These are the three things you should have at the back of your mind when choosing your subject combinations in JC.

First of all, your strengths and future endeavours may be related, meaning that you want to delve into tertiary education or a career pathway that requires a specific skill set or professional knowledge. Then I advise you to find out the pre-requisites of your desired course and choose the subject combination accordingly. However, if you have yet to have your mind set on anything, think about what you are good at. Realistically speaking, the grades on that piece of paper are going to determine your university options at the very minimum. You want to have options and not be one of the options. Although both Arts and Sciences fuel our understanding of the modern world, there is some difference in understanding and conceptualising them. Our brains all process information differently and you should be able to decipher which subjects you are better at instinctively by now from past experiences. This does not mean that you are able to get a perfect grade every time but instead, you find the subject easy to make sense of and are able to draw connections between pieces of information.

Secondly, passion. Think about what you would enjoy studying. The truth is that there is no easy subject in JC. Every single subject requires dedication and hard work and is going to be painful sometimes (or most of the time cries). Thus, if suffering is inevitable, at least suffer for something you love. Many of my friends wanted to “play it safe” and opted for the typical BCME or PCME combination as they deemed a hybrid or arts combination too risky. Yes, it may be true that a BCME or PCME combination can potentially open more doors but if you hate the subject you are studying, do you see yourself going into that profession later on in life?

Lastly, do not be afraid to take unconventional pathways. There is no fixed route to success as long as you are willing to put in the hard work. But of course, do your research beforehand and do not be afraid to ask, consult your teachers and seniors on what certain subjects encompass, read the syllabus document, and go for trial lessons if available.

With that, I wish you all the best for your JC life, remember that many are walking this journey together with you and help is always within reach.

You often hear people say that A-levels was the worst time of their life, and for many, that became a reality for them. I mean we are expected to recall and remember the content from day 1 of JC and then apply it to our A-levels papers 2 years later, while simultaneously juggling CCAs, life, extracurriculars and for some, leadership commitments. Even though JC sounds impossible, it’s not and here are some tips
and advice to survive JC.

Managing emotions: JC students tend to be very stressed throughout their school days and methods to relieve stress like taking an off day or sleeping more can be difficult to do. What kept me going was friends. You don’t have to go out every week since it’s costly and you don’t have time for that. But what I mean is to talk to them.

Just simple things like going for recess break together or hanging out before class. Don’t close yourself off when you’re struggling. They are going through this tough period together with you so you might as well go through it with people you love and trust. Do the things you like to do, in moderation of course. If you enjoy watching Netflix, let yourself enjoy one episode after you’ve finished revision or studying for the day. If you enjoy doing sports, put some time aside. It is important to learn to manage your stress and occasionally cut yourself some slack to prevent burnout.

Tips on doing well for A Levels: Study smart. Struggling with a topic is normal.
Explore different resources to grasp the concept. Don’t try to read the same school notes over and over. Sometimes your school notes may not be very comprehensible or your teacher did not do a good job properly explaining a concept. This is where you should use google at your disposal. For me, Youtube videos were a big game changer in helping me understand concepts and theory. If you don’t understand something, no matter how stupid you think it is, ask your friends or set up a consultation with your teacher. Don’t just depend on yourself and hope that you get
it, always clarify with others and use the resources at your disposal. Time management. I don’t find timetables useful but if that’s your cup of tea, go for it.

When planning your time, ask yourself, what eats up most of your time. Try to limit that. It is important to not let yourself spend too much time doing leisure things before doing your work first. It is extremely crucial to be realistic in planning out the work you’re going to do. When each subject paper is about 3 hours, obviously you’re not going to be able to complete more than 3 papers a day, including marking it and
looking through the paper. So be realistic when planning and remember quantity does not determine your results. Pre-A level revision is going to be very hard, you need to plan out your time optimally so give yourself proper time to eat, sleep, rest
and study. Don’t burn the midnight oil to study.

Pitfalls to avoid: You will almost always never do well for blocks and mid-years and it is easy to get discouraged by it. We’re used to scoring well on tests in secondary school, but it’s different in JC. Think of it, not as a reflection of your lack of effort or aptitude, but that the exams are difficult and almost everyone will not do well. When you get back your results after every exam, reflect upon your studying methods and
think about what helped and what didn’t help you. If you start this good habit from the start, you can find a surefire way of studying that suits you the best that can aid you in A-levels.

Sometimes, it is nearly impossible to feel as though JC life is not an endless time loop. From managing an entire swim team, studying to planning various school-wide events as part of ad-hoc committees, is without a doubt mentally exhausting and physically challenging. For me, my greatest struggle was inculcating the habit of constantly reminding myself of the need to establish that intricate balance between managing such tasks and still being able to put myself first.

Beyond anything, the first year of my JC journey has been a constant struggle and served as a learning process for me to find out who I am as an individual. The biggest takeaway if anything, is that results really do not define who you are as a person. Throughout all the challenging exam preparations and tests, I constantly stressed that I was not doing enough, that I was not studying enough, that I was not enough. Maturing into this year is realizing that I am indeed, actually enough. Beyond the grades I get, the leadership opportunities I am offered, that who I am as a person actually mattered to the people I loved. So, do not get carried away by the stresses of the academic rigor of JC, focus on the little blessings that you can find in your life.

Of course, anyone who said that JC was carefree would be lying. Personally, the myriad of worries went beyond just academic validation. From worrying about my future, the endless “what ifs”, they were all silenced in the split second when I chose the subject combination that I wanted to study. It doesn’t matter what others say. Sure, one can listen to their advice on the different combinations that are prospective choices. At the end of the day, as cliche as it is, what you are interested in studying, presides over all else. Play to your strengths and keep an open mind to others that may not have been encountered in secondary school, like Economics.

For me, the greatest pitfall that I took months to climb out of, was snowballing my assignments during peak periods. During competition season, as an athlete, you will naturally choose to prioritize the sport and focus wholeheartedly to prepare for the competition you are heading for.

Once again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The only thing wrong is, if you make the conscientious choice to neglect your studies in the pursuit of your holistic developments. Do not procrastinate and adopt a healthy consistent study schedule, even in your busiest hours. It will pay off.