Worried you’re not making the most of your time? ZENDEN TAN speaks to a Polytechnic student who had a fulfilling first year to find out how she does it.
Mulling about your new Polytechnic life? Ms Lecia Tham Yi Xuan, 18, a second-year student studying her diploma in Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Film Sound Video, was in this exact situation. In her first year, she worked on short films, liaised with companies, and took up a position in her Co-Curricular Activity (CCA), all while maintaining an excellent grade point average.
In a poll done among students aged 16-18, 91% of students feel like they aren’t doing enough, here are some tips for you to maximise your time.
Don’t be afraid to try new things
“In year one, try out as much things as you can. While you have the energy and time, just go into it. There’s really no harm in trying out different things,” Ms Tham says. When starting your Polytechnic journey, try a new CCA. In Ngee Ann Polytechnic alone, there are more than 80 CCAs for you to choose from. Ms Tham was able to enjoy both a stage production CCA and a dance CCA at the same time.
Social media can be your best friend
The Infocomm Media Development Authority mentioned in a report that social media “appeals to people’s need to connect with communities of like-minded people, or people with similar interests”. Ms Tham agrees, saying that when she sees student films on social media, “it makes me wonder if, one day, I can work towards that end goal”. Yet it may not always be a good thing as Mr Donavan Teo, 37, Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s student counsellor, said in a talk with Ngee Ann Polytechnic Mass Communication students, that social media reinforces negative feelings as it “creates an environment that [students] might not necessarily want to have”. This creates a negative environment for students, adding to the pressure they already feel. Social media can be a double edged sword so use it sparingly.
The hardest part about leading a fulfilling student life is keeping yourself going. According to an article by The Straits Times, “running out of time and being unable to keep up with the demands of academic and co-curricular activities are common challenges among young people who have a zest for living but have overestimated their capacities to cope”. This matches the sentiments of Mr Teo who says that the people most prone to burn-out are the high fliers who push themselves too hard. How can this be avoided?
Manage your stress with mindfulness exercises
An article by Health Hub states that focusing on your breath for five minutes can relief stress and anxiety. Clear your mind and bring your attention to your breathing. Similarly, Ms Tham picked up simple mindfulness exercise from her secondary school which she uses regularly to manage stress.
If stress isn’t managed, it can lead to distress. Mr Teo says that a healthy level of stress is called eustress, “[it] stimulates us, it challenges us, and then we grow as a result of it”. Maintaining eustress through mindfulness exercises is an easy way to avoid burn-out.
Set boundaries, know your limit
“[High fliers] don’t know where [their] boundaries or limits are, they don’t know how to rest,” says Mr Teo. That’s a common reason why many students burn-out as they simply don’t know when to stop. “The only way you can take care of yourself is to truly know what you can and cannot do,” says Ms Tham. Thus despite initially taking up to four different CCAs, Ms Tham cut down her commitments to just two, when she realised she was at her limit.
“I think school is something that, as much as we do not like it sometimes, it’s really a once in a lifetime experience, so just enjoy it,” Says Ms Tham.
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