So I’m a secondary 4 NA student right now, and even though I could qualify for polytechnic according to my prelim grades, I don’t think I’ll do as well for my actual N levels.
My teachers vehemently discourage me from choosing secondary 5, but I tell them I absolutely can not go to ITE. The salient reason other than not qualifying for poly is that I can’t handle transitions well and I am much more comfortable in familiar places like my current school.
My current math and art teacher are going to teach me in secondary 5, so I see this as reasons to stay because I really am not ready for any transition, I revel in classroom environments and the rigid structure of school.
Is it valid for me to want to stay because of the familiarity?
hi @user5692 thanks for sharing that with us. Navigating transitions and decisions about transitions are so tough aren’t they? You’re doing so well in really reflecting and thinking about your current situation and asking questions about how to move forward
Of course it is totally valid to want familiarity! Familiarity feels safe, and for some that safety means a lot. I see how for you, you have observed that in yourself too?
but I want to gently ask as well—if you imagine familiarity or safety is guaranteed regardless of where you’re at, where do you see yourself? What do you think is the most ideal situation for you right now if there was nothing holding you back?
Perhaps that answer might tell you what might be the direction that you want it might still be scary and it doesnt mean this outcome is the answer you end up taking, but that maybe we can think together about how we can get there
if I don’t get into polytechnic secondary 5 would be my best bet. My father would probably punch me in the face if I go to ITE even if it’s only for 2 years and it brings me directly to poly after the 2 years. (He has an outdated understanding of the current education system). I don’t really know why my teachers still discourage me from going up to secondary 5 as I already take 3 o level subjects and only 2 n level subjects. I think I was just really unfortunate when I took my n level papers a few days ago
Sec school is like a place that forced you to learn many different subjects and most of them you might not even use in real life. As the fact, you dont need to be good in history to become a doctor, nor you need to be good in chem to be a police officer, neither you need to be good in art to be a accountant
While poly or ITE will be more like a place to learn a skill and focus on something you really like/wanted.
And once you have a diploma or degree, people dont care how bad you do in your N or O levels.
But really, if you go to Poly pls choose a subject you like and fight for it. dont suka suka pick one that you dont like because its what is left or because that is the only thing you are qualified for.
As when you grow older, you will noticed that having a passion in what you do will take less toll in your mental health than doing something for the sake of doing.
Yeah, I’ll definitely pick polytechnic but the problem is whether I’ll even qualify for it. It seems like my only option if I don’t qualify, is secondary 5 which my teachers discourage
Probably something conventional, something my parents approve of, but I can’t really think of one right now as my ambition is to be an art teacher however they vehemently object that.
Today was my English o levels, I think I screwed up, I’ll have no future
If you want to be an art teacher, i think you need to go to NIE.
But do know that, anything that is related to arts and designs, its a sunset industry, not easy to find jobs. Unless you are planning towards content creator.
But if i am not wrong, arts dont need very good grades apart from arts.
If you need help in planning, i guess you can approach Brahm Centre for help, they have internship program for youth as well as other support. youth care - Brahm Centre
my dad wouldn’t let me go to NAFA which is understandable and he wouldn’t let me go to ite. My only option is polytechnic because JC is impossible for me
I wanted NAFA since the cutoff is higher thus easier to get in, and my art teachers say I can 100% get in because I had the ability to draw hyperrealistic drawings
They have art teaching which was the perfect course for me as I want to be an art teacher
Let’s just say my dad gave me an earful after I brought up NAFA to him
If you like art so much and you think its 100% a subject to get in.
a part of being a art teacher. One other thing that you can try convincing your parents to let you do art is to consider the art route towards occupational therapist or a art therapist.
Its a very demanding job now. Since there is more and more people with special needs and mental health issues that needed help and also increasing of againg population.
So i pretty sure this is very conventional to your parents.
Some info that might help you. But i guess you need to plan how to do it. Those staff and volunteer in Barhm centre might be ldeal people to ask. Since if i am not wrong they might a art therapist in one of their centres.
But if you are really bad in your english, you need to try to polish it up as much as possible, since english is a subject needed for Masters in Art Therapy.
hii took n levels in 2022 and did pfp. trust me, go poly or ite, dont go sec 5.
tbh prelims are way more harder than n levels. ik friends who did 11-13 for prelims, then n levels is single digit. my classmates who stayed sec 5 was suffering to say the least. i only suggest do sec 5 if uw go jc. transition is normal and tbh pfp wld be amazing time to adjust to poly cos y1 u are ahead of others per se in terms of adjusting to poly rigour. jiayou!!
how did the classes in year 0 differ from year 1? was year 0 more akin to the structure of secondary school? how frequent were the tests and is it just o level subjects?
I cried a lot even before the results are released because I think I did worse than prelims, which was a bummer because I topped the class. I don’t even know if I can qualify for sec 5. I am so afraid right now
honestly it depends if ur taking a stem course or no. cos diff courses have diff mods to learn (this is np). but in general ur learning eng and math o lvl style and the tests are usually in mid and end of sem, and there wld be projects too! and as a previous topper for class i feel u so much. imma reassure u u will do fine. u can do this!!
tldr: year 0 more chill and it fills the gap in a way like we learn some o lvl eng and math, but take this time to adjust instead of doing well. save that energy for y1
, i dun think ur parents that old, but stil so outdated? Mine still is coz like trump age