Question: Matriculation students often face a lot of
challenges. What are some of these challenges?
A fortnight ago, I visited my cousin who is studying in the
Johor Matriculation College. I was shocked to see her at first. With dark
circles around her eyes and severe weight loss, she looked pale and tired.
After much inquiry, she admitted she faced hard times in the college. Indeed,
matriculation students do face many challenges; namely, time management,
adapting to the new learning style and competition in studies.
Firstly, time management is one of the great challenges
faced by matriculation students. Students find it hard to manage their time due
to their busy and demanding schedule. For example, a matriculation student's
daily routine starts at 8 am and ends at 5 pm. Between this time, students have
to manage lectures, tutorials and science practicals wisely. Besides, students
have to finish up loads of homework amidst limited resting time. Usually the
homework must be submitted within one or two days only. So students will have
to sacrifice other activities such as playing games or jogging in order to
finish the tasks given to them on time. However, if the students planned and
used time wisely, activities that they desired to be carried out can go without
any hindrance. As matriculation students do face difficulties in managing their
time, it is clear that time management is a challenge they have to face in the
matriculation programme.
Secondly, adapting to the new learning style is another
challenge for matriculation students. New learning style refers to the new
style of learning students are experiencing in matriculation colleges. Nearly
all the students here graduated from secondary schools where they were often
spoon-fed by their teachers with
information and knowledge pertaining to their education. Almost all
exercises, notes and reference books were provided to them by their teachers.
However, in matriculation programmes, university-like learning style is
implemented and this is a major change for the students. For instance, students
have to find extra inputs such as lecture notes, reference books and exercise
papers on their own. This change might be difficult for students who are used
to being provided with all the necessities in the secondary school as they have
to shed their old habit of depending on others to being a 21st century
independent learner. Instead of being the receiver of knowledge, now they have
to be the seeker of knowledge. This transformation to adapt to the new learning
style is certainly a big challenge for matriculation students.
Finally, competition in studies is also one of the
challenges faced by students in matriculation colleges. It is a known fact that
students who got into matriculation colleges are students who passed their SPM
examinations with flying colours. Now, we have all the smart students in one
place: the matriculation college. As a result, competition in studies
increases. All the students have to compete to obtain the 'perfect' results in
order to be the best among the best. For example, ten students would like to
pursue their studies in the same field. So, they have to obtain not only
outstanding results in their matriculation examinations but also high
co-curricular marks as well. Other than that, students have to score well in
pop quizzes and assignments to add on extra marks that will be collected
throughout the matriculation programme. The competition is so tough that even a
slight mistake might push down the rank of a student way below the line. In short, matriculation students have to compete among themselves in studies
in order to succeed in their lives academically.
In a nutshell, the challenges faced by the matriculation
students are time management, adapting to a new learning style, and competition
in studies. Students have to prepare themselves mentally and physically so that
they can strive towards victory in their matriculation lives.
Writer: GIRISHA a/p VANOH, (K2P2, KMPP, 2011/2012)
Edited/i.me.my/2013* The sentences in italics are the important elements of each paragraph; namely the Thesis Statement, Topic Sentence, Concluding Sentence, and Restatement of Thesis
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