The Inspiraton
The Road Not Taken — Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
___________________________________________
This is a poem that depicts the multifaceted nature of all the decisions we make throughout our lives, and I simply love how it offers me the lenses of both an optimist and a pessimist in the interpretation of its underlying tone. While I am certain that I am no pessimist, I wouldn't say that I am a pure optimist who believes that there will always be a rainbow after every rainy day. Having a positive mindset does not paint me as a naïve person (or I hope to believe) but I feel that it directs me to view situations with multiple perspectives, at times (and usually) encourages me to view things through a pair of more forgiving lens. It gives me the ability to empathize with not only others but also myself and I always believe that there are lessons from every experience.
And I resonate with the persona who embarked on the road less traveled by. This is also why I named this blog Yellow Woods, but used a Japanese translation - Kiironomori to make it look fancier haha. I want this to be a safe space for me to write down my musings and feelings about this new phase of life.
___________________________________________
Most people gave me the same expression when I told them I wanted to study early childhood education (ece) after A' levels. Firstly, suss is definitely not a uni whom ppl from my school would think of entering. People in my circles have been aiming for overseas studies/landing into the top autonomous unis like nus and ntu. The first thing people ask me eagerly when we talk about our uni aspirations would be along the lines of: "what school are you looking at? nus or ntu?" And when I tell them about suss, they will be like: hUh? what is that? is that even a uni? So I have been explaining that "it is the newest au in sg, previously known as unisim, and the only uni that offers what i want yada yada".
Then, the next question ppl will ask is: my dream course. Again, few ppl in my circle would have believed that I was truly serious when I told them about ece. The response they gave was along the lines of: "you worked so hard in pri, sec, and jc just to enter ece??" The common stereotype about kids in my school(s) (and also the convention) is that we are all striving for courses like engineering, IT, medicine, computing, business etc. Ppl will ask me, if you want teaching, why not try nie? Then I explain again, nie does not offer a degree in ece that allows me to work with children in their early years. They tried to convince me to do ece as a midlife career switch (or as a retirement job) since it seems like it is not hard to enter the industry at an older age. well, I do not blame them at all. ece is never a lucrative industry and the common perception of ec educators is that we are just 'licensed nannies' and looking after/teach children is an easy job because they are young: "you just play with them every day and teach them 1,2,3, a,b,c. how hard could it be?" In a society that measures success with the amount of salary we earn, ece is certainly not an industry well looked upon.
Tbh, I persuaded myself to sign up for suss because I wasn't confident about my a lvl results after comparing myself to the school's honor rollers/average/expectations. In fact, I did hope that I could be accepted by ntu/nus so I wouldn't be a 'disappointment' to the ppl who had 'higher expectations' of me. Yet, I was very conscious that another part of me secretly desired to be rejected by them so I have a legitimate reason to accept suss (if that is the only option I might be left with).
Being accepted by the three schools I had applied for gave me the luxury (and dilemma) to choose between ntu vs nus, and then vs suss. some ppl could not understand why do I still think about suss when I could simply enter one of the other two unis. I have also actively sought advice from many ppl and the internet when I thought of nus vs ntu, as I debated between psy vs ece. I do find both courses of study meaningful, but what propelled me twds ece was my desire to study children since a long time ago (and i hope to do that before i go deeper into child psy), and my fear that a degree in psy is too general/saturated/theoretical. What held me back from ece was the fear that it is too niche and I wouldn't be able to go anywhere if ultimately, I decide that it is not a path for me. then, the guilt comes in when I accepted suss' offer when I have friends who did not have the luxury of choices as me. I kept asking myself if I was not appreciating the opportunities I was 'blessed' with?
Conversations with different ppl helped me realize that my ambitions aren't high to begin with. it did not require straight As (or maybe any As) and it seems to be very attainable with the resources I have because they are not as competitive as fields like law/medicine/etc. Sometimes I cannot help but wonder, did I choose ece out of convenience? Was it because I desire instant gratification? Or do I lack the confidence & knowledge of how to land myself anywhere 'better'?
While I would admit that suss was never a 'dream school', the fact that it is the only uni with the course I knew I wanted had helped to make every other doubt about the school secondary. After all, I am applying for the course, not the school life. And ece is definitely a course I knew I have a passion in, a course I can vision myself authentically work for, and a career that might bring me greater fulfillment (and I really hope it does).
