Y4S1

Second last entry. As usual - subjective experiences, subjective brain cells, subjective thoughts, incoherence

Mental state
A semester of "I want to graduate and earn money already". Even if I'm afraid of the challenges, changes, learning curves and all that it will bring about... I think that it has been enough time in this phase of life. Overall, it's not too fast or too slow? Have to admit that it's a bittersweet (and ball-of-anxiousness) semester and I'm grateful for the opportunity regardless of all the smaller details

This semester is also a semester of asking for help with 2 modules (LSM2191B & EL). I also wonder if my brain cells are getting rustier (my friend says no, it's natural to not get things the first time) because it feels like some lecture contents were a major miss and required reviewing multiple times. I still don't get some of them tbh

Separately, it's somehow fascinating we can be in end y3s2 or y4s1 and still be meeting new faces in 4k mods. Maybe EEB cohort isn't as small as I thought

Modules
Chose two 4k LSM modules based on interest and lecturers. And a HS2k and an EL, which may require my SUs later. Partially regret taking all CA modules because the past ~2 weeks was not fun. Still have one last assignment due

Also took LSM2191B and was asked a million times why I didn't take it earlier - a mixture of didn't think I need it for research and couldn't get it at a slot I wanted (to avoid year-long UROPs) so postponed it. The rep of "start early" & requires a bulk of effort, is truly what it is... I don't get why it must be compulsory, but it is definitely telling me what I'm bad at... Maybe that's the purpose. There was also a "what to do situation" cause the TAs & one of the Prof know that the other Prof doesn't explain things at a beginner level. The latter expects a higher than beginner level of thinking which gets a portion of us quite confused? Hmm systematic things strike again

One of a mod's group assignment (non-LSM, can SU) reminded me that writing group report with a mix of people from different majors, can be quite a hellish process. If it's a different form of group assignment like group presentations or group posters, we can focus on having a coherent storyline/main point better. Can't imagine the struggle that scientists go through when they co-author papers...

Overall, having 3 classes of 4-6 hours amongst the weekly timetable is more mentally tiring than I expected. Though I have to be fair and highlight some fun parts that I can recall right now - EL tutorials & final reflection, 2191B lab sessions, LSM jurong fishery port field trip & behavioral study assignment & dissections, and LSM case study assignment

What I may miss
Which is just part of the experience of having had

• Bumping into long time no see course mates and having a short catch-up or long yap
• School's food prices!!
• Times when friends/acquaintances let me chill in their rooms
• Watching science campus awaken with daylight: leaf blower staff working, animals emerging, canteen opened bright and early with more people streaming in over time
• Access to scientific papers: though might have alumni access/ can email researchers
• + more along the wayyy

Side thoughts of the semester

• Sometimes I cannot help but wonder what if - in an alternate life, I joined NTU ASE instead HAHAHAH something I'll never know~ Grass often seems greener on the other side. Focus on watering our own grass, as they (who) say
• The difference between a knowledgeable person vs a person who knows how to communicate the knowledge to empower others
• The difference between having your own values vs crossing the line to expecting people to conform to your values
• Kudos to those who designed the calculations/weightage of MCs for graduation requirements

Next semester

• UTOPS. Extremely scared but will probably just deal with whatever that comes, and hope that the discomfort is worth the experience (O.O)
• LSM mod to fulfill minor. May my brain cells be extra absorbent 
• Job search?? Doesn't help that the market's not well and career advisors telling us to "start early"...
• I guess the last entry y4s2 would be a final reflection/summary of takeaways

Y3S2

Third last semesterly reflection (o.o) Wrote the bulk of it on 18 March actually - was I done with the semester too early? Who knows? As usual, semester/submissions not over but hopefully I didn't leave anything major out -

• Mental state

"Wah graduating in around a year's time". It's the general thinking about how going back to work life is going to be, what type of interview questions I may encounter this time, my annoying focus on how I'm turning 29 this year (GAH), how this protected era is coming to an end which I'm sure I'll miss (and not miss), hoping to see the current y4s I know out and about next time, etc

This semester, it was listening to podcasts/audiobooks/music, Reddit threads, taking care of my plants & isopods, and reducing time on social media that maintained my sanity. Hope to do more leisure stuff next year?

