Choosing What to Study after SPM

Studying seem to be a burden for some people. There seem to be too many things to consider in choosing the course after SPM. For the benefit of foreigners, SPM is the examination set my the Malaysian Education Department. It is like the GCE O level, given to student on his/her 11 year of schooling.

From experience and taking to children, there are 3 persons that determine the students study path. They are:

1. The students himself.
2. The parent/ family
3. Other organisation.

A. The student himself.
The student may be able to identify the area that he likes. However, it is often noticed that his/her preferences is not stable, that means that, one day he want to be example a doctor, the next day, after watching a movie, he may want to be a writer.

This is common, as children are still searching and trying to understand about the environment and himself.

B. The parents.
Some parent can be authoritative. He may have a plan line-up for his sons or daughters. The first is to be this, the second to be that and so forth. It had seen some negative results of this practice and some positive ones. There are cases, as I interviewed the students, I asked him, why he applied for the program. The answer was direct.." My father want me to do it, he is sponsoring for it. If I have a choice I would prefer to do ....... "

C. Other organisation.
There are cases when an organisation select the potential students to pursue a given courses. An oil and gas company may foresee the need to have petroleum engineer in 3 years time, then they will view the potential students and offer them scholarships. At the end, it is the students or parents will make the choice.

I was reading an article in thestar written by Louis Yap. It take home the following points...

a. Keep in touch with your friends and value the time you had have and the time you will have. You will be parting you separate path, the time and distant will take the tolls on the relationship. When you are older, then you will appreciate and value the moments that you had had in school. You can never duplicate that.

b. The study and the qualification is the door to your career. You select and choose in full view of your intended career. This is part of your life plan, most likely you have only one opportunity to do it.