AAA #37

Designed by: Hannah Phua (23-O4)

Q1: I feel like I'm missing out on doing VIA activities. I've seen some interesting ones around, but I'm afraid to commit and in many cases, my schedule and curfew simply do not allow me to participate in a VIA over a longer term. Yet, I feel that doing a VIA is essential both for portfolio reasons (which I know in itself is problematic) and because I want to do something in the real world that actually impacts people. Is this FOMO? How can I deal with being unable to do a VIA when so many others around me are doing so many things? Please send help 😔

Hi! It seems like you feel left out and stressed over being unable to rack up VIA hours to beef up your portfolio. You also seem worried about the time and energy we would have to dedicate to doing VIA, when it could be otherwise spent on work or friends. This is especially so with us only being students! However, it is heartening to see that your aims to pursue VIA hours come from a genuine and virtuous desire in wanting to help the community.

Drawing a quote from James Thurber, an author and humourist; “To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”

In our lifetime, there will always be crossroads and tough decisions that we have to make. Such decisions are made based on which choice aligns with our values and beliefs, giving us a sense of purpose. However, at times there is no black-and-white answer on which path to choose. Referring to the quote, at times, purpose is found not in what we find comfortable, but in taking the risk and having the courage to break out of the ruts we all find ourselves in from time to time.

How does this relate to us? Being bound by daily schedules, curfews, and day-to-day routines, it would naturally be hard to find new purposes to pursue. This brings fear, discouragement, and a devalued sense of recognition towards ourselves — feeling inferior to others from missing out. Amidst such cerebral setbacks and discouragements, it would be useful to discuss, agree upon, and internalise a certain few postulates to dictate and influence the path forward regarding this matter. 

Firstly, it is important to recognise that self-worth and value are not based on our portfolios, VIA hours, or how we match up to our peers. The intent and sincerity behind any contribution should come foremost. Therefore, we should shift our focus from quantity to quality to truly make a difference. The belief of using VIA as a veneer to one’s portfolio at root is at best a verbose form of expression, detrimental to self-growth and development. From a pragmatic point of view, our self-worth could easily be reflected in future experiences such as event planning and interviews – one should do what he can, to the best of his ability rather than churning out a myriad of half-botched attempts. 

That being said, we concede that our portfolio determines, to an extent, our value in the world, due to pragmatic reasons – sieving candidates with more potential out of the haystack. While we can’t deny the importance of VIA in our portfolio, we must recognise that having quality VIA experience beats quantity. Considering what you wish to specialise in in the future could help you identify VIA activities suitable for you. This is because it will equip you with experience which would be useful during interviews in the future, whilst lowering the likelihood of over-commitment.

Secondly, having a fear of the unknown and uncertainties will always exist. The pertinence of having to make trade-offs amidst our monotonous lives, as well as the potential for intellectual gains from experiences and interactions will always plague our minds. Two questions usually pop into mind; But how would we know if we never try? And what could the worst possible outcome be? Carpe diem — if there is even the smallest opportunity or feasibility, seize the experience and learn from it, the number of opportunities only dwindles as time goes by and life gets ever more arduous.

On the issue of commitment, while we may have a limited understanding towards your specific VIA predicament, to our understanding, VIA is not imposed on any Eunoian and is built upon a sign-up basis. Given so, it should follow a pace that ultimately comes from the hearts and determination of a team of individuals. As such, should you face time-management issues, a withdrawal or simply a break from planning shouldn't be too big of a hoo-ha. While commitment might seem daunting, remember that trying something new doesn't always necessitate a long-term commitment. Dip your toes in various activities, see what resonates, and allow yourself the flexibility to explore without pressure. This could come in the form of ad hoc volunteering opportunities, which offer greater flexibility, allowing you to work out more practical arrangements that suit your current schedule and curfew in place.

Lastly, if commitment is not an issue and you find a greater sense of purpose in a cause but are too scared to pursue it in the long term, it is a possible consideration to just go for it and try it out. If you find passion in it and wish to continue it longer, we are sure that there will be a way to continue in it! Additionally, speaking openly about your concerns with program coordinators or mentors could provide valuable insights. They might be able to offer alternative ways to engage or suggest opportunities that better align with your schedule.