• Timetable, study spots, "good enough"

Timetable this semester is mostly from mid mornings to early afternoon, and somehow my courses are all of continuous assessments - why did I do that though. Of which includes 2 HS courses which are generally enjoyable, a nice change from LSM courses even if I reach fass later and later as the semester passed LOL

Not sure if I mentioned before but really wish that there were more study spots outside of school which are not libraries and not airconditioned, and more importantly free of charge. Am I too picky about study spots? Yes probably. Honestly having a great aversion towards staying in science campus this semester, after spending too much time in school last sem. I love the proximity of science to KR mrt though :')

Anywayyy the mindset of "good enough" continues this semester - the higher level the course, the higher level of effort. LSM 1k course's CA tests had very little of my attention. And also, not being too stressed if teammates are not too stressed up about groupwork. Not newsflash by now - I'm not disciplined when it comes to doing schoolwork HAHAH though assignments are submitted by deadlines so that's okay

• Research / "Journal of Don'ts"

Of course, I've to mention about the compulsory research component required for graduation - I did a 3k UROPs for that. Personally, I feel that doing lit review and experimenting with M&M, without having to write a report is fun. And one can argue that there's no point in executing experiments and not writing (discussing) about it HAHA

For sure now I know things I didn't know before. There's definitely need for more pure mycelium materials publications, and it sucks having to use generalized explanations because I cannot find (what I think are) closely matching reports. Though I think it's also due to the nature of biological sciences that many factors could affect the growth of an organism. Such a bummer that trial runs cannot be mentioned in reports (personal communication for the future?), and that some data cannot be used/is not helpful at the end of the day. tbh I got emotionally invested in the project which does not usually happen to me when it comes to academia. Bittersweet feelings? Looking back, the past year was definitely a slap in the face about the scientific process even if it was just a small taste on the greater scale of things. Many thanks to the irl and virtual support I received :')

Researchers definitely have it hard, a lot of work behind the scenes that requires being hopeful and curious regardless of "failures". Companies also have research teams to try what we want to find out but on a day in and out basis - so yeahhh undergrad projects are limiting. Though when I do stumble across master theses or local works or papers that are nicely written, I'm just like "WOW". Would definitely miss the access to scientific papers after graduation!

Also I suppose not going for FYP - which I don't need as I didn't declare a specialization, may or may not be a bad thing. I'll never know regardless of what I eventually go with. Though for now, I'm just looking forward to the 4k courses I want to take (and other courses) without having to constantly stress about research.

Side note though! Friends doing FYP! Please jio me if you need manpower during your research, I can help/kaypoh if it works for our timetables later on. I would be willing to hear about your project rants and be part of your presentation's practice audience too

• Incoming school break

Internships are highly sought for and encouraged as valuable experience for students, in view of future job/academia opportunities. It's quite common for people to start searching for opportunities early - same for research projects and full-time jobs tbh. Feels like opening a can of worms if we were to investigate the pressure cooker we're in...

imo at the same time, I also think "why can't I enjoy having no major commitments precisely cause that's the only time I can, till work life hits"? I don't think sabbaticals are a norm in our culture? Disclaimer: I can't deny that it might be because I do have a little work experience before so I would (OR CAN I REALLY) think so? Such internal conflict cause idk how I would be evaluated in future - though no one really knows? Confusion...

I have signed up for a 6-week 4k course and I'm looking forward to that a lot!! Hope it goes alright. Though I'm not sure about how I would spend the remaining time rn. Undeniably, last year's May-July internship is definitely what would be called a "core memory" to me - it has been and will probably always be. 

Also side opinion and iykyk - Unpaid internships should not exist this era. Volunteering is a different thing. Thanks to friends who heard me out :')

• Graduation trips??

