'Do It Now': Les Miserables Star Nathania Ong on Chasing Your Dreams
Why It Matters
The interview spotlights cultural resistance to arts careers, urging young talent to act now, which could broaden the creative workforce and drive economic diversification.
Key Takeaways
- •Asian families often doubt arts as viable career paths
- •Studying musical theater abroad felt uncertain but sparked determination
- •Relatives questioned employability of a performing‑arts degree in Singapore
- •Ong urges young artists to act now, avoid future regret
- •Pursuing passion early prevents lifelong dissatisfaction in unrelated jobs
Summary
In a candid interview, Les Miserables alumna Nathania Ong discusses the pressure Asian families place on artistic ambitions and the challenge of turning a musical‑theatre degree into a sustainable career.
Ong recounts how relatives in Singapore questioned the practicality of her UK musical‑theatre studies, fearing she could not “use my musical theater degree and go work at a bank.” She describes the uncertainty she felt abroad but also the resolve it forged.
Her central advice to 18‑year‑olds is blunt: “Don’t be that person in five years… Do it now.” She urges aspiring performers to pursue their passion immediately rather than postpone and risk future regret.
The message resonates for talent pipelines across Asia, signaling that early commitment to the arts can counter cultural stigma and help build a more vibrant creative economy.
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