Over the past year, tons of my Asian friends in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia graduated from university. Along with this, I noticed tons of “graduation trip” photos – photos of my friends striking poses in scenic countrysides, photos of mouth-watering exotic cuisine – popping up on my Facebook news feed. And this actually points towards changing Asian attitudes and culture in society today.

A graduation trip is typically a trip overseas, a reward for studying hard and finally finishing university. A decade ago, graduation trips were not all the rage. For many Asians then, post-uni life meant jumping straight into the workforce or hunkering down and finding a job that pays decently and is well-respected by the Asian parents.

Asian graduates are increasingly making it a point to see the world prior to entering the workforce. Photo: Mabel Kwong

Today, graduation trips are the norm for young university graduates, akin to a rite of passage before entering the workforce. I have never been on one, but judging from the photos my Asian friends post on Facebook, these trips look fun.

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