It's quite intriguing to me that overseas graduation trips with batchmates (poly/JC/uni/other friends) seem to be a thing to think about already. Had a few friends bringing up about grad trips and I discussed with two other friends about whether it's a thing to do - one wasn't too bothered about the idea of it while the other responded that it's like a "rite of passage". I do get that it's a fun thing to look forward to, and a celebration to end off 3.5 or 4 years with a blast. Honestly at the end of it all, I just hope to get some down time, to acknowledge and congratulate myself for passing through another phase of life - regardless of "grad trip" or academic results.

• Have my reasons for returning to studies changed? Ref Y1S1

Nope. Though I need to remind myself of them when I feel like I'm going through the motions of school just because I have to. Needa mentally zoom out and trust that all will be okay somehow

As usual, thoughts and impressions are from my point of view only. Not meaning to poke at anyone in particular, just questioning/thinking about personal uni experiences, general trends and what not

Y3S1

Guess I'm still doing this. Another semester that passed extra quickly. It's one where people and watching living things grow (isopods, plants, mycelia) keep me sane. Honestly it feels like I've been dragging myself through a mental swamp the whole semester though. Anyways here it goes - 

Mentally 

• Not sure why this semester is more mentally draining than I thought. Is urops the answer, an excuse or what? Though a portion of stuff I'm concerned about seem to be beyond school. More on self-esteem, the general anxiousness that graduation will come soon, thinking about what success means to myself, etc
• My memory seriously sucks (my brain is not a fresh sponge), or maybe it's because I still wonder if any of these will be required in future? Maybe I'm after the use of things and not for the thirst of knowledge, especially for certain mods. Sometimes it feels like we do things for the sake of just doing than actual learning. Like when feedback is provided but it's not like we get a chance to resubmit an edited version
• Never thought that I would become an isopod parent and they're keeping me sane cause checks on them = mental breaks for me. I'm probably a monster for shining my phone light at them every so often

Timetable and Sleep

• Had more classes starting at 12noon, which makes for odd lunch timings so most of the time I get to school earlier to check on my experiments then lunch in school before class. And in general, it means that I can wake up at a saner hour and not stress about "sleeping early". Though I really need to drop everything and just sleep when I need to. Odd how my body clock really likes 7:30am this semester

Research

• Taking a year-long 3k urops. It takes up more time and mental capacity that I thought. From finding and doing readings, planning, executing, reiterations/adjustments/checks throughout the whole process coupled with dashes (no, bucket loads) of self-doubt along the way... 
• Sometimes it comes to the point of just do, don't think. Just got to trust that we made the best decision at that point in time... I shall find out what more is to come LOL
• To maintain sanity in the lab: One must make sure to eat, drink and go toilet. I get the reluctance to stop the flow of work though. I'm (hopefully) better now and snacking/packing something along is the bare minimum!
• Am blessed with lab mates who I can bounce off thoughts with, have yapping/ sanity/ meal check-ins with, and share equipment with, including helping each another to collect stuff, check stuff and pressing buttons, etc
• Would actually be great if there was more time/ focus on the "growing" part of the project?

Other thoughts

• Whether in school or out of school, "Friends for a reason, friends for a season, or friends for a lifetime" still applies
• I think I measure the amount of effort I put into things way more than ever. Kind of like "meh that's good enough for a 1k mod", or "that's good enough for something I'm not that into", or in general - not going after things that potentially wouldn't reciprocate to the same level. I sound jaded LOL
• Somehow there's the freedom of doing anything I want during the weekends when full time working, at least that was for my previous roles where I didn't have to be (physically) working on most weekends. While now as a student, I would be doing assignments. Conclusion, I need to spend more time to do things that really matter to me?
• imo I still have no discipline when it comes to academics HAHAHA

As usual, above ramblings are mine and mine only. Seems like there are recurring themes/ trains of thoughts that stick throughout the semester reflections - not sure what else I can think about?

Y2S2

Back with another end of semester thought dump, it's the start of reading week before finals, after which year 2 would be officially overrrr. Probably not gonna reread the whole thing before posting so incoherence is the way. First thing first, major credits to biscuits and sweets, naps, cats, study spots in school for helping me to survive this semester (so drama) but yes appreciation. Okay let's go -

Damn this semester whizzed past so fastttt. Maybe it's because certain parts were especially fun? Maybe because of the workload? No one knows. Also only now then I realize how I barely did anything that I would consider was destressing, like it didn't cross my mind? Seriously what happened to the time?

