This virgin voter gets nervous about his first time.

By Alvin Phoon

THERE are many moments in life we just can’t seem to erase from our memories (assuming your life is as exciting as i’m making it sound). First times generally claim a spot in our hippocampus’ hard drive.

You know how it is. The idea forms and instantly, the lack of experience terrifies. You trawl whatever medium you can for information; books, videos, websites, hoping desperately for an epiphany to unveil itself. Eventually, the moment arrives. You try to look prepared, but, your mind threatens to empty itself out. You make your way through those doors with sweaty palms amongst other sweaty body parts. Finally, it’s time. You pull out your instrument and linger for a moment, before finally making your move. And after 10 seconds, you’re done.

Damn voting must be tough.

At 23, I’ll be popping my election cherry in less than a week. I’ve never known myself to be an emotional person; I don’t cry at movies, I don’t smile at cute babies, and I don’t let stray dogs lick my face, no matter how adorable they are. This week, I’ve seen a side of me I’ve never known, and am quite frankly a little ashamed of.

All this time, I’ve believed that Singaporeans were mostly cynical, apathetic people who’ve accepted that we would never have a shot at toppling the mighty men in white. I’ve convinced myself that I would be one of the few who were willing to invest their hearts and heads into what appeared to be a losing battle. I have, myself, conceded defeat, and made plans to exit the country as soon as I can. Yet, as I stood atop a tiny bump, watching the first NSP rally at Aljunied, as my pupils scanned the horizon and my ears took in the deafening roar generated by the crowd, I felt my eyes grow moist.

We are educating ourselves, and we are getting braver by the minute. We are no longer afraid of imaginary consequences, and we no longer care about short term rewards.

I have never been to a rally until Thursday, and even then it was to a rally whose party I had written off as late as February. I have never been in the presence of so many disgruntled Singaporeans. And I have never seen so many hearts linked by the same ideology (yes, not even during national day).

I have never participated in so much political conversation, online and offline. People I don’t even know to be politically aware are suddenly reposting quotes and videos. People I’ve always thought to be indifferent are displaying, very outwardly, their anger at the current administration. I have not seen a single pro-pap status update since the start of the rallies.

If there’s anything I’m sure of this year, it is that there is a wave of political awakening sweeping through our island. We are educating ourselves, and we are getting braver by the minute. We are no longer afraid of imaginary consequences, and we no longer care about short term rewards. We are getting angry, and we’re demanding change. We are steadily realising the power we hold as citizens of this country, and we’re learning to utilize it.

I have never been this glad to be wrong. Come May the 7th, this virgin voter is ready to get it on.

Image: BARBARA DURAND. Modified with Creative Commons license

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