Other than being governed by my curiosity in the course, it was my confidence that working with children will bring me joy. I discovered the great importance I place in treasuring relationships with people mainly through my circle of friends, as well as various volunteering projects (with different communities) and an internship experience at a special needs school. The precious bonds I have forged with different people at different points in my life have helped me to witness the power of human touch. I was extremely convinced that life would not be fulfilling if I had to be desk-bound in a place that I see less purpose in. My interactions with both adults and children have made me realize how crucial a person's experience in his/her early years can have such a significant impact on their later development and their outlook towards life. Especially with children, I find it extremely fulfilling to see them grow and explore their world together with them. This encouraged me to delve into ece, and I want to become an effective role model for the children to emulate, and be their guide as they navigate the new environment they are put in. I also want to work with their families to provide them with the best quality of care and education. Hopefully, they would be able to carry the good habits they learnt into their later life. Ever since these feelings and thoughts came to mind, ece has always been the industry I yearn to learn more about :)
Apart from just ece, I also hope to work with children with special needs, and to support them and their families. Children with special needs (and their closed ones) have always been one of the many community groups that bear many societal labels and misconceptions. A volunteering project I participated in a few years back gave me the chance to meet and converse with people from some of the many commonly stigmatized communities. The strength and authenticity they portrayed despite their vulnerability were absolutely remarkable. It was when I started to realize the detriment brought about by the many stereotypical labels the society has conveniently place on them. Stigmatized communities have been on my heart since then, and I really want to understand their perspectives and know how I can help them with the little influence and power I have.
Children with special needs and the people working in the special needs sector struck me deeply during the internship I took up after As. It was just one of the many internship opportunities in the list of many many other opportunities listed on my school's website, and I applied for it out of curiously albeit having little knowledge about children with special needs. The experience broadened my perspectives and helped me be conscious of the importance of embracing differences without preconceptions and judgment. The children I've interacted with are between the age of 6 and 18, and they were pure joy to interact with (as an intern teacher). Yes, their differences in personalities and needs might make the job of the teachers really challenging and stressful, and every day is so unpredictable. But, it is the same thing that draws me to them. I feel an indescribable sense of delight when I got to witness the children accomplish certain milestones/goals. This can be as simple as being able to sit still to complete tasks for 30 seconds --- a 15-seconds improvement from previous timing; the ability to accept (and probably understand) sudden changes that have to be made to their routines; opening up to a stranger like me, and sharing their thoughts and feelings openly with me. I thought that the ability to celebrate the little achievements with the children and their families felt deeply satisfying.
Although I would not start my journey in a special needs school, I hope I could still get a closer look at children in general and their developmental needs and find satisfaction and fulfillment through interacting with the children and their families and my future colleagues. :)
Side note: It has been 3 weeks into the course and I've started on 2 ece mods. There are a lot of assignments and due dates and essays and readings and dramas and I have lesser time with translation but I WILL STAY STRONG!!!
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
___________________________________________
This is a poem that depicts the multifaceted nature of all the decisions we make throughout our lives, and I simply love how it offers me the lenses of both an optimist and a pessimist in the interpretation of its underlying tone. While I am certain that I am no pessimist, I wouldn't say that I am a pure optimist who believes that there will always be a rainbow after every rainy day. Having a positive mindset does not paint me as a naïve person (or I hope to believe) but I feel that it directs me to view situations with multiple perspectives, at times (and usually) encourages me to view things through a pair of more forgiving lens. It gives me the ability to empathize with not only others but also myself and I always believe that there are lessons from every experience.
And I resonate with the persona who embarked on the road less traveled by. This is also why I named this blog Yellow Woods, but used a Japanese translation - Kiironomori to make it look fancier haha. I want this to be a safe space for me to write down my musings and feelings about this new phase of life.
___________________________________________
Most people gave me the same expression when I told them I wanted to study early childhood education (ece) after A' levels. Firstly, suss is definitely not a uni whom ppl from my school would think of entering. People in my circles have been aiming for overseas studies/landing into the top autonomous unis like nus and ntu. The first thing people ask me eagerly when we talk about our uni aspirations would be along the lines of: "what school are you looking at? nus or ntu?" And when I tell them about suss, they will be like: hUh? what is that? is that even a uni? So I have been explaining that "it is the newest au in sg, previously known as unisim, and the only uni that offers what i want yada yada".
Then, the next question ppl will ask is: my dream course. Again, few ppl in my circle would have believed that I was truly serious when I told them about ece. The response they gave was along the lines of: "you worked so hard in pri, sec, and jc just to enter ece??" The common stereotype about kids in my school(s) (and also the convention) is that we are all striving for courses like engineering, IT, medicine, computing, business etc. Ppl will ask me, if you want teaching, why not try nie? Then I explain again, nie does not offer a degree in ece that allows me to work with children in their early years. They tried to convince me to do ece as a midlife career switch (or as a retirement job) since it seems like it is not hard to enter the industry at an older age. well, I do not blame them at all. ece is never a lucrative industry and the common perception of ec educators is that we are just 'licensed nannies' and looking after/teach children is an easy job because they are young: "you just play with them every day and teach them 1,2,3, a,b,c. how hard could it be?" In a society that measures success with the amount of salary we earn, ece is certainly not an industry well looked upon.
