My humble thoughts is a section I share with parents and students to express my experiences on teaching and learning. I do not expect everyone to share the same thoughts as me. However, if my article benefits you, I know I have contributed to your life.
Junior College or Polytechnic?
It was one day after the release of O level results. "Hey Sharon! How did you fare for your O levels?" Jane watsapped Sharon. "Arghh!!! I'm very vexed! Should I go JC or poly?", Sharon replied. "My L1R5 got 15 points. L1 R4 is 12 points. My mum wants me to go JC but I'm not too sure? How?", Sharon continued adding a frustrated smiley icon on her watsapp message.
Junior college or polytechnic? Or in short acronyms as Singaporean students like to use, JC or poly? I am not a qualified academic and career choices consultant. However, based on my many years of tutoring experience and my own life experience, I can offer some sharing on this tough choice that every student including me have had to make at some point of their life. Indeed, this decision is important as it has consequences on one's future route in terms of his academic and career path. But, let me assure you that this choice you make today will not be the final decision you will make in your life. There are many more choices you have to make along the way as you proceed further in life such as which higher education after JC or poly will I want to pursue, what job do I want to do and maybe a little further, should I marry this person for life.
Nowadays, there is increased opening for polytechnic students to enter local universities. Thus, the playing field has widen to not just mainly JC students but also polytechnic students who can enter local universities. But, let me clarify that no matter who you are, a JC or poly student, you are admitted to local universities based on competition. Each local university carries with it its reputation and standing and surely they cannot allow any person who is less than qualified to enter its courses. That is why there are prerequisites for all university courses and a student who wishes to enroll himself in a university course has to satisfy the minimum prerequisites. In addition, he has to compete with others who also want to enroll into the same course due to limited places every year in each course.
Therefore, no matter where you choose to go, junior college or polytechnic, you will need to compete among your peers in JC or poly, and also other foreign students eventually to enter into a university course of your choice. Of course, one has to do research to find out what are the university course entry requirements he is interested in and work backwards to decide on a relevant path to take, be it entering junior college or polytechnic. He has to consider what polytechnic course and if it is junior college, what subjects to take which will lead him towards the university course he is interested in.
One also has to consider his aptitude for taking a particular academic route. If he is not academically inclined towards learning the same subjects such as maths, sciences, languages and the humanities at higher level, a junior college route may be questionable. A polytechnic route which is more balanced with subject based, project and research, and work experiential based learning may be suitable for some.
Passion is another important aspect in learning as much as the aptitude. Passion will ensure the person will endure through the route of study choice he has made. There will be often times when studies get tough, for a student who likes what he is learning and doing. For someone who has no interest in what he is learning and doing, he may be prone to give up even more easily when the going gets tough. Let's take a look further into the professionals who are good at what they do. Many professionals who made their name are passionate in what they do. Top golfers, basketball players, singers, artists, scientists, doctors, musicians etc. are good at what they do not only due to their attitudes and aptitudes at work, but the primary driving force is passion.
I have a friend who is determined that he wants to become a doctor that serves his patients for life. Despite being not admitted to a local university for a medicine course, he did not give up his passion and life goal. He finished his basic science degree in a local university and reapplied to the university for a medicine course. He was again rejected a second time. He then applied to an Australian university for a medicine course and they took him in. I am sure that my friend will make a good doctor if not an excellent one next time for he is very passionate in what he hopes to do with his life. How do I know this? If he is not passionate about being a doctor, he would have given up this goal anytime when the going gets tough. Despite being rejected twice over a span of a few years, he still persisted and got into a medicine course.
It may not matter too much whether it is a junior college or polytechnic route one chooses right now. However, every choice one makes in life has to be genuine, passionate and responsible. One commits to a decision in an instant, but live it out in responsibility for the longer term. Choose wisely based on your passion, attitude and aptitude. But, it is not the end of the world once the choice is made. There is a longer road ahead in life full of more choices and challenges. No matter what path one takes right now, he who is passionate and knows his goal and meaning in life will make sure he arrives there despite the challenges and obstacles he will face along the way.
