Hello there!

It's been awhile since I've written, but I'm knee deep in cramming for finals - so I suppose I do get some slack once in awhile. I decided that I really need an outlet to write, especially with essays so biased to opinions of my tutors and the lack of freedom to truly write freely in creating writing. Ironic? Well, that's university for you.

Which brings me to the topic of my frustration - university.

People in this country/society view that as the basic utmost education of this generation. It does not matter which university you went to, so long as your job application includes the word "degree". Funny, isn't it? How a single word in the amazing vocabulary that is the English language determines your next pay-check, or if you are rendered yet again jobless for the next month.

For all the people out there who do not intend on receiving a university education, or did not have the privilege of attending a university for reasons untold - it is not all glamour and glitz. I used to picture myself taking interesting classes - learning a new language, trying something new, and putting my crazy inner thoughts to writing. Hey, that's perhaps why I took up a major in English literature, and convinced myself to fight for a slot in the creative writing class this semester.

You'd think I'd be able to write freely in the most liberal of courses and modules, isn't it? Well, think again. Any essay that isn't tailored to your tutor's opinions are obviously misguided and short-sighted - however hard you tried to prove that there's a different reading to it. Last semester, I was told to not argue against my professor's point because, then, he'd get upset and give you a bad grade.

So much for liberal.

Haven't I mention? The attempt to create an uneasy rhythm to my poetry construction was shot down because I am supposed to have a constant rhythm in my work. Little did he know that the uneasy rhythm is supposed to carry across the meaning of the poem - the uneasiness in reading is supposed to draw attention to the same idea of watching a child suffer in pain over the loss of family.

I conformed to get a good grade. Meh. So much for experiences.

//

Education aside, have I mentioned the amazing people? Yeah, I'm totally being sarcastic.
No really, I am.

I won't deny I've met some great people over the past year - friends I'd like very much to keep for a lifetime if I could. A little too early to say this, but honestly they have proven to be better friends than other friends I've had for the rest of my lives in the short span of 1 year.

Apart from this handful, which is really merely a handful - there are the babies.
Now, I'd claw at them if I could but apparently we're in a civilised society so I am supposed to simply pen down my anger in words. And, that's why I'm here.

Local universities comprise largely of junior college students - because it takes a C average to get into NTU but at least a B or B+ average for a polytechnic student to earn an interview. Double standards? Well that isn't my argument for today so I'll end the topic here.


But that argument aside, the people in universities.
These junior college students - largely they are kind people. Genuine, and lovely.
But a few rotten apples truly ruins the batch.

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For the ones who still need their mothers to take care of chores for them, for the ones who think it's all about play and not study; or the ones who expect things to be handled to them on a silver platter, I truly hope that degree does not entitle you a job over a hard-working diploma graduates who worked his/her ass off for 3 years.

Nobody is here to take care of your every whim, or clean up after your mess. If you are unable to have a sense of urgency or agency even, what different are you from any foolish people we criticise everyday.

Do you know why they say that polytechnic students appear different from jc students?
Because we actually understand the importance of having urgency.
We understand that not everything is butterflies and rainbows - heck we went through vicious killings to get to where we are right now.

And that's not saying we're better. It's saying, we're more realistic. We're more hands-on, and way more vicious than you. Take a number, child. You're going to need it when we step on you on the next opening up.

That's reality.
And if you are unable to deal with that, stay in university.
Where professors will tell you exactly what to do - and not let you try anything hands on. Because we're university students and young adults who need to be told what to do, and not have our hands on something absolutely essential for our potential career in future.

Amen to universities.
And you wonder why I'm still here?
Well, my mother worked her life to send me here. And I'm not about to disappoint her.