Eunoia Diaries #3: Trying a New Subject (Humanities Edition)

Written by: Tan Kai Rui (24-I1), Yee Yi Xin Kristen (24-U6)

Designed by: Tan Kai Rui (24-I1)

As JC students, one of the first and most important decisions we have to make is our subject combination. It is often a daunting task for many who struggle to narrow the 8+ subjects they are taking to just 4. It can be a tough decision — how are we to know what we want to do at just 17? Should I try something new like Economics? Or should I perhaps stick with the subjects I know and love? Would this decision be closing any doors for me in the future? Would it open any? These are real questions that we asked ourselves at the beginning of our JC journey. And although it’s already been a year since the subject combination selection exercise for the J2s, maybe you still have lingering curiosities on what could have been. Or, maybe you want to see what other people think of your (comparatively rare) subjects! 

In this feature, we bring you fresh perspectives: A HELM student trying Geography and a PCME student trying Literature. Both students attended a lecture of their respective subjects and shared their experiences and insights!

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Stepping into the air-conditioned lecture theatre, I did not really know what to expect. While I am an arts student, the last time I had sat in a Geography classroom was back in 2022, when I was still a Secondary Two student. Upon reminiscing about my days as a Geography student, I recall the studying of maps, clouds, and the endless memorisation that I associated with Geography. I recall joking with my friends about the usefulness of knowing the different kinds of clouds in the world. Even in my years as an upper secondary student, the friendly banter would continue between my peers and me as we argued on the better humanities. I often wondered what life would have been like if I had chosen a different path in Secondary Two. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to try something new, to get a glimpse of another path I could have embarked on.

The lecture I attended covered the impacts of climate change, showcasing the economic and social impacts of the issue. How different groups of people, even if they shared the same geographic location, were impacted by this issue differently. It showcased the complexities of the issue. It was refreshing to hear about modern issues that plague our society today. Compared to the other humanities like History and Literature where emphasis is placed on the study of historical texts or historical figures, Geography feels like the study of today. Geography feels like the stories of the people today. The story of their struggles and how they adapt to these issues. Unfortunately, one session is insufficient to truly grasp the subject. Therefore, I decided to interview some of my friends who take Geography to understand their passion for Geography as a subject. 

“I particularly enjoyed Geography back in secondary school as I am passionate about nature and the environment. I also liked the fact that geography surrounds us and is ever-changing. Broadly speaking, living in Singapore, we mainly experience two types of weather -- sunny and rainy, characteristic of places located near the equator. But through the study of geography, we learn about other climatic types experienced in different places around the world and the reasons behind these phenomena, broadening our horizons and general knowledge of the world. 😀”

— Vivia, a BCMG taker!

“Geography really piqued my interest because it inspires me to look deeper into many aspects of our lives that I think some of us take for granted. I feel that Geography has really broadened my view of the world and given me a greater appreciation of many subjects that I felt were too dense to understand at first. I feel like you learn to respect and understand the various different complex ecosystems that keep our world running, whether that be the literal ecosystems in our forests and oceans, or the economic and social ecosystems building up our society.”

— Vannessa, a BCMG taker!

“Ever since secondary school, I developed a deep passion for Geography. Simply put, it is the study of the Earth's physical and human features, and how they have changed and come to be. Geography has allowed me to view the world in a completely different lens. Throughout my journey, I learnt more in depth about how humans interact dynamically with their space. It has also allowed me to understand deeply about the complex mechanisms behind certain phenomena occurring across places. Ultimately, I now own a deeper appreciation of the ever changing world we live in, and I look forward to learning so much more as a Geographer!”

— Marco, a GELM taker! #ilovegeog

Even after this brief experience as an honorary Geography student, I still am happy with my current subject combination. Drawing the comparison between Geography and History (as many arts students tend to choose between one of the two), I still prefer the study of stories and how their stories affect the stories that we create today. Learning about key historical figures and how their actions still have long lasting effects that can still be felt till this day is just something that I find too much joy in. 

Despite that, I still acknowledge that taking Geography and History does impact the way that we view the world. While History encourages the understanding of the present through understanding the past, Geography instead uses the actions of today to understand the present and maybe even predict the future. Especially with today where many people place a huge emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking between the humanities, it is good to use both of these humanities to help us understand the complex issues of today. 

