He lived the Singapore Dream of getting into medical school but quit for taichi and theatre. Why?

Headstart On Record Podcast

Good grades, good jobs, applying for a BTO, getting married. Isn’t that every Singaporean’s dream?

Published Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 AM

Updated Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 AM

In this episode, Julian Low, co-founder of theatre practice Wushiren, talks about his experience defying the “Singaporean Dream” by dropping out of medical school. He then went on to pursue his dream of starting an independent theatre collective.

Hosts Kai Wen and Sue-Ann discuss if a fixed definition of success is still relevant in these times and why it’s important to have the courage to stray from “the script” and explore what truly makes you curious in life.

Highlights (click/tap above):

0:54 Is there a “Singaporean Dream”?

2:48 Why Julian dropped out of medical school

6:34 People stick to safe choices even when it makes them suffer

10:54 “Challenge” is the new C in the 5Cs list

15:55 Is fatigue our body’s way of sending a message?

20:02 Financial realities vs your dreams

29:04 Redefining the Singaporean Dream

Follow See Kai Wen on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/qfwqQ

Follow Sue-Ann Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/A86X

Read Sue-Ann Tan’s articles: https://str.sg/mvSa

Hosts: See Kai Wen ( seekw@sph.com.sg ) and Sue-Ann Tan ( suetan@sph.com.sg )

Produced & edited by: Amirul Karim and Yang Jiesan Cruz

Executive producer: Elizabeth Law

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好成绩、好工作、申请组屋、结婚。这难道不是每个新加坡人的梦想吗？

发布于2026年10月19日上午10:00

更新于2026年10月19日上午10:00

在本期节目中，剧场团体Wushiren的联合创始人Julian Low讲述了他如何违背“新加坡梦”，从医学院辍学，并最终实现了创办独立剧团的梦想。

主持人 Kai Wen 和 Sue-Ann 探讨了在当今时代，对成功的固定定义是否仍然适用，以及为什么有勇气偏离“既定路线”，探索生活中真正让你感到好奇的事情很重要。

亮点（点击/轻触上方）：

0:54 是否存在“新加坡梦”？

2:48 朱利安为什么从医学院辍学

6:34 即使会遭受痛苦，人们也会坚持选择安全的方案。

10:54 “挑战”是5C列表中的新C

15:55 疲劳是我们身体发出的一种信号吗？

20:02 财务现实与你的梦想

29:04 重新定义新加坡梦

在领英上关注 See Kai Wen：https://str.sg/qfwqQ

在领英上关注 Sue-Ann Tan：https://str.sg/A86X

阅读 Sue-Ann Tan 的文章：https://str.sg/mvSa

主持人：See Kai Wen ( seekw@sph.com.sg ) 和 Sue-Ann Tan ( suetan@sph.com.sg )

制作和编辑：Amirul Karim 和 Yang Jiesan Cruz

执行制片人：伊丽莎白·劳

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