In conclusion, perhaps a better question to ask is, "What is your passion in life and will you see yourself through the many decisions and challenges to arrive at it without giving up?" I wish all students all the best in finding their passion and doing their best in life in their future endeavours.
It was one day after the release of O level results. "Hey Sharon! How did you fare for your O levels?" Jane watsapped Sharon. "Arghh!!! I'm very vexed! Should I go JC or poly?", Sharon replied. "My L1R5 got 15 points. L1 R4 is 12 points. My mum wants me to go JC but I'm not too sure? How?", Sharon continued adding a frustrated smiley icon on her watsapp message.
Junior college or polytechnic? Or in short acronyms as Singaporean students like to use, JC or poly? I am not a qualified academic and career choices consultant. However, based on my many years of tutoring experience and my own life experience, I can offer some sharing on this tough choice that every student including me have had to make at some point of their life. Indeed, this decision is important as it has consequences on one's future route in terms of his academic and career path. But, let me assure you that this choice you make today will not be the final decision you will make in your life. There are many more choices you have to make along the way as you proceed further in life such as which higher education after JC or poly will I want to pursue, what job do I want to do and maybe a little further, should I marry this person for life.
Nowadays, there is increased opening for polytechnic students to enter local universities. Thus, the playing field has widen to not just mainly JC students but also polytechnic students who can enter local universities. But, let me clarify that no matter who you are, a JC or poly student, you are admitted to local universities based on competition. Each local university carries with it its reputation and standing and surely they cannot allow any person who is less than qualified to enter its courses. That is why there are prerequisites for all university courses and a student who wishes to enroll himself in a university course has to satisfy the minimum prerequisites. In addition, he has to compete with others who also want to enroll into the same course due to limited places every year in each course.
Therefore, no matter where you choose to go, junior college or polytechnic, you will need to compete among your peers in JC or poly, and also other foreign students eventually to enter into a university course of your choice. Of course, one has to do research to find out what are the university course entry requirements he is interested in and work backwards to decide on a relevant path to take, be it entering junior college or polytechnic. He has to consider what polytechnic course and if it is junior college, what subjects to take which will lead him towards the university course he is interested in.
One also has to consider his aptitude for taking a particular academic route. If he is not academically inclined towards learning the same subjects such as maths, sciences, languages and the humanities at higher level, a junior college route may be questionable. A polytechnic route which is more balanced with subject based, project and research, and work experiential based learning may be suitable for some.
Passion is another important aspect in learning as much as the aptitude. Passion will ensure the person will endure through the route of study choice he has made. There will be often times when studies get tough, for a student who likes what he is learning and doing. For someone who has no interest in what he is learning and doing, he may be prone to give up even more easily when the going gets tough. Let's take a look further into the professionals who are good at what they do. Many professionals who made their name are passionate in what they do. Top golfers, basketball players, singers, artists, scientists, doctors, musicians etc. are good at what they do not only due to their attitudes and aptitudes at work, but the primary driving force is passion.
I have a friend who is determined that he wants to become a doctor that serves his patients for life. Despite being not admitted to a local university for a medicine course, he did not give up his passion and life goal. He finished his basic science degree in a local university and reapplied to the university for a medicine course. He was again rejected a second time. He then applied to an Australian university for a medicine course and they took him in. I am sure that my friend will make a good doctor if not an excellent one next time for he is very passionate in what he hopes to do with his life. How do I know this? If he is not passionate about being a doctor, he would have given up this goal anytime when the going gets tough. Despite being rejected twice over a span of a few years, he still persisted and got into a medicine course.
It may not matter too much whether it is a junior college or polytechnic route one chooses right now. However, every choice one makes in life has to be genuine, passionate and responsible. One commits to a decision in an instant, but live it out in responsibility for the longer term. Choose wisely based on your passion, attitude and aptitude. But, it is not the end of the world once the choice is made. There is a longer road ahead in life full of more choices and challenges. No matter what path one takes right now, he who is passionate and knows his goal and meaning in life will make sure he arrives there despite the challenges and obstacles he will face along the way.
In conclusion, perhaps a better question to ask is, "What is your passion in life and will you see yourself through the many decisions and challenges to arrive at it without giving up?" I wish all students all the best in finding their passion and doing their best in life in their future endeavours.