// some peace before the storm //

Some years ago, I always wondered why Singaporeans want to migrate to another country.
As I remember it, many of them would say life here is too stressful and fast-paced.
Well, at that time, the naive me didn't realise the reality of the situation.
Now, I can finally empathise with their feelings.

Education, which has occupied a large part of my life, is one area that sparked off this realisation.
Having spent years listening to teachers always struggling to 'catch up' with the syllabus, having been through countless cramming sessions (just to get those useless theories inside my head), it serves some sort of justification to those common complaints.

Why do kids hate exams so much?
Why do parents spend so much on getting the best tutor for their children?
At each stage of the education system, there is the most - feared national examination.
Some have liken it to a war.
Some have questioned the rationality of it.
Is it justified to judge the amount and depth of learning of a student simply by a one-off examination?
I can't help but think that those students who got eliminated in the process could have gotten a chance to proceed on if they had been given more liberty in terms of learning pace.
No doubt Singapore has to progress. Society and standard of living has to improve.
But if it's at the expense of the mental and psychological wellness of young students, I would think it's a high cost.
Anyway, the focus on academic success tend to overshadow other aspects, like moral ethics.
Students nowadays might be well-versed in many subjects, with credit going to the education system, but are their moral compasses pointing in the correct direction?

Maybe it's just me.
Sometimes I just feel everything is proceeding at a very fast pace.
There is no time to delve deeper into the stuff we learn, no time to reflect.
So many things to cope with, so little time.
This has inculcated a habit of 'just learn those that will be tested' such that some people who chose to learn more are at a disadvantage, especially if those who possess an average intelligence.
It just seems that only the more gifted can have the privilege to learn more than is required while those will average intelligence are expected to learn just what is required, especially if they want to get a decent grade.

Anyway, it is now the period before exams.
the peace before the storm.
the time when i cannot feel more relieved.
with fyp out of sight (for now), it's time to take things slow.
i've realised that learning at my own pace is the most enjoyable thing.
however, it's very much slower than the rate we are supposed to go.
hence, the inevitable last minute cramming just before the exams.