School and Work

Thus ended a week as busy as ever. Midterm on Monday, Project due on Tuesday, 2 Tests on Wednesday,  2 Major Assignments and another Tests on Thursday... Luckily Friday's a Pro-D-Day.

And also, it's the end of term one. It's the first term in this to-be-hectic school year.

Let me explain. I'm in Grade 11. And I'm taking 2 grade 12 maths, 2 grade 12 sciences, and Socials and English 11. Most 12th graders don't take 2 grade 12 maths, they don't take 2 grade 12 sciences, let alone taking one grade 12 math or science. Because the BC curriculum only states that we must take a Grade 11 Science and Math. But about regular students another day.

I want to praise the school system for giving me an abundance of assignments and homework for a whole week. Why? It's good to experience the pressure of University, good to experience the pressure of having to work all day and night on an assignment. It's an experience of what children in Asia and China have to experience year round: School 7:30-5, Homework 5-10 and sleep 11-6 with tutoring and music lessons on weekends. There are NO breaks for children in China, just work, work and work, for any break would make you fall behind in the class, fall behind at school, as any break would be a waste of time in a hectic fast-paced childhood where they don't even get free time on weekends.

So I have to say that I'm lucky... lucky to have time to blog and ponder and complain about Transit... lucky to be able to engage in my own extracurricular learning that I desire (like writing this blog).

Because of that packed week, I can now raise the bar; it is now the new extreme, thereby raising the normality bar higher with higher expectations as the new normal. (The normal for students in China is to study 13 hours a day, sleep for 7 and eat for the rest with zero time for procrastination and fun or conversation) My normal, is now to study more and procrastinate less, to study and learn more, to have conversations and waste time less.

But I look with puzzlement at those classmates of mine who think school is "so tough" that they wish that it were summer after weeks like these. I have a message for you. You're life is easy compared to other students around the world. (but I'll save that story for another time.)

With probably 4 months without another hectic week, should I relax? No. Definitely not. This week has set the normal higher, and I must make work if there is none that comes from school. Sleep less, talk less, work more and waste less time.

-Kyle - Nov 2012