Let 16-year-old students in the year 2004 take part in Singapore Idol

I am a 15.9-year-old student, currently studying in a Secondary School in the heart of my little country, Singapore. Ever since I first started to sing, I have had a strange tingling feeling in my heart, something that is roused everytime I sing. This, I believe, is what some people would call Passion.

Just like every other young person of the 21st century, I have dreams, and one of those is to be a singer. I watched American Idol II when it came to Singapore, and I catch American Idol III whenever I can, and I have always hoped that I could be like one of those people on TV, singing to millions and millions of people, living out their dreams. When MediaCorp (www.mediacorp.com.sg) announced that they had bought the rights to Singapore Idol, my heart stopped for a long while, as I pondered the possibilities of me living out my dream. My heart has yearned for the day when I would be able to sing to people; someone other than that reflection when I look into my bathroom mirror; someone other than those cynical, insensitive persons who crush dreams without even the slightest of guilt. I wanted to sing to people.

Finally. 4th May 2004. The online application form for Singapore Idol was finally released. I logged onto the page, full of excitement and boiling-over enthusiasm, then as I read one of the clauses of the Terms and Conditions, my heart skipped a beat.

"You must be 16 - 30 years of age on the day of the first audition on June 5th 2004 to be eligible for this contest."

My birthday is on 7th July. I am exactly one month, two days too young for the competition. Sounds ridiculous? I agree. So I'm not going to be able to join the competition in 2004, and there are no guarantees that there'll be any more competitions in the following years. I will not be able to live out my dream, just because I am one month, two days too young.

This petition is aimed at convincing the organisers of MediaCorp Singapore to change the rules of the competition. That is, to allow those who are 16 in the year 2004 to participate, regardless of their birthdates. Specifically:

"You must be 16 - 30 years of age in the year of 2004 to be eligible for this contest."

Thank you for signing my petition and helping me and many other 16-year-olds with a passion for singing achieve our dreams. Thank you very much.