Side note, content of the thought dump this round is partly influenced by the conversations I had with friends and groupmates!

• Friends, Groupmates, Reminders

As much as I'm not a major supporter of "people making things tolerable", it is very much so this semester.

Had even more familiar faces this semester cause more LSM mods (some higher level mods FINALLY) and fortunately groupmates that were able to do work. I finally tried overloading this semester, and though it was just 4 more credits, it's the combination of mods and people that made it manageable. Thank goodness :,)

Though as usual 13 weeks each semester is too cruel for making new friends and yay it's not just me who thinks so.

Also is it just me or that life is weird in the sense that certain lessons just keep re-appearing till you get it. Some reminders from conversations that I had this semester -

-  Rest is important. So that you can do more in the long run

-  Friends for a reason, friends for a season, friends for a lifetime

-  Making peace with yourself at the end of the day, on the basis of knowing that you made the best decision for yourself at that point in time. Regrets only come when looking back, which you couldn't have predicted for them

• Higher level modules vs Lower level modules

Took two 3k mods (once again, higher level mods FINALLY) this semester and am wondering it the differences between higher level mods and lower level mods is this: higher level mods allow you to otot with lesser number of deadlines overall, while lower level mods have more handholding and require more memorizing with more number of deadlines. I guess I'll find out more with time cause it might just be the preferences of the Profs.

Was initially concerned about trying to 3k mods together but it turned out well for me cause I liked that they gave the instructions for everything early and I could otot do a bit along the way/ finish it first. Definitely helped with lightening the workload during crunch time (T.T)

• Doing my "measured best", Questioning grades

Somehow the mindset of doing my "measured best" not "doing my best" works out for me even though it seems more like a language thing. Maybe "doing my best" involved placing equal amount of effort in everything while "measures best" reminds me to stop at a certain time and just let things go. Also maybe cause to a certain extent I already know where I stand academically?

Some questions that arose from conversations that I had this semester -

-  Does effort translate fairly to grades? What even is fairness in this case?

-  Do grades co-relate to the chances of getting a job?

Side note, it was interesting to hear that some Profs are pushing for the removal of finals cause of its regurgitation style of testing, and due to existing large number of CA submissions (reports, projects, presentations, quizzes, etc) required already, though some mods in turn disguise finals as CA tests of heavy weightage instead. Systemic things...

• Skills?

Assignments this semester highlighted my lack of skills in the department of linking ideas/pointers from doing lit review and the ability to yap (is it actually a skill of persuasion). Apparently yapping and fluff is the norm, hmm don't ask me about it (o.O)

• Not me: "I just wonder if mixing with the younger kids longer make you feel young again"

Yes in certain scenarios and not that I do/ use the following but just being surrounded by these things make me feel younger somehow LOL -

-  Slangs and online stuff: not me, fr, ngl, atb, is not it, typing in caps, using way more stickers

-   Drive for things, just try attitude: I consider the hustle as part of this too

-  Standing up for themselves: eg. feedback to Prof when group dynamics not working out

• Gist of other thoughts

-  Discipline:

Bringing this point back cause I realized how having an excel of all deadlines in chronological order and their respective details, really helped to keep me on track this semester. Also same as before studying in school and out of school whenever needed/ possible too. Think it was also the workload that "forced" me to be more focused.

-  Identity:

Not having those weird identity crisis like in Y1S1 for sure

-  Perspective of a degree:

imo still not a majorly grand thing at a larger scale (but is an experience I guess?), still a stepping stone, still not totally sure about how it'll fit in with work in future

-  About entering the workforce again:

Equally as anxious as any other student tbh cause naturally, nothing is for sure

• Word bank for Week 13

Just amused by the number of times these words and phrases occurred during week 13 and they really signified our state of mind and body? "...going for last lecture? see how, skipping, jiayous, rushing, CA/report/test, overslept, atb, relief after submitting, sick, crashed, rest soon"

