Starchild: Why Malaysian kids have big dreams for their future

Yap Yu Ting, 9

Have you ever thought about what you would like to do when you grow up? Do you dream of becoming an actor, film director or musician?

Ariel Li Xin Xue, 10

Or how about an archaeologist who searches for dinosaur fossils? Everyone has different interests, and they can help us discover what we want to do in the future.

Some children love animals and dream of becoming veterinarians. They want to treat sick pets and keep them healthy. Those who enjoy drawing may want to become artists or architects who design buildings.

There are many exciting jobs to choose from. You could become a chef who creates tasty dishes or a writer who tells interesting stories.

Did you know that American author Christopher Paolini was only 15 when he began writing his famous fantasy novel, Eragon? His story shows that you are never too young to start working towards your dreams.

How about a game designer who makes fun games for others to play? You might even dream of having an unusual job. Have you ever heard of a water slide tester? This person tests water slides to check their safety and speed. Or how about becoming a chocolate taster? The job involves tasting chocolate and checking its flavour, texture and smell to make sure it is delicious. How cool is that!

Remember, your ambition may change as you grow older. You might discover a new interest or learn about a job you have never heard of before. That is perfectly fine! Keep exploring, learning and discovering what you love.

Here is the second batch of letters on the topic, My ambition.

"My ambition is to be a scientist. The reason is because I love science and experiments. I need to focus during Science and Maths classes if I want to be a scientist," says Ngeoh Yue Qi, eight.

Ngeoh Yue Qi, 8

"I want to be a chef. It is special because I can create new food. British chef, restaurateur and television personality Gordon Ramsay inspires me to become a chef. I need to have culinary skills to become a chef and I also need to be good at Maths and Science so I can measure ingredients correctly," says Ariel Li Xin Xue, 10.

Mithrasri Siva Chandran, 9

"My ambition is to become a dentist because I want to help people in need. I was inspired by a dentist named Dr Hamizah, whom I visit regularly for my dental check-ups. She is kind and explains things politely. I would need to study hard to make my dream come true," says Mithrasri Siva Chandran, nine.

Lyu Liang Fu, 11

Lyu Liang Fu, 11, wants to be a diplomat after watching a movie about diplomats. "If I become a diplomat, I can travel around the world and help make my country better. I love my country and am very proud of it, so I will do my best in my job. I also need to learn many languages to become a good diplomat."

Macke Lau, 10, wants to be an architect. "I love designing things, especially houses. I draw floor plans and create elevations and bird's eye views of my designs. I hope to become a successful architect one day."

Find the hidden words!

Nine-year-old Yap Yu Ting wants to be a scientist specialising in dogs. "I want to create new dog food that dogs will like. In the future, I want to make my puppy happy with my new creations. I need to study hard for Science, especially about animals."

Au Yong Yan Zhao, 10, wants to be a gaming YouTuber. "My dream is to vlog my games and travel the world. A Taiwanese vlogger has inspired me to be a YouTuber. I need to be fluent in English to achieve my dreams."

Au Yong Yan Zhao, 10

"My ambition is to be a soldier. Watching soldier movies has inspired me to be one. I need to be strong if I want to be a soldier," says Sham Kok Ren, eight.

ITEM: We've been having some bad weather and hazy days lately. So, what can you do to have fun when it rains and you have to stay indoors? This week, Starchild invites you to get creative and share your ideas for fun activities to enjoy or ways to keep busy on a hazy day. Do you enjoy baking, making crafts, playing board games or building a blanket fort? Tell us how you make the most of a hazy day!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Nov 8. Please put "STARCHILD: Hazy Days" in the subject line of your email.

Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.