read this if u feel like quitting📚✍️❗️

no its actually for me… i need motivation every day!

wrote this in the library before starting my ultra productive session today HAHAHA #academicweapon

just my two cents:

no matter what stage u are at, be it A levels or university, i bet there are times where u wonder what is the point of studying so hard? to be frank, ive had this thought countless of times. I am not someone who lets grades define me or seek academic validation. and i know it is very frustrating to be constantly stuck in the rat race, getting a good grade which are, at the end of the day, mere numbers.

during A levels, I have sacrificed almost everything, my social life, my hobbies, the projects that I would love to work on, all just for the grade at the end. was it worth it? im not sure. but what i achieved at the end of the day was “hey u did it”. it was a prove to myself that i could achieve my goals if i put my mind into it. what i gained was discipline, consistency, and hardwork which paid off (thankfully).

when i came to uni, i wanted a more carefree life, where grades is not the final determinant of the trajectory of my life. i wanted to have fun, to join more clubs, to discover and develop my passions! but guess what, i had to study still! I wouldnt say the rigour is much less than A levels tbh (sorry to break ur bubble). and honestly id be lying if i say CAP/GPA does not matter.

and now im sitting in the library, wondering why im here again (i avoided going to libraries to study as much as possible to avoid evoking A level memories)

but honestly, being able to study is a BLESSING. 🫢

U have no idea how many people there are in the world who would die to be in ur place. sure, its stressful, it feels pointless, but studying ultimately lets us understand the world, create modes of thinking, and see the world in a different light. I remember one of the nights my friends and i were so done with studying we joked about wanting to just be a housewife (nth wrong with that), a guy friend reminded us jokingly that “malala didnt get shot in the head for nothing”. It struck me that i was in a privileged position. I had access to so much knowledge and the opportunity to learn. something which i had taken for granted!

if thats not convincing enough, one of my strongest intrinsic motivation is, the thought of where u wanna be in the future. studying and doing well gives u with the opportunity to be around driven, talent, amazing individuals. I felt it when i came to NUS. i felt like a small fish in a big pond and theres simply so much i can learn from everyone. and to be in NUS(C) in the first place, there is (inevitably) a grades requirement. it is important to surround urself with exceptional people because u will become the average of the 5 people closest to u, and being around these individuals enables u to expand ur world view, learn from others, and create a better version of urself.

in short, studying brings u to places.

(that is certainly not to say that grades are the only entrance ticket to all the good opportunities in life, please brush up on softskills too!)

external motivation. as much as i hate to admit, ur value to society (our society at least) still remains as “grades” or “school” or “achievements” when u r younger as a student, and ur “job” when u grow up. i disagree the way it is structured, but thats just how the society works. In schools especially, i realised that i was being treated differently by the people around me once i started improving my grades. there were glances of admiration, friendliness and more opportunities presented to me. U may whine and rant about how unfair it is, but we would still need to play by the rules of this society.

ultimately, studying is not simply the numbers game, its about the effort and hardwork u have put in. while i always claim that effort or time may not be proportional to result, we can admit that the chances of u doing better once u put in the hardwork is higher than if u hadnt!

last important note: im fully aware that studying is not for everyone, some people are just not academically inclined (nothing wrong w that). I would suggest that u can pick out an area of passion or something u r very good at and develop it! for eg, photography, coding, posting on social media. start reading books and take up courses to hone those skills and leverage on them to start ur own services / businesses! develop ur own niche and unique selling point.

the underlying logic remains, that it is worth it to work hard. 🌟

- end

dont cancel meeee jus my two cents and would love to hear ur thoughts :p

anyway my exams are ending soon and hopefully ill stop posting studying content… i need a life HAHAHA cant wait for summer break!

#motivation #workhard #thissociety #studyallldayeveryday #ugotthis #school #lifeistuff