Winning the rat race
For many of us our early education was a never ending rat race to keep up with syllabuses, homework, exams and the inevitable tuition classes. Looking back at my O level years what I remember most vividly is not the material that I was studying but rather the preparation leading up to the dreaded public exams in December. At that time I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of texts I had to memorise in order reproduce them at the exam, the long hours of switching from one subject to another every hour or so to make sure that nothing gets neglected. Looking back on those years, I remember the feeling of incompetence that was instilled in me as I couldn’t be as good as I was expected to be. This I’m sure is a sentiment many students have felt during their school years, irrespective of what educational system they belonged to.
Yet is this system we were brought up in an apt assessment of our abilities and capacities as students? While examinations are an essential and important part of education, they often fail to recognise talents and capabilities that are too varied to be picked up through formal assessments. At a young age failure can discourage us from pursuing the things we like. And the things we like may have nothing to do with the content of a syllabus or even a subject taken at school. What is important to realize here is that education, in whatever form, must open the doors to possibilities rather than instil fear and uncertainty at such a young age.
So how do we discover our true potential in this mad rush of our education? The key is finding that one subject or field that we truly enjoy, for which we are gladly willing to sacrifice our time and efforts. This is probably the most important decision we make for ourselves as young adults. Despite the pressure we receive from those around us, it is our responsibility to take a stand for what is best for us. Once that decision is made and we stick to it, we will not only be respected for choices but we will also be extremely grateful to ourselves a few years along the line.
What we must then strive for is to once more instil the love for learning within ourselves. Education should not be a burden on young minds, but rather an opportunity to engage with our surroundings, discover new things and pursue our dreams, which we ourselves must have the freedom to create. As I was constantly told during my own school days, the world is big enough for all of us. And by nurturing young minds to lead the future, it can only get bigger.