Tonight mom said something that hurt me without her knowing t.
In Malaysian high school, once you've passed PMR (form 3, aged 15), you can select the education stream you wish to pursue. There's science stream, where you'll study biology, chemistry & physics. There's also sub-science. Where you'll choose one of the science subject. Lastly, the art stream. In here, you'll either embark in accounting & economics, literature or art itself. To those who've been living under the rock, Malaysian parents are very (too much actually) conscious/paranoid over where their children will be placed in the stream.
Personally, I don't think it's an issue over the students gets placed, it's about how hard they can work to prove themselves.
Okay, back to what mom said. She got angry that lil' bro's math wasn't that impressive in his exam. Hey, I know how it feels.. I was a slowpoke in math!!! So she told him that he needs to buck up in his studies or he'll end up in the art stream. What I'm about to write may hurt others. So beware.. She said only 'losers' get into the art stream.
I'm not sure if she recalls the fact that I was in the art stream. Look how I turned out? I don't think I'm that bad... I wasn't even sure if she noticed my grim expression after she made the remark.
I wasn't always at the top of my game in high school. I didn't know what I was capable of back then. Hell, I didn't even know who I was! Society puts too much preassure on young children when they're suppose to enjoy early education. Furthermore, they are clueatered and classified so early in age.
This is where people like Marx and Emerson are against social norms. I understand now. We thrive to fulfill others' expectations than our own. I wish I could tell my brother he has nothing to worry about for as long as he studies hard.
i was in the art stream too!
ReplyDeletei was in the sc stream but then i rejected the offer cos i know what im capable of.
im good in art, not in sc or math.
nowadays everything that has gotta do with sc is sth to look up abt, neglecting the art stream.
sad huh T.T
Bobby, I agree with you. It happened when our Malaysian government prioritize students to pursue in science stream,n not too much attention to art stream. Tho I'm in science stream when I was in my high school, I still struggle to meet others(parents, teachers, society) expectations, because, I'm too a slowpoke in math!
ReplyDeleteAnd its kind of sad when parents don't even know their children's strength.My lil brother happens to have similar kind of situation as yours. Kind of understand T__T