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When I stepped into the auditorium, what I first noticed was the emptiness of the room. Only about 100 students take Literature, something magnified by the sheer size of the auditorium. I immediately compared it to Econs lectures: the lower tier would always be packed to the brim with students, spilling over to the upper tier. Queues of students would jostle to find their class. Literature on the other hand, seemed to have a tiny population, with barely half the centre rows filled. 

Because of this, the atmosphere was definitely more intimate than in Econs lectures. When the lecturer looked around, I felt his gaze settle on me and my empty table. (A slight panic at this point: Does he know I don’t take this subject? What if he calls me to answer questions?? What if he chases me out?!?) In contrast, one is always able to slide into anonymity during Econs lectures – especially if one sits in the upper tier.

When the lecture started, I felt an overwhelming sense of confusion. The last literature lesson I took was in Secondary 2 and frankly, there are many MANY reasons why I did not choose to take literature. With the lecture occurring this close to the end of the year, I struggled to follow. It wasn’t just foreign content, it was also the way of thinking and seeing things in the text. To me Literature seemed like chasing invisible threads — the lecturer was pointing out subtleties (for instance, the shifting of perspectives in one chapter of Jane Eyre) that I would never notice when reading. 

Needless to say it was a deeply humbling experience. I felt like a fish tossed into the desert. And this made me curious as to why people take Literature and love it so much (at least the ones that take it by choice…). So I surveyed a few of my favourite science + Lit takers:

“I enjoy getting epiphanies from each text I encounter — each text is uniquely woven together, and there’s always something extremely moving in its craft, be it in the message or devices used to portray the message. Being able to uncover these treasures of meaning and truly immerse myself in the written work gives me a refreshing experience and an appreciative stance :). As a science student, I sometimes treat my analysis in a procedural and methodical stance, but this doesn't really do justice to unpacking and appreciating the text. I try to appreciate the style and treat the text not just as an inanimate object to study, but a reflection of someone’s psyche or a mirror image of a complex societal issue.” 

— Yvonne!!! My favourite PCML taker!

“I just like analysing the book and piling patterns and themes together, realising that the author may have put the clues there in order for the readers to realise the reason for writing the book. For me, I'd say that it's very difficult, and nearly impossible to say if Literature or any humanities subject is harder than any science subject. This is because they require so many different skill sets –Literature requires a deeper understanding of human connection and how the individual affects the world around them. In contrast, science subjects require deep knowledge and stringing that together and making inferences. I’d say what’s common is that both require heavy and deep knowledge of their subjects, but it's used in different ways.”

— Amelia!!! Amazing BCML taker ❤️!

I have to conclude that Literature really does demand quite a different lens and appetite compared to many other subjects. It seems like a subject that is very much about the journey and the time spent; in contrast, for the sciences (I absolutely adore them!) logic is key and at this level it’s pretty fixed (my Arts friend once detailed how a teacher commented different things on the exact same paragraph in separate settings… as a science student this is absolutely horrific). Without the necessary sensitivity and taste for Literature, Literature becomes “flattened” and texts lose much of their depth. Perhaps the two seemingly polar fields do have things in common however – the way I approach my sciences is also through questions and discovery and appreciating its wonders. 

Overall, would I take this subject if I went back in time? Probably not. The chapter of my literary journey seems to have closed resoundingly in Sec 2 (I was tempted by an unusually high mark for unseen poetry in EOYs though). But if you’re someone who’s on the fence, why not? The new rank point system is designed to minimise the costs of exploring “riskier” combinations and this allows you to take subjects that you enjoy but don’t do as well in (or maybe your grades just fluctuate a lot). The Literature department in EJ is also known to be “amazing” (this has been confirmed by all the Literature takers in my life) and it’s probably a subject that would give you perspective and a sensitivity to meaning and stories (also probably the ability to pull meaning from nothing and make it convincing). 

To conclude, while I do see a little of the appeal for Literature and admire those who master this subject, it does not seem like it is one for me. 

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In the end, exploring different subjects outside our current combination has not only opened our eyes to different subjects but also given us more appreciation of our own choices. To be able to live that what if has truly been a privilege for the both of us. And even though we both would probably stick with our current subjects if given the option to go back in time, this experience has not been pointless. Sure, it did not make us change our mind. But what it did do was allow us to take a step back to put on a different lens. To see the world from another perspective. Even though we are all studying for the A level exams and wish to do well, it's important that we don't become obsessed with just one viewpoint but instead try to keep ourselves as well rounded individuals capable of seeing things from multiple perspectives.