Okay I think that's pretty much all. Lazy to end "properly" so till next time,

Y2S1

It's that time of the academic year again. Days could be long but semesters are short - concept of time is weird. I shall do these end of semester reflection/ thoughts dump for as long as I have something new or changing? Not unusually the type to reread my journal (hardcopy) entries but I do so for these. Probably because sometimes it feels like my work life before returning to academic life didn't happen but moments of reflection reminds me that it did. I sound delusional HAHAH okay onto the thought dump -

• Interest vs Effort

Recall telling myself to pick battles previous semesters and this semester feels like one where I really did. Initially thought that I will be the type to balance my effort between modules equally as much as possible - but nope. Reality is not such.

It really depended on my level of interest in the modules. And for those with group work, it affected what type of role (lead vs supporting) I would take and the amount of time/effort I spend on them. Overall, it meant that some compulsory modules naturally weren't at the top of my priorities (o.o) Hopefully I wasn't an absolutely shitty group member though.

I suppose it's not so much of whether it is good or bad, but rather just self-realization about how I operate in a academic scenario. But in comparison, forcing myself to do commit to all modules equally is probably torturous/ not sustainable for me.

• Grades vs Skills

Starting to find that it helps to balance things out with different strategies/perspectives. Just me grappling with school, and arbitrarily naming things.

Grades strategy:

- Chasing grades and involves managing academic expectations of oneself cause peer pressure and school's expectations.

It's easy to forget that the purpose is to get a taste of things. When it seems like getting things right within short period of time and with few tries, is expected? Hm whether that is always possible or something one wants to be involved in, are probably separate questions?

Skills strategy:

- Grabbing skills and opportunities of interest: study plan, minors, research projects, internships, external events, etc.

Study planning is probably one of the most important things to carry out, which really depends on what one might want to learn/experience. It's also okay to make changes to study plans along the way. PS: spoke to some professors this semester and it sounded like internship/work experience/taking related mods help with getting or prepping for research projects.

• Kaching

Giving a mention to occurrences relating to money cause I didn't expect them.

- A random moment of course mates having the impression that I'm more "rich" than them, which doesn't make sense to me. Am using savings from work so it's just a scenario of "my future self already paid my current expenses" in advance, instead of having to repay anyone in future.

- Which comes to the point of some students having part time jobs or small business. tbh I think that they deserve recognition for such effort (regardless of reasons for doing so).

- Cause I'm now going by "student budget", meetings with full-time working friends are mostly based on that. Thank youuu friends

• To be continued

Now I might be able to answer the question (can't recall who asked in Y1) of whether I am "more disciplined" as an older student - No, I don't think so. At least not to my expectations. Similarly I need environment conducive for studying (which varies between individuals) and time for resting. So discipline always feels like a work in progress/never enough? Sometimes I try to quantify the hours I spend just to be more objective to myself :')

Separately, I suppose for most people it's our first time going through uni (and life actually), sometimes we forget that and end up being too tough on ourselves. At the same time, it's tricky to be honest with ourselves about what is within our comfort zone and how much we have to step out of it for growth to happen. Maybe uncertainty feels the same at any stage or age in life. Till next time,

Y1S2

Hi hello so I decided to have an open reflection for this semester too. I realized that some pointers from last semester (this semester too) may apply to anyone in general and that's okay imo. This semester, I'm more used to the uni life in terms of timetable and that I'm indeed a broke student ($.$). Ohkay arbitrary segregation of incoherent thoughts as follow -

System-wise stuff

• Expectations of school and oneself
  I feel like I'm almost jaded of the education system in the sense that I'm aware that it that cannot change and sometimes it's almost like I don't want to fight it (aka chase for grades, for the sake of grades that are given based on fixed set of criteria). Of course there's peer pressure and one's expectations' of oneself so it's a challenging balance to maintain. I try to remind myself that there are more important stuff in life and to be involved in those stuff too. At the end of the day, I don't want to butcher myself for the sake of education, you know?
  