If in the end, you do not find yourself pursuing such endeavours, fret not! Opportunities are plentiful and the helpers are few! From a pragmatic and applicationary point of view, the ability of an individual to express and reflect on what few experiences they have had and their ability to carry themselves well in any interview, coupled with the prerequisite of academic rigour will always remain forefront. As long as you live with the purpose of helping serve the community, you will create equally or more meaningful experiences!

Q2: I feel a lot of stress because I keep seeing my friends around me doing more work than me. I try my best to catch up and do extra work like they do, however, I really feel as though I don't have it in me and that I'm getting more burnt out even though I'm doing less than them. I feel anxious a lot especially as we approach Promos. What could I do to improve my productivity? Thank you :)

Hi! Thank you for your response, rest assured that you are not alone! It can be very pressurising to keep up with the studying habits and hours of our peers, especially when Promo season nears and almost everyone’s Instagram Stories or BeReals are of them mugging at home. Oftentimes, we fear that we are the ones lagging and being unproductive when we compare ourselves with studious peers, so we try to mimic their studying habits or book consultation slots with them. However, most of the time, this would result in us feeling even more behind or demoralised, as our learning pace might differ from our peers, and by forcing ourselves to follow their study routines, we might end up burning out and creating even more stress for ourselves. 

As cliché as it sounds, a piece of advice would be to do what is best for you, instead of feeling pressured to conform to what most of your friends seem to be doing. Play your own game - the quality of revision lies upon the rigour relative to an individual, there is no one-size-fits-all metric to gauge the efficacy of revision other than the paper and results itself. Even then, they only reflect a momentary point in your academic journey. While we students largely share a common end goal, it is important to reach that destination in a way that suits us, lest we burn out amidst making unwarranted comparisons, to our detriment. Having discussed the basis of personal metrics, it might be useful to examine means to regulate individual productivity, rather than sizing up to the arbitrary paces of others. 

On that note, here are a few possible methods you could give a try:

First, consider reviewing what you already know. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by what you do not know, it may be better to take some time to review content that you are already more familiar with. Oftentimes, we may neglect topics that we feel like we have more exposure to, and try to learn entirely new chapters or content we have not seen. Instead of trying to get a vague idea of all your content, it may be better for you to master topics you know better. This can help build your confidence in the subject and serve to reinforce your understanding of these topics. Once you get into the rhythm of studying, you might find that you have a greater capacity and more confidence to tackle content that you are less familiar with.

Second, consider incorporating a brief session of light exercise before diving into your study sessions. Physical activity has been shown to enhance focus and cognitive function, making it a valuable precursor to effective learning. Whether it's a short walk, some gentle stretching, or a few basic exercises, integrating this into your regular routines can contribute significantly to optimising your focus and cognitive abilities.

Finally, dedicate more time to a specific study technique. When feeling stressed or frustrated, you might be tempted to doubt and change your existing study methods. Instead, give your chosen technique sufficient time to prove its effectiveness. Consistency is key, and mastering a particular approach can lead to better understanding and retention of the material. This patience and dedication to a specific method could contribute to a more structured and effective learning experience. 

Although we recommend catering your study routine to your own pace, it can still be beneficial to surround yourself with a good community that can keep you in check when you're studying. Whether it is to hold you accountable for the number of hours you promised to study, or reminding you to take breaks when necessary, a supportive group of peers will help with feelings of burnout or demotivation. While directly comparing our pacing to peers may be adverse to our development, it is not to be confused with peer support and check-ins. the presence of peers should also serve as emotional support amidst our onerous academic lives — a balance must be struck. In fact, a healthy degree of competitiveness with your peers can serve as a means to spur competency and self-productivity.

Overall, navigating your academic journey requires you to understand your own energy and working style. What works for someone else may not be what you need. Take care folks! ;)

If there has been something on your mind these days, feel free to send in your worries here! All submissions will remain anonymous.