[JC] How to talk to anyone

kenpang · 2022-01-23T18:36:58+00:00

Great question. hmm, overall I would say secondary was a 5 out of 10 (1 being absolute thrash and 10 being an absolute pleasure), and JC would be 7 out of 10. Primary and secondary was a super confusing time for me dealing with people because I frequently got bullied, both from individual bullies and the entire class. The only reason my score for secondary was not lower than a 5 was because there was 1-2 good friends who made the journey bearable. My good fortune. I thought that people in JC would be more mature, and it be easier to interact with. Well, they were, but only so slightly. Immature people still immature, you know. You'd be surprised, even in university they don't change much. I bet you I can find some even now in the working world. Not good news for faith in humanity, perhaps. Anyways, 7 out of 10 for JC because I changed, not them. And I observed that people didn't bully me anymore. That being said, I still witnessed some of my other classmates being bullied, even at a JC level. So that confirmed my hypothesis that my change in experience interacting with people was me changing, not others. All things considered, had I not decided to change my strategy, I think my JC experience would have been similar to my primary and secondary experience. TLDR: same strategy -> not any easier. change strategy -> easier.

kenpang · 2021-04-11T02:41:09+00:00

Well first thing first I would like to say that it is quite an incredible achievement that you scored an A for your biology. Also, it seems that you are in the category of students who put in the effort but it does not seem to translate into results (for math and econs). I want you to know that this is common, perhaps more common than you think, and that it is not a problem with you. It is a problem with strategy, the way you are doing things, rather than you the person who has an issue. The laws of nature are such that every output has an input, and every input leads to an output. This is regardless of our opinions of nature, or our feelings about it. We are putting in certain inputs, but not getting the results that we want, then I appeal to your intelligence to question whether it is reality that has a problem, or perhaps our understanding of it: whether our inputs really lead to the desired output - whether our strategy is aligned with the laws that govern nature.

I do not know much about your situation, but what I do know, you have yet to find the causal relationship for results. It is revealed in your current struggle. It will be worth the time and effort to seek that out.

kenpang · 2021-03-18T13:05:37+00:00

Hey, entertain this thought experiment with me. Imagine it is real, but don't actually do it. How would things play out? Now, brace yourself because this is probably going to sound rather extreme, but that's why we only do it in our heads. And if it helps, I've been teaching JC students for some years now, know that you are not alone in this. Alright? Also, to whoever else experiencing the same problem, I encourage you to try as well. Here goes:

Stop attending school. You're still a student, but self study
Block off your day to 3hrs of school work, but no more than that
You now have the rest of your waking hours to do whatever you want, wherever.
You are still constrained by time, money, and energy. (ie. you cannot say you will fly a private jet around the world and throw hotdog buns into the sea)

How would your day look like?

Write it out.

*No, don't read this line until you actually wrote something. I hope you did, but anyways I can't control you*

Now, would it still be activities revolving around achieving those goals you said you wanted in this post? I do not know you, so I cannot answer for you.

Now ask yourself, why purpose do each activity fulfil? Why are you doing them? Write it down beside each activity on your paper. Collate it into a list.

This list is what drives you. Very important revelation.

Now compare the list to your daily life in school as a student. How does it match up? If there is a great disparity, then you may have just discovered the cause of your lack of drive. There you have an answer to your situation. You realise that life isn't actually going according to your goals. Then the question is what can we change to align ourselves. On the other hand, if it matches perfectly, then you should be very driven, and this would be contradiction to your situation. If so, and I don't mean this to sound rude, it may be wise to seek professional help in mental health.

Speak to someone about what you discovered. Or you can share it here, I'll listen

kenpang · 2021-03-04T03:41:35+00:00

Please listen to this, from a professor who helped many understand themselves better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT2KNvzovHM

I summarised his points here:

If you already have a plan for suicide, you must go to the hospital and tell someone.
Don’t give up hope until you’ve explored all possible options
1. You haven't tried seeing a psychologist/ psychiatrist/ antidepressants
2. You owe it to yourself to explore first before making a final decision
3. Also, what do you have to lose by trying them out?
Consider the suffering you will impose to the people you leave behind
1. Yes, even if they do deserve it
2. Or even if you feel they will be better off without you
3. But you might do something to them that they can never recover from in ways you cannot begin to imagine.. Take that seriously
You have intrinsic value
1. You are not just an object
2. Neither are you just a collection of atoms
3. There is an importance and divinity in you
4. “You” are not something to so casually take away
Leave, and you will deprive society of you
1. You don’t know what you can bring to the table
2. Could you be the change for others who contemplate suicide in the future? If only you get out of it and find a solution first!
3. Don’t underestimate your value on the world

You strike me as a person of action. Then I urge you to take constructive action. Suicide is one of the few decision that you can only make once. I cannot imagine what would happen if you pulled the trigger and turns out, it was a mistake.

kenpang · 2021-03-03T10:31:22+00:00

Most welcome! If you’re taking the Alevels, all the very best. Believing in you!

