April 08, 04:38 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 In just fifty years, Singapore transformed from a third to first-world country.
We, millennials, may have missed out on the most exciting parts - like the gaining of our independence from the British, the fight against communism and the split from Malaysia - but we experienced other important events.
Although not as dramatically, many of these events have transformed Singapore and Singaporeans. Below are five recent ones that have done exactly that.
1. 2015: Lee Kuan Yew's passing
On 23 March this year, the nation lost our first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew.
During the week of national mourning, I witnessed many changes in us: we did not complain even though the queues were uber long; we started visiting museums and reading books; we became interested in our own history; and on our Facebook, we shared more than just cafes-in-Singapore-you-must-visit articles.
Although we've lost our founding father, Singaporeans have gained much more: graciousness, patriotism, gratitude for our Old Guards as well as an appreciation for our own history and culture.
As for Singapore, as important as a leader Mr Lee was, everything is business as usual. This is because as Prime Minister, Mr Lee made sure that he handpicked and cultivated a capable team to take over his. Following his footsteps, his successors have been doing the same.
In a way, he helped to create a Singapore that could live without him. That is why, the death of a leader in Singapore, no matter how momentous, will not cripple us.
2. 2003: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
[caption width="760" id="attachment_49528" align="aligncenter"]
Source: Tan Tock Seng Hospital Facebook Page[/caption]
In less than 20 years, we have been through quite a few epidemics: bird flu, H1N1 and most recently, Ebola. However, nothing was as severe (pun intended) as SARS .
In 2003, the outbreak of the respiratory disease sent our country into a frenzy: businesses were at a standstill, tourism was crippled, schools were forced to shut down and there was a nation-wide panic.
SARS acted as a sobering reminder to globalised Singapore that if a country sneezes, we will catch a cold - literally.
That is why Changi Airport, hospitals and clinics started to screen passengers for fever and quarantining anyone who is running a fever or has been to an affected country. Also, along with the government agencies, they are now well-prepared to deal with another epidemic.
Singaporeans too are not taking any chances. Germaphobes like me rejoice as people everywhere become more hygienic, washing their hands with soap before meals and not spitting in public.
However, there are some things like our obsession with puns that can never be changed. Remember Phua Chu Kang's SAR-Vivor?
Posted by Singapore on Wednesday, 15 April 2009
3. 2004: Duration of NS reduced
As a NSF, I believe that this is the single most important bill ever passed in Parliament.
Then Defence Minister, Teo Chee Hean, announced in 2004 that NS will he reduced from two and a half years to two years.
And all the men in Singapore rejoiced. (Except, of course, those who enlisted before December 2004 and have to serve the full two and half years, bitterly.)
4. 2005: Announcement of the building of Integrated Resorts (IRs)
When the idea was brought up in 2005, it faced strong opposition from many Singaporeans.
Personally, I was one of them. I was honestly shocked that the idea was even brought up because like many young Singaporeans, I had the impression that nothing good could come from having a casino. In school, we were taught about a Singapore that was once ruled by organised crime because of gambling.
Even the Cabinet was split.
Ultimately, Mr Lee Hsien Loong decided to go ahead with the building of the IRs, famously saying, "As Prime Minister, I carry the ultimate responsibility for the decision."
In hindsight, I think that the building of the IRs was a good decision because it has helped to create jobs and injected money into our economy.
More important, with new attractions like Universal Studios Singapore and that iconic infinity skypool, the IRs revitalised our tourism industry, putting us yet again on the map as a must-go destination.
5. 2013: Little India Riot
Until it happened, no millennials believed that we would ever witness a riot.
That's why even when news broke on social media, I remained sceptical, doubting the authenticity of the photos until the mainstream media broke the news.
As a result of the riot, resolving rowdiness caused by public drinking became the top agenda for the Parliament.
One knee-jerk resolution was the new public drinking law, implemented on April 1, 2015, that bans drinking in public after 10.30pm.
This means no more buying alcohol from Holiday Inn to drink outside Zouk while you get hosed and shouted at by security guards.
Clubbing, will never be the same again.
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