One out of twelve

My colleague was working as a lawyer last July, when she decided to throw in the towel and follow her dreams to be a teacher. We were curious as to why she gave up a high paying career and asked her for the reasons.

She answered that she did not want to be a lawyer but her academic result was good enough for her to qualify. Her parents encouraged her to go into the law profession even though she has no interest in it. After practicing law for a few years to satisfy her parents’ wish, she decided to do what she feels is her calling. She is much happier now.

Now that the O level results have been released, I wondered how parents will advise their children, who have taken the O level exam last year, about the next step in their academic career.

Would they be ashamed of their child if they failed to get the required 5 O level credits and thus avoid visiting relatives during Chinese New Year period? Or would they insist that their child go to a top junior collage even though the child wants to pursuit the poly route?

Some parents advised their children to go to the junior collage not because it is in the interest of the child but because they would be able to boast about it at the office. Others live their dream through their children and insist that they take up profession that their child has no interest in at all. Some still harbous prejudices against students in the art streams, or students who wants to pursuit drama, music or fashion.

Students with ‘O’ level results can now submit their applications under both the Joint Admissions Exercise and the Joint-Polytechnic Special Admissions Exercise. This is conducted annually by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to allow students who have sat for the O level examination to apply for admission to courses offered by junior colleges, Millennia Institute, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education. They are given until 4.00 p.m. on Wednesday, 14 February 2007 to register for the JAE. Students are given up to twelve options to put on their application form.

How would students selection these options? Will they go to a junior college because their friends are going to the same junior college? Or would they prefer a polytechnics course because they do not have to wear school uniform? Will they be pressurized by their parents to do a course that they do not like? Or will they be doing a course because they think is prestigious?

For many students, choose a course for tertiary education would be the first major decision that they make in their life. This should not be taken lightly and frivolously. An informed choice is better than a choice made in haste.

The decision should be based on the student’s interest, his talent, and his academic ability.
My daughter will be selecting her options and make her decision soon. She has visited several polytechnics and visited several websites of institute of higher learning.

On several occasions, I was tempted to maneuver her to choose a particular course that I want her to do. Sometime when she was exploring options that I do not agree with, I have to learn to bit my tongue and see her rational for her choices before I give her advise and opinions.

It is difficult to trust my daughter as a thinking rational adult who can make good decision. Sometimes, I still see her as my cute, cuddly seven years old.

But all too soon, she has blossom into a teenager soon to be an adult. I guess I must learn to let go and let her make some of life mistake, decisions and choices by herself now.

Note: She gave her mother a heart attack when she only put down one choice when given twelve options. One can only guess why she took such a step.