Like the motto of LG, ‘Life’s Good’, I thought that I could say the same thing after A-levels. At that time, I thought nothing could be worse than A-levels. If I could survive through it, I could breeze through anything. However, the university admission period taught me how to appreciate A-levels – the only toxic relationship I would willingly return to. The trauma of the admission period is on another level. Instead of generational wealth, I would be passing this generational trauma.
Right after A-level, I decided on engineering. Why? Honestly, because I didn’t know what else to study. Science seemed like the next logical step, and my father was an engineer and seemed to enjoy it. So I figured it would be fun.
I decided to try for a public university, drawn by its glorified reputation. No shade on public university students though. Mad respect to those who attempt or succeed; you are truly God’s strongest soldiers. I severely underestimated the mammoth difference between the British and National Curricula. A-level was David taking on the absolute Goliath, the HSC.
National Curriculum books are so chunky that they can easily be a murder weapon or at least give a concussion. Every day I had to endure a two-hour commute to a coaching centre, the only one that taught the national curriculum to English medium students.
I remember spending hours trying to memorise formulas, only to forget them the moment I looked away. The pressure to learn a syllabus of two years within a couple of months was immense. You have to unlearn and re-learn a lot of things. More than learning, the key to success is memorisation. I wished I had the ‘memory bread’ from Doraemon; would have made life much easier.
This whole process does take a huge toll on your mental health and if you decide to drop out, it’s understandable. The problem is not you, you did your best. The problem is the whole education system – it’s messed up.
Did I decide to stick around?
Nope. I was ready to renounce civil life if I had to stick any longer.
How did my parents react?
They were supportive and reassured me that it was alright if I didn’t want to continue. I honestly thought I was going to be disowned. Turns out, I have some of the most understanding parents in the world.
What did I do?
I opted for a private university. Ironically, the stress helped me out. It made me realise I didn’t want to study. I decided to switch to social sciences as an experiment. Right now, I am in my third semester, studying ‘Global Studies and Governance’ and I am in love with my major.
Although the admission process was brutal, in the end, it led me to exactly where I needed to be.
To anyone struggling with their university admission journey—it’s okay to change paths. What matters is finding something that excites you, even if it takes a few detours.