I remember receiving my ‘O’ Level results three years ago, and being ecstatic that my grades would be enough to get me into the course I wanted since my primary school teacher recommended it.
Now, fast forward 3 years back to the present, and I’m faced with another decision, seemingly more complicated than the last. So, university huh? Are you staying in Singapore or going overseas? Singapore? Ah, so are you going to NTU or NUS? What course are you taking? Isn’t it better to go overseas? But studying in America’s expensive, are you going to work first? What about scholarships? …And so on and so forth.
To be honest i’m still not sure. I’ve narrowed down my choices, (pros and cons lists are blu-tacked to my bedroom walls) but multiple paths still stretch out before me and I’m still as confused as ever, while my trepidation only seems to increase. In short, it’s all become a massive headache.
When lost, confused, or otherwise in pain, I turn to my mother for advice. So, buoyed with hope and an imminent solution to my little conundrum, I cheerfully pose the question. Here’s how the conversation went:
Me: So mum, about after I graduate…
Mum: (Doesn’t look up from cooking) What about it?
Me: Well, I know that when I went into Mass Comm, I wanted to be a journalist, but things have changed and I was thinking, well, there are many things that I want to do–
Mum: Just do what you want. It’s your choice, just make sure you don’t regret it.
…Helpful, eh?
No, really. At first, I thought “Walau, be more concerned la!” but after thinking about it, her advice (as usual) was actually the best she could give.
After all, whose life is it? Whose future is it? If I go up and take Accounting, who’s going to be an accountant in the future? Thinking about it, I picked my current course because I liked it, why does choosing my University course have to be any different?