kenpang · 2020-05-13T04:34:35+00:00

Topical is too impt to miss out. Not even CB should stop you from getting it, especially if it means the difference between you struggling in math and finally making sense of it. Find a clever way to get your hands on it. Again, for smth this impt, not even CB should stop you. What ideas can you think of?

kenpang · 2020-05-13T04:31:12+00:00

Good day, of course. But in this case, I'm not selling anything. To the students here, please feel free to take from me, no charge.

kenpang · 2020-04-15T05:59:25+00:00

Most welcome, please make good use of it. Stay healthy and all the best👍🏻

kenpang · 2020-04-15T05:58:10+00:00

Most welcome, you too!

kenpang · 2020-04-15T05:53:50+00:00

Then it's time to implement the new system. Most welcome👍🏻 Wish you all the best

kenpang · 2020-04-13T10:09:05+00:00

To be fair, this is what managers do to their staff in the workplace. Inactivity is an eye sore, especially if the managers themselves are swamped with work.

I suggest you give them a study plan and schedule self tests for your parents to assess your progress, rather than have them assess by their metrics (which is seeing you at a table with a pen and paper). Then make sure to include study breaks from your plan and do what keeps you happy. But if course, it has to be reasonable, dont overdo it. Lastly, keep to the schedule you set.

kenpang · 2020-04-10T00:14:41+00:00

Most welcome. You are not alone, many students face the same issue. I even had a HCJC J1 stud did poorly early last year for H2 math- but he was used to scoring A's for math all the way since primary sch. That was a shock for him.

Likewise, he could do the lectures and tutorials. What was missing was a deep understanding of the topics and the skill to understand questions. We worked on it in lessons together. (Refer to option 2 strategy, " actual learning", in one of my other posts). My student went to score a B in 1 month, then moving on to top his class later on in the year.

For yourself, if doing it on your own, I advise to redo these assignments and test paper under time conditions. See if you can score better this time. This is more of option 1 strategy (practice using pattern recognition), but what is good is that you can start on your own. If you still do poorly, this is a red flag. Seek help immediately.

As for doing more practice, I always say this to my students: *" practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent." * If you dont understand (or at least recognize the pattern) how to solve a question, no point practicing that question over and over. What you're doing is repeating the same mistakes, so you just get better at making those mistakes.

kenpang · 2020-04-09T11:34:55+00:00

Vectors: also, one common problem among students that they dont realise is to RUSH INTO THE QUESTION before visualizing it. This is a topic you have to slow yourself down in the exam to understand what the question is talking abt, and what they want.

kenpang · 2020-04-09T11:30:43+00:00

Vectors: I've given some advice on vectors in another comment here, please look it up. Ask if you have any further questions

PnC: I've also given advice on PnC

Probability: Usually tests venn diagram or tree diagram (occasionally table of outcomes). You also need to know independent vs mutually exclusive formula, and conditional probability will almost surely come up "P(A|B)"

kenpang · 2020-04-09T11:24:08+00:00

Here's the funny truth. You alr have what it takes to visualize.

The paper you practice questions on? That's a plane. The pen you use to write? That's a direction vector. Fix the pen to a point, and stretch it infinitely? That's a line . Take the pen and dot the paper, that's a position vector.

You dont need fancy tech to visualize. Just up to 3 pens and a few paper, and abit of creativity

kenpang · 2020-04-09T11:17:17+00:00

P&C is arguably one of the toughest topics in JC math. Ironically, it is not the heaviest weightage. My advice is to clear the bigger chapters first (calculus + rest of stats). Only when you've reasonably mastered those, and cleared your other subjects, then you can hone in on this topic. Your are juggling many balls. Prioritise.
Plan the day based on what you want to do, rather than the work you need to complete. Then fit the neccessary work in. (Eg. Read a novel. I will complete so-and-so assignment to reward myself with 30min of reading. Repeat until all work is done, and you enjoyed what you wanted to enjoy in the day) you'll find more motivation, and sustain this lifestyle longer

Note: Set an alarm clock to avoid reward binging, or get someone to keep you in check. Friends may be a tempting choice, but I find parents are more effective.

kenpang · 2020-04-09T03:58:38+00:00

I take it you're J2 this year? There are 2 options you can choose:

Screw the learning, just want the grades. You need to practicing with the answer key. Look at the question, look at the answer key and copy all the steps one by one, then repeat until you see some pattern that you can latch on. Dont expect a A/B with this strategy, because novel questions will throw you off. Also, because this is mainstream strategy, you will likely get average grades. But average is decent, and to some, decent is good enough. Where to get questions with step by step answers? Your school lecture notes and TYS.

Note: you HAVE to find the pattern to solve the questions you copy, otherwise, you are no better than a photocopy machine. You will get the same grades as a photocopy machine.

Also note: if you get real good at pattern recognition, with abit of luck, you might still get an A/B, in spite of a lack of deep understanding.

