MANY of my peers seem to have the impression that being a doctor ensures one a golden rice bowl.
I disagree.
Yes, qualifying as a doctor in the future does gives me peace of mind to a certain extent, as compared to other careers.
And doctors are still in high demand, especially so when Singapore aspires to be a medical hub.
But nonetheless, a doctor-patient relationship is very much an inter-dependent one.
When everything becomes more expensive, people may be reluctant to visit the doctor for minor illnesses, preferring to self-medicate, thus lowering the number of patient the doctor sees.
As the public tighten their belts, doctors, too, face similarly unpleasant issues about bringing home the bacon.
Have I thought about migrating then?
The reality of my education in Australia has lessened the romance of actually living there.
Income taxes are high, and as such, disposable income is relatively low, which leaves the average Australian still counting pennies.
Comparatively, Singaporeans are not that worse off.
What makes the biggest difference though, is Singapore's dual income norm. Sharing the burden always makes things a little easier.
Tabitha Mok, 21, is a third-year medical student at the University of Western Australia
WHILE there have been undeniable increases in the cost of living here, I have noticed that our salaries have slowly been inching upwards as well.
However, a small increase in salary cannot make up for all the accumulated additional cents and dollars from our daily expenses.
I am not daunted by this though. I do have some savings, and am investing some of it, hopefully wisely, into stocks that earn me a lot more in a shorter time than the part-time jobs I take up during semester breaks.
I intend to carry on investing on the side, which will hopefully allow me to go into writing as a career, regardless of how meagre the industry's standard remuneration might be.
There is no end to earning money, so being happy as I lead my life is more important to me than devoting my life to earning something that will not completely satisfy emotionally.
After all, life is short - what really matters is that I live to work instead of work to live.
Stephanie Song, 21, is a third-year psychology student at the National University of Singapore
AS THE cost of living rises, I am beginning to realise the astuteness of my decision to apply for a scholarship five years ago.
Pragmatically speaking, a scholarship pays for my university education and guarantees me a future job and a relatively acceptable starting salary.
These money matters were not on my mind when I first sent out my application - I simply applied because I felt journalism would be an exciting 'activity' for me after I graduate.
But five years later, with career prospects and disposable income weighing on the minds of almost every tertiary student, I am relieved I made that decision.
My friends not under scholarship, though, feel that I have given up a more lucrative career, such as one in medicine or law.
But is committing to a career you are not genuinely passionate about a price worth paying just to accommodate the rising cost of living? I believe not.
Among my friends, I seem to be one of the last bastions of idealism.
But even though I may not be as able as them to pay for an apartment or a car in the future, I have at least stayed true to my calling.
Eisen Teo, 23, is an exchange student at the University of North Carolina
