Struggles of a combined student

When the time came for me to choose subjects for my O Levels, I was completely confused. Not only was I clueless about the direction I want to steer my life towards, I was also disinterested in a lot of the subjects offered. After a meticulous cost-benefit analysis and several conflicts of interest with my family, I emerged victorious, holding the selection form that was now accessorised with scribbles and a lot of strikethroughs. I had chosen to go half science and half business.

I'll have a well-rounded education, I thought. I will win at life, I thought. I don't have to think about specialising in a certain field for the next 2 years, I thought, sighing with relief. I was oblivious about the challenges that come with this path I had taken. 

Of course, I cannot walk into a class or study group without being met with surprised gasps and the same old "Since when do you have [insert subject]?" Each time I wearily launch into the usual explanation about my choices. Some people are awestruck by the diversity in my palette of subjects, while others shake their head at the lack of the term "pure science" or "pure business". 

Science and business are poles apart. They require completely different approach to studying and learning. While in Physics I was etching into my brain the formulae of electricity, I was justifying taking a risk by analysing a firm's finances and market position in Business Studies. One approach doesn't work for the other. Every time, I needed to switch gears to progress in my classes. While this is sometimes mentally exhausting, it does help you be more analytic and efficient. 

There are my business friends who fiercely shame me for knowing the molecular structure of polyethene and being ignorant of the mighty balance sheet. Then I have my science friends who roll their eyes for knowing all the types of tax but not the difference in the length of the small intestine and large intestine. Give me a break.  

Needless to say, I still spin around in a whirlpool of confusion. I can branch off to a whole array of careers but the question is which options do I keep and which do I eliminate? Now that subject selection for post O Levels is fast approaching, as exciting as it is, wish me luck.

Mashiyat Nayeem has a genuine phobia of onions and has mastered the art of scavenging for beresta in her biryani. Learn more at mashiyat.nayeem@gmail.com