It's a terrifying thought for any students to be summoned by one's teachers to discuss one's academic results. Unfortunately or fortunately, this was the case for Ein Gyin San, alumnus of Eunoia Junior College, who is now pursuing a double degree in Bachelor of Business Management and Bachelor of Accountancy.
Getting to know Ein Gyin San
What is your go to fast food?
I love McDonald's breakfast, especially their spicy McNuggets!
What do you do in your free time?
I like to hangout with my friends and watching Netflix. I just finished a show called Little Nyonya last week. It's an old Singaporean drama serial about the Paranakan culture!
How do you rate your school uniform out of 10?
I think it is genuinely comfortable! I would say an 8 out of 10. Also, we are allowed to wear other school t-shirts on Friday.
How was the food there?
It was quite decent. The food has a homey feeling to it and I particularly enjoyed the chicken rice!
Gyin San's experience in Eunoia JC
How would you describe your time in EJC?
It wasn't smooth-sailing for me unfortunately. It was particularly worrisome for me after sitting for the Mid-Year Examinations in JC2. The results was not what I expected at all. I was lucky to have a group of friends whom I could confide in and share my struggle with. As a group, we had a lot of fun in class and always look forward to recess to hangout together. My teachers were also great in general. Many were open to having consultations with me and some even helped me with university advice.
It sounds like you went through a tough time right before preliminary examinations in JC2, tell us more about that.
Yes it was particularly tough for me. Having studied during the entire month of June in JC2, I was quietly confident in scoring better than the last set of tests. However, it didn't turn out the way I hoped. Soon after, I found myself sitting in a room among many others, essentially being told to focus before it's too late. It was tense. I remember feeling terrible afterwards and all I could do was seeking comfort in my friends, who were super supportive and told me everything was going to be alright.
How did you react after that setback?
It was a wake-up call for me. I knew something had to change, or else I was risking my future. Therefore, I switched up my study method, going beyond just studying my notes. Thankfully, I improved in the preliminary examinations. It was also a big relief for me when receiving my A' Level results, knowing that I have put the setback behind me.
What would you say is the main difference between teachers in Junior College and in secondary school?
The most noticeable change for me is the manner in which teachers would treat you in Junior College. While in secondary school, they would ask you to stay back after class to go through with you the lessons taught in class if you showed signs of falling behind the rest of your classmates. However, at Junior College level, it's now your responsibility as young adults to approach teachers for consultation and additional help beyond school hours.
Looking to read more unique experiences in Junior College? Check out our other blogs in the series!
What was your subject combination and why?
Initially, I chose the typical Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Economics (PCME). I took all three science subjects in secondary school. However, since I needed to drop at least one out of three, I decided to sacrifice Biology due to its heavy content. I chose Economics because I was intrigued by the subject despite having no prior knowledge of it. The learning curve was not too steep either.
After my performance in the Mid-Year Examination mentioned above, I had to make a decision: to drop or not to drop my H2 Mathematics. The dean spoke to me and mentioned that I have to consider this carefully, as dropping to H1 Mathematics would invariably limit the number of opportunities I have in University. The advice sounded terrifying at first, but when I realised it meant that courses like Engineering was out of option as a result, I felt much more confident as I knew I didn't have any interest in pursuing a profession in such fields. Through that experience, I realise that tailored advice is crucial for young students in guiding them through their educational journey.
What advice would you give to juniors selecting their subject combinations?
My biggest advice would be to choose them base on your passions. It's true that the content in A' Level is on another stratosphere compared to that in secondary school. One would realise very quickly that it's difficult to have the drive to study for subjects that one has very little interest in. I have seen a few people essentially stopped studying for a certain subjects due to a lack of interest in it.
Closing thoughts
What would you have done differently?
Looking back, I would have tried my best not to let work pile up and clarify doubts early.
Lastly, one advice to someone looking to join Junior College?
Always try to make the best out of your two years in JC and never give up regardless of your setback!