Help! What do I do next? — A guide to finding your educational interests
Maybe you’re interested in studying Sociology, but you’re not sure if you want to pursue it as your major in university. Perhaps you want to use a tool like Microsoft Excel but just can’t seem to get the hang of it.
If you happen to be in such a situation, fret not!
There are a number of tools around that can help you explore these interests, but not everyone knows about them or how to use them. In this article, let’s look at some of these tools and see how they can help you.
School Resources
As a student, you would have access to an Education and Career Guidance (ECG) counsellor or coach. As the Ministry of Education puts it, they guide students in “making informed plans and decisions for their education and career through individual and group counselling or coaching sessions and workshops”. These counsellors are well-informed on the various education and career options available, and it is worth reaching out to them if you have any questions.
Your school may also send out information on both internal and external seminars and workshops that may benefit or be of interest to you, so keep a lookout for them.
Online Resources
Beyond school, there is quite a lot of information on the internet that can help you pursue your educational interests. From Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to YouTube channels like Khan Academy and BigThink, there’s a whole treasure trove of information out there that can be easily accessed.
Particularly, I love the whole idea of MOOCs because there’s so much quality content being curated by credible institutions all around the world. There’re many platforms you can choose from, including Coursera and edX. During my free time in National Service, I completed a few courses myself and enjoyed learning subjects I was interested in at my own pace! If I had a busy week in camp, I had the flexibility to slow down or skip a few days of learning entirely without any penalty so that I could get the rest I needed.
P.S. For those who are serving National Service, you will have unlimited access to something called the SkillsFuture@NS Learning eXperience Platform, which offers over 75,000 online courses. The platform replaced the ePrep scheme from November 1st this year.
Community Initiatives
There are also passionate people who have come up with their projects and nonprofits, bridging the gap between others and their intellectual pursuits as a means of giving back to the community.
At SGExams, we have an ECG Pathfinding Programme targeted at pre-university students. It comprises two parts, helping pre-university students better understand what they want for themselves and giving them advice on achieving their goals. There are also articles and panel discussions that provide useful information when making decisions.
Unfortunately, the most recent edition of the programme ended signups in June, but do check our socials from time to time for the next round!
Taster Course, often shortened as TaCo, organises Taster Courses for youths. Founded in 2020 by three Hwa Chong Institution alumni, TaCo hopes to make the difficult decision of choosing a university course an easier one by simulating university lessons on a range of subjects, including Data Science, Medicine, and Law.
Similarly, Advisory is dedicated to “empowering young Singaporeans to make informed career and further education choices”. Formed in 2016, Advisory features an impressive Board of Advisors, including Law Professor Simon Chesterman and David Chua, CEO of the National Youth Council. They have a wide range of articles and panels with working professionals and industry experts.
Social Media
Social networking platforms are an excellent way to connect and ask questions. If you’re uncomfortable reaching out to strangers, you can start with seniors or alumni from your school.
I find it beneficial to gather as many lived experiences and opinions as possible when determining which interests suit you. Not to mention that the alumni I approached were all warm and friendly, even if I didn’t know them beforehand.
Sure, taking the first step can be quite scary, but honestly, there’s nothing to be afraid of! They’re all human beings like you and me, and most are more than willing to help someone in need.
There’re a decent amount of tools to help navigate your interests beyond the classroom. Try them out to see what works for you and what doesn’t, and maybe even go a step further by finding more tools to experiment with. Regardless, all the best in your pursuits!
