I have survived the first week of school, with much surprises, uncertainties and anticipation. It was really an eye opener for me to witness how lessons are conducted in a seminar room, how engaging the professors are, how well others articulate their thoughts & ideas in class with confidence and the entire experience of receiving a higher standard of education is really amazing.
Apart from embarking on the modules that’s much complex & requires higher analytical skills, there’s a diversity in the environment & it adds on to the competitive atmosphere in the school.
Meeting new classmates, exchanging names & self introduction, forming new project groups for every module with different people, on the first lesson and even to ballot our project case study during our first lesson are norms that were quickly established by the professors in the first week.
I have this schoolmate, who I met in orientation camp, reserved a study room right on the first day of school, & invited the group of us to study together. I thought that was being too kiasu moreover it’s only the first week why the hurry in studying the textbooks? However, to my amazement, majority of the classmates have read the first few chapters of their textbooks and prepared for the class. Cultural shock for me because I have never expected that on the first lesson in the first week. I’ve witness students who are very concern of their studies, and even came forward to the prof to clear their doubts during their breaks.
After my lesson and on the way home, I wonder why all these behaviors amazed me, & why I didn’t get to witness or study under such environment back in poly or secondary school. If I were to read one chapter of the text before my lesson in poly or secondary school, I would be deemed as a nerd, even if I do prepare I wouldnt dare to admit when the tcher asked to have a show of hands for those who have prepared. but over here, my classmate actually asked why I’m not prepared and what I’ve been doing?!
I felt the need to build up my english proficiency because I’m afraid they would laugh at my poor English when I speak, and bcos of that I don’t dare to voice out which also means no participation marks that accounts for 10 to 25%! >.<
All in all, I'm thankful for all these exposures but i really need to buck up! I kind of understands why some parents expect and hope that their child enters into certain schools now. A part of me wished that I had mature earlier, excel & have the grasp in my studies earlier in life so that I won't feel so weak now. But it's ok, I'll conquer this!