  
• Exemptions / Advance placement credits
  They may or may not apply or be beneficial to one so take note to understand how they work. I realize that my exemption from bridging biology module might not have been the best thing for higher level modules related to human bio which I have no background of at all (extra self study T.T)

Social stuff

• Loneliness, adult learners and more about "taking the road less travelled" as my friend calls it
  tbh in semester 1, I didn't mention that I looked up online to see what other people who entered university "later than normal" felt and I was like WOW relatable. It was also nice when one of my group members this semester who knows of another adult learner, told me that "she feels the same (loneliness) too". After which my group member wondered aloud "Why don't they have an adult learners group for people like you in school?". I appreciate the thought!
  
  In a way, our lives have diverged away from others who are similar in age as us, and we're not doing what most people our ages are doing. The content of our conversations we used to have changes, and sometimes it feels more relatable when I share about school stuff with classmates, than people I previously talk about work with. Which of course is natural, and for sure our relations with people run deeper than just school or work related topics. Maybe it's just a change that I didn't foresee to happen.
  
  Also sometimes I get the impression it slips people's minds that I'm on a student budget (more selective with my spendings) or that my closest friends are working adults (not following academic timetables). Hm it's not a big deal but something else unexpected to experience?

Personal stuff

• Discipline
  Have definitely been less disciplined this semester, might be a combination of my level of interest in the compulsory modules and the method of assessment (mostly tests/exams than continuous assessment/projects), and me having a bit more of a life out of academics compared to previous semester. All in all, my grades might plunge but my mental health (not involving academics) is better. Tradeoffs, that's all that I can say for now.
  
  Though for sure I realize that I'm more focused in school and public libraries, and if I happen to be with a study buddy. Less fidgety, less distracted. I also hope to sleep and wake up at more consistent timings, something that I can adjust over the coming break
  
  

• Independence
  Small note that as someone who bids for modules on my own, it's nice to see familiar and meet new faces who pull me into discussions about the challenging parts of our modules. Maybe I don't need to only rely on myself after all
  
  As for bidding mods on my own, it's not so much that I'm avoidant of people but that I don't quite "need" to get into the same classes with people that I come to know of. We have varying mods and hence timetables. But maybe in higher mods when I meet people who have more similar interests, it may happen. For now I'm alright. I think that independence is definitely my double-edge sword since my working days
  
  

• Ability to math
  Another small note, can I just say that my brain cannot math all along and that it doesn't help that I'm so resistant to math-ing now, when it's probably me mentally hindering myself. Self-fulfilling prophecy? The last time I had to math seriously was too long ago
  
  

• Identity and self-doubt
  Sometimes I zoom out and it almost feels like my work life never happened and then I go how did I manage to get into uni (not that a university education guarantees anything)... but yeahhh a thought that comes and goes, something for me to chew on my own.
  Also thoughts like: How does school content relate to work? Will my work experience still be relevant after graduation?
  Random point but the screen time of a uni student compared to during my previous job is no joke
  
  

• Higher level modules
  tbh I'm waiting for the higher level modules which cover content that I choose to learn about, they're probably increasingly challenging but should be more relatable to what I want to get out of school. Also I probably shouldn't take only compulsory modules in a single semester, that's what I unintentionally did and it feels like a bummer somehow HAHAH

Well that's that. If I had to attempt,

• tldr would be: Pick your battles, maintain your sanity in university.

I suppose it applies to life in general too. This has been a more personal entry compared to Y1S1's? Anyway till next time,

Y1S1

    So, I decided to make an open reflection about a question that my friend presented to me in end September this year. The question was "Would you recommend others considering the same route?", with reference to me pursuing further studies (degree) at 26 years old. That was mid-way through Y1S1 where I jotted some personal pointers in my phone, it mightttt be a little more indicative now that the semester is over. Though my thoughts now may change over the next few years? Personally, I've no issue with that.

    Disclaimer: I'm not a long-term planning type of person, at least not really the "I must do xx by xx" type. I might have pressured myself in the past to think about what I'll be doing so and so years down the road in the past, but that kind of mindset makes me freeze up and that isn't quite helpful so why do that? Also, what we study academically doesn't always dictate what we'll be doing as a job/in future. Though at this day and from what I know, I think that it does matter to a certain extent based on the type of job, employer, etc.

