Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The senseless things that people say without thinking can affect one so badly, so much so that he or she is still thinking about that horrific sentence a few days later.
As much as I try to tell myself to be less sensitive and to be more confident, I cannot help but feel indignant whenever a JC student/grad makes a JC vs Poly remark. I tried to dismiss such rude remarks as a childish point of view from a 19 year old, but yet I am unable to hold back my anger, because I know that her views reflects what many JC students feel about poly students/grads.
A comparison of both education system is bound to arise, but such elitism is backward thinking, considering that a number of 6 pointers chose the Poly route instead of the typical JC-to-uni route. Just as there are intellectually-challenged people in Poly, there are also numerous JC students, many of whom I cannot fathom how in the world they got into JC. The fact that JCs like Jurong JC or Pioneer or Serangoon or Tampines and many others exist frankly demonstrates the lack of "selectivity" in admiting a student.
Another guy at my workplace was from SRJC and is in/will be going to NTU's some shit course. What pisses me off about this guy is that his attitude screams JC-elitism, yet he cannot even do simple stockroom tasks and his work attitude stinks. Well, the fact that he came from SRJC might explain his lack of intelligence, yet he fails to see it, and has instead said stuff like "oh I wish J****** and H****** were still around. They were the only JC people I could talk to and understand." Christ, what arrogance.
I have made a new friend at work who came from NJC and would be heading to NYU this August. Probably one of the most intelligent and well-spoken I have met, and she definitely has a 'I am not approchable' demeanor. For a 19 year old she can come across as quite intimidating, but she has earned her right to do so, unlike the previous SRJC guy. The best thing about meeting someone like her was being challenged to improve myself, in terms of getting a degree and also brushing up on my vocab. I have always wanted to take the SATs but procrastination meant that I just kept finding excuses and kept delaying it. It was only after meeting Tegra and Ig, then meeting this colleague of mine that I felt really motivated to do something about it.
I admit that I am not intellectually as smart as many JC students. I may not be able to solve the Math and Physics questions, or even possess a stellar vocabulary, but I am able to draw and paint and build and come up with creative solutions; we all have our own talents and gifts. What I am good at, these JC kids may not be, and vice versa. We have to stop comparing.