All too soon, one semester is over!
Exams ended yesterday for me. OK, I only sat for three or the fours papers I signed up for... better to pass three than fail two. Elementary math at work.
Psychology has long been an interest. It was on the to-do list, the next degree I would pursue. I have made so many wrong turns in life but the decision to pursue a Psychology degree has got to be one of the best I have made.
I chanced upon this course in August 2014. It was the perfect time as applications for the programme was open till some time in September. Best of all, being the first local degree I was taking, the government would pay 55% of course fees. And being a second time SIM student, a 20% fee waiver would be granted! Woohoo! Affordable... although I have no idea if it will ever pay off except it would be fulfilling my interest. Man says that's good enough reason.
Books collected, I embarked as a freshie at UniSIM in January 2015. I was greeted by a seminar room full of young adults. I gather some young enough to be my kids! What I was most happy to see were the number of young adults taking steps to upgrade themselves. This is part-time schooling... everyone, almost everyone, has a day job. The lucky ones, I would say.
I stated the semester with SSC109e Introduction to Social Studies, which proved to be boring. Since Psychology is a social science, SSC109e is a necessary module, but I would rather jump into the Psychology modules. SSC111e The Moral Compass was interesting although I wish we had more group work and discussions. Singaporeans are just too reserved. Most, if not all my coursemates are Singaporeans.
PSY107 and PSY108... a whole load of new vocabulary. Words I used without thinking too much of their precise meanings had to be defined. I could talk about them or talk around them but define them? Endless list from anxiety to bias, concepts, disposition, emotions, grief, hassle, intelligence, learning, memory, optimism, perception, stress, thinking and.. more!
I was totally lost. Until the semester ended did I discover the wonderful online resources. All the times, I had been in the wilderness, overwhelmed by the routine and assignments. If only I had stopped to look and familiarise myself with the resources. Among them, the wonderful library an study areas at UniSIM campus. Hey, why waste electrcity keeping the lights and air-conditioning on at home to keep one person comfortable when I could park with the numerous youngsters at UniSIM?
As I plodded through TMAs (tutor-marked assignments), online quizzes and group wikis, I wondered what I had been doing all my life. Learning is such a rewarding activity even if it was not amounting to a certification or a job. Learning in itself was enriching. What was I doing when I was a student? I wonder. I have wasted so much time and I must not waste any more!
Stressful, it surely was. Unlike being a full-time student with nothing to worry about except homework and exam, I have housework and family obligations to fulfil. But, as KL always says, "you can have everything." It is possible to have everything with some planning and lots of discipline. And assertiveness with self and others help too.
I have a 10 week break but I really can't wait to get back to class! I shall write next about learning and examination skills... I would not say my skills are rusty. I am just beginning to acquire them!