Tbh, I persuaded myself to sign up for suss because I wasn't confident about my a lvl results after comparing myself to the school's honor rollers/average/expectations. In fact, I did hope that I could be accepted by ntu/nus so I wouldn't be a 'disappointment' to the ppl who had 'higher expectations' of me. Yet, I was very conscious that another part of me secretly desired to be rejected by them so I have a legitimate reason to accept suss (if that is the only option I might be left with).
Being accepted by the three schools I had applied for gave me the luxury (and dilemma) to choose between ntu vs nus, and then vs suss. some ppl could not understand why do I still think about suss when I could simply enter one of the other two unis. I have also actively sought advice from many ppl and the internet when I thought of nus vs ntu, as I debated between psy vs ece. I do find both courses of study meaningful, but what propelled me twds ece was my desire to study children since a long time ago (and i hope to do that before i go deeper into child psy), and my fear that a degree in psy is too general/saturated/theoretical. What held me back from ece was the fear that it is too niche and I wouldn't be able to go anywhere if ultimately, I decide that it is not a path for me. then, the guilt comes in when I accepted suss' offer when I have friends who did not have the luxury of choices as me. I kept asking myself if I was not appreciating the opportunities I was 'blessed' with?
Conversations with different ppl helped me realize that my ambitions aren't high to begin with. it did not require straight As (or maybe any As) and it seems to be very attainable with the resources I have because they are not as competitive as fields like law/medicine/etc. Sometimes I cannot help but wonder, did I choose ece out of convenience? Was it because I desire instant gratification? Or do I lack the confidence & knowledge of how to land myself anywhere 'better'?
While I would admit that suss was never a 'dream school', the fact that it is the only uni with the course I knew I wanted had helped to make every other doubt about the school secondary. After all, I am applying for the course, not the school life. And ece is definitely a course I knew I have a passion in, a course I can vision myself authentically work for, and a career that might bring me greater fulfillment (and I really hope it does).
Other than being governed by my curiosity in the course, it was my confidence that working with children will bring me joy. I discovered the great importance I place in treasuring relationships with people mainly through my circle of friends, as well as various volunteering projects (with different communities) and an internship experience at a special needs school. The precious bonds I have forged with different people at different points in my life have helped me to witness the power of human touch. I was extremely convinced that life would not be fulfilling if I had to be desk-bound in a place that I see less purpose in. My interactions with both adults and children have made me realize how crucial a person's experience in his/her early years can have such a significant impact on their later development and their outlook towards life. Especially with children, I find it extremely fulfilling to see them grow and explore their world together with them. This encouraged me to delve into ece, and I want to become an effective role model for the children to emulate, and be their guide as they navigate the new environment they are put in. I also want to work with their families to provide them with the best quality of care and education. Hopefully, they would be able to carry the good habits they learnt into their later life. Ever since these feelings and thoughts came to mind, ece has always been the industry I yearn to learn more about :)
Apart from just ece, I also hope to work with children with special needs, and to support them and their families. Children with special needs (and their closed ones) have always been one of the many community groups that bear many societal labels and misconceptions. A volunteering project I participated in a few years back gave me the chance to meet and converse with people from some of the many commonly stigmatized communities. The strength and authenticity they portrayed despite their vulnerability were absolutely remarkable. It was when I started to realize the detriment brought about by the many stereotypical labels the society has conveniently place on them. Stigmatized communities have been on my heart since then, and I really want to understand their perspectives and know how I can help them with the little influence and power I have.
Children with special needs and the people working in the special needs sector struck me deeply during the internship I took up after As. It was just one of the many internship opportunities in the list of many many other opportunities listed on my school's website, and I applied for it out of curiously albeit having little knowledge about children with special needs. The experience broadened my perspectives and helped me be conscious of the importance of embracing differences without preconceptions and judgment. The children I've interacted with are between the age of 6 and 18, and they were pure joy to interact with (as an intern teacher). Yes, their differences in personalities and needs might make the job of the teachers really challenging and stressful, and every day is so unpredictable. But, it is the same thing that draws me to them. I feel an indescribable sense of delight when I got to witness the children accomplish certain milestones/goals. This can be as simple as being able to sit still to complete tasks for 30 seconds --- a 15-seconds improvement from previous timing; the ability to accept (and probably understand) sudden changes that have to be made to their routines; opening up to a stranger like me, and sharing their thoughts and feelings openly with me. I thought that the ability to celebrate the little achievements with the children and their families felt deeply satisfying.
Although I would not start my journey in a special needs school, I hope I could still get a closer look at children in general and their developmental needs and find satisfaction and fulfillment through interacting with the children and their families and my future colleagues. :)
Here is a meme I created 4 years before my official entrance into the industry :)
Side note: It has been 3 weeks into the course and I've started on 2 ece mods. There are a lot of assignments and due dates and essays and readings and dramas and I have lesser time with translation but I WILL STAY STRONG!!!