26 October 2006: Competition, and staying composed

Many students back in NUS have often complained of high-stress levels in their academic environment, but the National Taiwan University may be a greater nightmare to them. At least for me, it is becoming so. There are so many assignments to complete, and the mid-term tests append to haunt you for many sleepless nights. What a Seattle.

NUS is considered rather flexible with its schedules or timetables, and submission dates for essays are often negotiable. However, in NTU, every week is a battle for students to finish off endless assignments, and victory is achieved when one sacrifices his weekend in good faith that he can clear the workload. As a losing war looms the warrior becomes dispirited, having compromised both leisure and accomplishment.

Students in NTU are a diligent lot, and I can see that they do possess the calibre to gain admission to Taiwan's best university. Generally, they are more spontaneous than NUS students, as all fight to raise their hands to voice opinions in group discussions. For a fair period of time, I had thought that class participation constitutes some 50% of the course's final grade. I believe that all of them share a true passion for learning and, of course, such attitute is desirable and should be expected of tertiary students.

Yes, here is stiff competition. However, as exchange students, we should all remain composed and join little in the rat race. I hope that NTU has a separate grading system for us, because there is seriously no point in studying so hard just to pass the courses and forgoing time to experience Taiwan. Otherwise, I might as well stay put and strive for Dean's Lists and Vice-Chancellor's Lists in NUS.