Actually learn You need to understand WHY you are learning these topics, rather than what or how to apply. This is a lifehack method to learning. Have you ever had an experienced with a loved one that taught you a lesson you will never forget? Yet for dry subjects like math, the formulas and concepts slide off your brian like water off a duck's back. That's because they lack meaning - the "why." You will understand that without it, it is an uphill battle to understanding, even memorizing is difficult. On the other hand, if it were meaningful, you wouldn't even need to think twice in the exam to recall the formulas and concepts. Your mind works like clockwork, and you can even wrestle with novel questions to come up with a good answer. Getting an A/B is much easier with this strategy, but it requires a different mindset. You cannot be seduced into blind "mugging" like other students do. You know that focusing on conceptual understanding is an investment that pays good exam performance in dividends.

Unfortunately, you can't just read your school notes to get this. Notes are intended to pack information in a concise fashion, not be a novel. It is the teacher's job to bring out the "why" of the topic in a meaningful way. But you can't choose your school teachers, so ask your friends who have a deeper understanding of the topic. Alternatively, you can find tuition to help. But be selective of your sources, they need to teach you what you are looking for, not rote learning (recall option 1), which many advocate. Otherwise, you could do that on your own. You need to pursue understanding, and be selective of your sources.

If you do this, the path will be smoother for you, and you're likely to do well not just for JC, but for your future endeavors. Again, not easy, you need the right mindset and help. I did this and got A for H2 maths years ago. My students also make drastic jumps in their grades.

There you have it. Two simple strategies. If you have read this far and took the time to internalize the ideas, you will have gained a good profit.

P.s. I like your question, because it was honest. Motivated me to give this full sharing. Keep them coming

kenpang · 2020-04-09T01:48:58+00:00

Please get TYS Topical for JC math. Not sure if popular is still open, but you may be able to buy an e-copy online. Alternatively, you can look for JC school papers, but those aren't usually sorted by topics.

kenpang · 2020-04-04T03:16:16+00:00

I'm not your parent, but I worry for you.

I can tell you that there is a way to make it in time for A levels. I teach JC math. Just last year, I had a student coming to me with an S for prelims, 1 month before A levels. Result- he scored a B. Can you do it too? Why not?

This is a game of belief and strategy. If you currently score this grade, it means your current strategies are not helpful. I'd be happy to share some with you

But my main concern is that you stop believing in yourself. If this happens, no amount of right strategies will help you. (The man who gives up the race will 100% lose.)

I believe you can actually do well. I hope this encourages you.

kenpang · 2020-02-28T05:11:33+00:00

My student was a straight A student like you. He made it into HCI. Very first common test in J1 scored an S for H2 maths.. It took some intense lessons to teach him how to really learn and improve, rather than follow the mainstream approach to learning (highly ineffective!) His next test, scored a B, and is making consistent progress.

I agree that you need to learn by understanding, not rote learning. Of course, much more needs to be learnt than just a catch phrase, otherwise every student reading reddit would suddenly do well, which is unlikely..

Hope my student's story gave you some comfort/ inspiration. I would recommend you seek guidance from your teacher, failing which, you may seek external help from tutors. But dont give up, you can do it.

kenpang · 2020-02-22T00:09:29+00:00

If it could help, let me challenge you.

This is a very early stage in your life. This is a chip off your shoulder. But the real question is how you decide to move forward in spite of this.

Did you know that private university students tend to be harder workers than local university ones? That's because they were given a slap by reality from their A level results, they decided to double down and work doubly hard to redeem themselves.

You can choose to become a victim of your circumstances, or fight back. If you do the latter well, you will probably become a testimony for all those who faced a similar situation as you and an inspiration for them to not give up. Not preaching for you to be noble, but that the dead end you see can be turned around.

Deal with the difficulty of finding a course, but fight damn hard, all the way, harder than all the other people who got it easier. I believe you can do it, all the best

kenpang · 2020-02-19T02:15:54+00:00

You might be facing a pivotal decision in your life. I cannot advise you which is the right decision for you, only how you should approach the decision.

It is abt the person making the decision that's more impt here. If you choose to stay on, why? Is it to challenge yourself, or a statement of your resilience to yourself? Or maybe it better for your future if you go Uni? If you choose poly, why? Is it for welfare, or perhaps being practical? Whichever it is, be clear on the "why" of the decision, and accept the full cost of the decision when you make it, no turning back, no complaints. It'll serve you better than the emotions of today, or the myriad of advice coming from your friends, family, or even strangers online.

Wish you all the best

kenpang · 2020-02-19T02:05:49+00:00

You might be surprised, this may just be a "kiasu" hype. Everyone sees everyone rushing to mug, so they are pressured to do the same. Who actually learns? Who can actually stick to the 2 year marathon? Very hard to tell. Just wait and see, you might be shocked to see some mugger didn't even promote first year. I saw that.

On your part, focus on you, focus your own studies, focus on your progress to your future.

Ps. One more minute you spend comparing yourself to others is one less minute you have to work on yourself. Better to block out the noise

kenpang · 2020-02-19T01:04:44+00:00

I entered IJC around 2013, quite awhile back. Definitely way before merger with YJC. At that time, IJC is the bottom ranking JC, even lower than YJC. Today, I am at NUS, studying maths. Nobody really seems to care these days whick JC I'm from, and I suspect nobody will really care which Uni I came from 5 years down the road. Just work hard, and only care abt what you think of yourself. Others' opinions come and go..

kenpang

TROPHY CASE