    Ohkay, let's pardon my English proficiency (because I doubt that I'll want to proofread this, just like how I rarely return to my previous digital/paper entries) and just get to it. The long answer which consists of things that could be helpful to consider/ you may experience -

• Education vs Learning

    After working for a few years, it became apparent that education vs learning are different activities. I refer to education as formal education/recognized certification which most of us go through, while learning could be education with innate/developed curiosity, or something done informally out of the education system. 

    Hm my main point is that it helps me to have slightly different concepts in mind, especially when I felt stressed out about school. It helped managed my expectations of the education system and reminds me of my intentions for further studying. I'm pretty sure these two concepts could exist at the same time; hope you get what I mean.

• Intentions, Tradeoffs

    Ah the "Why" question, why further study at all? I can't answer that for you, but my personal answer has proven helpful to me so far. I'm thinking that this question will be brought up multiple times to myself, down this journey during the tough times.

    idk but it helps to consider the pros and cons of having a degree qualification. It could be something helpful or something not valuable to you at this point in time. It might mean everything to you to have one, or nothing to you even if you don't have it. No one else can quite convince you otherwise at the end of the day.

    I'll suggest considering the benefits and limitations (tradeoffs) of a degree qualification vs your current work, your commitments at this stage of life, family support if applicable and finances/financial assistance. If possible, apply though method(s) that consider your working experience as relevant.

• Time management, Soft skills

    A major difference between work and school for me, was how my past jobs were fixed within working hours, while tuning back to school (university at least) after 5.5 years was disorientating as schoolwork has no fixed hours.

    Time to commit to school is essentially decided by us - the timetable, the modules, whether you want to attend physical lectures, whether you work mainly during the day/night/evening, virtual group meetings could be at 9pm or even later, etc. You are answerable to your own learning journey.

    And so, it brings me to highlight some soft skills that are probably helpful/transferrable from other aspects in life, apart from time management - independence, taking things with a pinch of salt, ability to prioritize and reprioritize work.

• Relations

    tbh from what I've experienced so far, it helps to know/ get to know people who are already in the education system you're interested in or been through it recently as they can share recent tips with you. Be it seniors from the same major or not, alumni through mentorship programs, etc.

    Also due to the nature of each semester being around 4 months long, it may be challenging to make friends who stick through with you throughout the years, unless you manage to take the same modules together. Students usually know each another from their tertiary studies and enter university together, or form groups during orientation camps, or from clubs. Though the general impression that I personally get and consensus I hear, from other majors, is the same. It'll be interesting to see how things go/change throughout the years.

    Though at the end of the day, consider your intentions for further studying/ what you personally want to get out of school life?

• About "taking the road less travelled" as my friend calls it

    Yes, you might be older in terms of age, does that matter? Personally, I'm quite aware of my age difference (youngest students are around 19 years old) though I think it really depends on the individuals that I'm benchmarking myself against. And whether it is about general maturity, energy level, competitiveness, etc. 

    I'll say that I might not have spoken up as much during tutorials if I attended university earlier. And that sometimes I find myself eating imaginary popcorn along the sidelines, watching whatever's happening while they are hyped up.

    People don't usually ask for ages though there are situations whereby lecturers/ professors/ teaching assistants reference to age casually. And situations where we've to say which year we are in when we meet new people. Honestly if the question is whether I am treated differently, I don't think so, so far. And I don't see myself as more capable just because I'm older?

    On the side, a question that I got a few times, "Do you prefer working or studying so far?". Working, definitely working. Well it might change, I shall see HAHAHA

        

• TDLR; Why not? Think about intentions, research about the graduation requirements, trust your gut feeling, apply for it, destroy the perfect image that you had in mind and what come may. My fingers are crossed for you.

    tbvh I didn't expect to get the opportunity to further studies and I'm definitely fortunate to be able to do so. Though my thoughts are subjective to this point in time - if the above sharing resonates with you, feel free to reach out if you've any thoughts/ experiences/ questions. I'm also curious if there are other formal education "adult" learners here (o.O)

    Till next time,