I’ve been feeling so lost after receiving my JC promo exam results and finding out that I didn’t meet the criteria to promote to J2. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about going to poly as I feel that the JC curriculum isn’t really for me and my grades are pretty ■■■■. But now that I really have to make a decision to choose whether I should repeat J1 or just drop out and start afresh in poly, I’m completely stuck. I was given the choice to change my subject combi to art stream since I’m currently in science stream and my H2 science subjects are both a U. However, I don’t enjoy humanities even though I’m good at it and hence why I chose to take science instead albeit my Olevels literature being A1 while my sciences were B3. Should I choose to do something I enjoy but suck at or something I really don’t like but am good at? The next option for me is to drop out and go poly, which is something I’m more interested in doing. I’m thinking of taking up a course that is science-related like oral health therapy or something as the course involves a lot of human biology, which I really enjoy. But my mom told me that since my sciences are weak, I should probably take up a business course instead and I highkey don’t want to do business at all and I might not even want to pursue a business degree in uni. Pleaseeee give me some advice…if all else fails I might become a nun.
Hey there! I can feel you.
I was from triple science in secondary school. I thought I was coping well, but every time my grades dropped, my parents were making me feel as if I were the problem. My studying techniques, were bad, or something about me that was wrong. At the end of my O’s, I was only eligible to apply to poly, which I managed to get in. That’s when covid came, and once again I was on my own to score good marks. Self study lectures, zoom call tutorials, and what else… The best part was, at home I was shifting from room to room like a ping pong ball, just because my family members could not accommodate me studying from home. 
In Y2, my life was terrible, as I had to change my laptop to a Mac from a windows. While it may be something that is perceived as good choice, but it failed me… literally. I had to repeat my Y2 just because I couldn’t install some of the apps required to practice the lessons gone through in class. Others having Macs had found alternative options for at least the modules requiring those incompatible apps, whereas I was left with my windows 7 and my Mac. 
Fast forward to Y3, my life was better in that I was able to obtain better grades thanks to the lack of technical hinderances. The best part is that, at the end of FYP, I was even able to present my project to industry people, just because I was able to give my best shot. 
In essence, I wish to say, life isn’t over when you obtain bad grades. It’s the passion that matters. I myself have seen it. As long as, you are willing to improve, there is still hope. Don’t ponder too much. If possible, move on to Y2. You never know, you might just be able to do it better. It’s a risk repeating or switching, in my opinion. Sometimes, your passion will guide you. Honestly, Ive experienced the miracles of pursuing my passion, even when the odds were against me.
Quoting Napolean Hill, “ Cherish your vision and your dreams as they are the spirits of your soul blueprints of your achievements.”
All the best!
Hi @user0597 thanks for reaching out! It sounds like you’re facing difficulties with making some big decisions. I think it’s good that you’re considering the different options. Personally, I feel like it would be best to do something you enjoy, as long as you are confident that this passion can carry you through and motivate you regardless of how difficult it is. I feel like it’s a question of whether you are willing to suffer and keep going despite the difficulties that come with sciences like you mentioned. Have you reached out to an ECG counsellor?
It’s difficult to ever know whether the choice we made was indeed the correct one so ultimately, I think what matters most is not exactly the decision itself but how you make the decision work afterwards! I believe in you 
Hi @user0597! As someone that has gone through something similar in JC, I hear you and I really do feel for you I know how anxiety-inducing and nerve-racking it can feel to retain. Now, your journey has been extended shortly, but please don’t fret! I remember feeling extremely anxious and beating myself up over the fact that I would be a year behind my peers. In hindsight, it did not make a significant difference and I still feel as though I belong in uni! As someone who expected to take the typical express stream > 2 year JC > uni route, I do not regard retaining as a failure but rather a slight redirection in my journey (and I hope you do too). It is great to hear that you have weighed the options before you based on your strengths and weaknesses. Since I chose to stay on in JC, I do not know much about the poly options, but a few of my batch mates who retained ended up transferring out and reported positive experiences. According to your interests, I really do believe that you should push to do what you truly love and wish to pursue! I would like to acknowledge that while your mom’s concern is valid, the curriculum styles in poly and JC are vastly different! If I may suggest, you can consider contacting any peers in similar courses in poly and enquire about the teaching style and syllabus content. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will respond to the best of my ability, I hope you end up choosing what is best for you 
Hi there!
It’s completely understandable to feel lost right now. This is a big decision, and the pressure from grades, family expectations, and your own hopes can pile up quickly. But the important thing is that you’re already listening to yourself, and that matters. If poly and a science-related course genuinely interest you, and you can see yourself enjoying the content and working hard for it, that’s worth taking seriously. Enjoyment and motivation often matter more in the long run than what you happened to score in one exam system that wasn’t a good fit for you.
Whatever you choose, make sure it aligns with your future, not just what feels “safe” or what others prefer. You deserve a path where you can grow, feel confident, and actually like what you’re studying. You’re not failing. You’re just figuring things out and that’s ok:)
BTW, even if you take biz diploma, you have options to pursue other degrees as well in uni, should you meet their pre-reqs such as specific modules and/or subjects taken… you won’t be “forced” to only take biz degree lol.
i personally recommend going poly route instead if you struggle in jc. aka jc dropout to go poly. i personally knew quite a few folks who’ve done that and they thrived in poly.
jc is pretty stressful cos (1) many varied subjects taken, compressed in 2y. if you cannot process the knowledge quick enough, ggwp. (2) if you’re unable to score high RP to get into the course of your choice… (just go to reddit and read all those sgexams horror stories)
whereas for poly, since you “pick” a specific course, at least the modules aren’t that varied. plus the schedule is so relaxed compared to jc.
regarding whether you should pick something you’re good at, vs something that interests you.. i’ve also tried both. i went to a poly course which was easy for me to score high GPA as it leaned to my strengths (i really didn’t wanna go to jc, cos i cannot stand the compressed schedule with so many different subjects to take). with the high GPA i could enter many different kinds of uni prog. and then i went to a uni prog which was of “my interest” but not something that i’m naturally skilled in, and didn’t do amazingly well.
in the end as working adult it doesn’t matter too much, cos it’s up to you to craft your own narrative to get a job (aka sell yourself to the hiring manager), or forge your own pathway like open your own biz 
hello, as a student myself, I understand the stresses of jc and I will like to commend you for your efforts 
as for the two major options, perhaps you can consider talking to your teachers and parents regarding this decision. and perhaps you can also consider looking through the open houses for poly, are there courses that you are interested in. as for jc, perhaps you can also tep back and consider if there were any major stresses in your jc life to continue jc. rooting for you op!