin to find out beyond work and academics? 

Breathe and take a step back. Having a bigger picture allows us to reflect on what we truly enjoy. Rather than focusing on the demands of academics or work, we can reconnect with ourselves. Such guiding questions are: 

1. What activities make me lose track of time?

2. If external expectations didn’t exist, what path would I take?

3. What do I want my life to look like in five years?

   
   

Take action instead of dwelling on how life seems bland. Trying new activities helps you discover hidden interests that you excel at. According to The Whole U, hobbies bring joy in between those monotonous days. So, go revisit a hobby or step out of your comfort zone, let your creativity flow and discover the undiscovered. 

Beyond hobbies, there are sedentary self-exploration exercises that can be done. There are multiple self-assessment tools available online to help individuals discover their identity, interests, and other personal development areas. A popular one is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) (note that the MBTI test is for entertainment purposes only and not entirely accurate). This helps us to understand ourselves better. 

To summarize, our academic and career pathways are part of who we are, not our entire identity. The journey of self-discovery in life is ongoing; whether it involves thinking or taking action, it all begins with the willingness to go beyond what we are familiar with.

Written by: Karis Koh

02/2025

References

Columbia University Center for Career Education. (n.d.). Self-exploration. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/self-exploration

ICON+ Education. (n.d.). Education perspectives. ICON+ Education. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from https://www.icon-plus.com/articles/education-perspectives

The Whole U. (2023). How to find new hobbies and foster creativity. University of Washington. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from https://thewholeu.uw.edu/2023/11/06/how-to-find-new-hobbies-and-foster-creativity/