Seen the holy trinity of JC life before? That's right, choose 2 out of the 3. If you are like me, can't live without my friends and functions like a zombie without sleep, good chance is that your grades are going to suffer. There just isn't enough time for everything no matter how well you try and manage your time!
The best advice here is to try and strike a balance and not take on more than you can handle. You will learn to manage your time to a whole new level! Learn to say no to some meet ups and have the discipline to do what is necessary rather than what your heart desires.
Self discipline and time management might be your two biggest skills you will need to survive through JC! Sleep is important for your health so don't neglect it too!
Welcome to the new bell curve. In case you are wondering, entering a JC means 2 things. The competition level and playing field is going to be drastically different. The bell curve here is a lot steeper and you will be competing against IP students that already have a head start because they have been learning 'A' Levels content way earlier. Teachers are also not going to slow down their teaching for you as most lessons will be lecture style which means if you are a sleepy head and snooze your way through lectures, you will lag behind really quickly.
There are tutorials classes for you to clarify your doubts but if you haven't done your homework, chances are that you will be clueless in your tutorials as well. We hope that by sharing these pointers, you will get a good reality check before you step into your JC life. But don't worry too much and just take everything in stride, one step at a time! If you are undecided between Science Stream or Arts Stream, do check out our article on subject combinations at 'A' Levels!
We look to be part of your 'A' Levels journey and to help you every step of the way! Do follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and check out our weekly podcast on Spotify as well! By Tutors, For Students. All Posts Secondary. Recent Posts See All. JC or Poly? Post not marked as liked 4. Choosing your JC? But I can say, despite knowing with great certainty that I want to study Medicine, 95 percent of the extra-curricular activities I engaged in during JC were not med-related.
And never once did I think, maybe this will help get me into med school. Furthermore, you have to first make sure that your academics are in check. Overloading yourself with too many extra-curricular activities will take away time from studying. Carefully weigh whether or not you can handle that before diving headlong into any commitment.
My advice? Focus on a few, main commitments. Devote yourself to them. Reflect constantly. A small but significant number of those originally in sports CCAs choose a new sport rather than continuing with their previous one.
The most amazing thing is that you do not need any prior experience. Almost everyone starts out with zero experience. So everyone is on the same starting line, more or less. I had set my sights on the only two undergraduate medical schools in Singapore due to the fact that there are no scholarships for studying Medicine overseas. Look out for my University Applications series! Thankfully, I did eventually find out, studied hard for them, and did okay.
It is also a prerequisite for several medical schools in the UK including Oxbridge. It will be in late October right in the middle of your A Levels. You can book a slot from mid-September to mid-October which means you can likely steer clear of your A Levels. The point to remember here is to find out about the admissions tests and application timelines, sign up or apply, note down the important dates, and factor them in your planning for JC2. With regard to universities and future careers, the most invaluable resource is the Education and Career Guidance ECG unit.
Every JC has one. Besides allowing you to arrange consultations with ECG counsellors, the ECG will also organise a host of different events, talks and workshops throughout the year. They send out useful resources and important notifications regarding universities and scholarships.
They will be of immense help along the way. JC life is exciting. No one would wish to look back upon these two years and remember only the struggle and stress of mugging for exams and the A Levels. No doubt, our current education system still hinges heavily on standardised testing. And when it comes to major national exams, such as the A Levels, the number or letter on a piece of paper can determine, to a significant extent, your future path. We are, as yet, powerless to change that.
So we strap ourselves into a slot on this ever-running conveyor belt. We slog away for hours to get that number or letter we or they want. Especially for me, having never cared about exam results in ten years.
One example: In JC2, I wanted to sign up for a three-day programme in June to experience the military. Block Test 2 was right after the June holidays. They said that if quitting my CCA was what I had to do, it was a hundred percent okay. I am a first-generation Christian, having been brought to church by my friend approximately 4 years ago. My parents have just come to know the Lord a year ago. My identity as a Christian was the only thing that kept me from taking my own life.
Disillusioned as I was, I thank God that I was rational enough to know that killing myself would in no way encourage my parents in their faith. It would surely have been a stumbling block to many of my pre-believing friends from knowing God.
Through this whole period, I went to church every Sunday, breaking down at countless worship sessions and altar calls and asking that God would reach in and pull me out of this black valley.
While I had told my mother about my cutting and promised her I would never do it again, I somehow found myself on another night with my penknife in my hand. Instead of making small incisions on my wrist, which I could easily hide with my watch, I ended up reaching down and making three large slashes near my ankle. This time instead of slight pale red slits, dark red blood gushed out.
My hands recoiled in fear and it felt like my heart almost stopped. I cried and cried and tried to use tissues to cover things up but the blood just would not stop flowing. My parents eventually saw my injuries, and I lied to everyone but my one closest friend about what had happened. Now knowing the full extent of what my hands could do, I never cut again. I realised that every cut was a cut too deep. I was traumatised by that experience and I can still recall the feeling of helplessness, being unable to stop the bleeding and just wanting to turn back time.
I was resolved to leave behind the destructive habit of feeding my fear and depression. I took time off studying whenever I felt like I needed a mental health break, and confided more in my friends and my family.
I learnt that self-care should always be my priority and that asking for help was a sign of bravery rather than weakness.
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