University is another stage of life. Some people like it, while most people don’t. It may get worse when you are in one of the top universities in the world. Years ago, I often heard people saying that Malaysia High School Certificate (STPM) would be one of the toughest program in the world, if you managed to get through it, then you are saved. Holy shit, that is a big fat lie! I mean, STPM is tough though, but university is even tougher. Previously, the TEACHERS would cover ONE chapter in more or less one week, now the PROFESSORS cover a FEW chapters in a lesson of one hour or two. Bloody hell, I am now understood why people are saying that you have to rely on your own in when you are in varsity. What are they expecting? Geniuses? Ooh,
Besides that, the marking or grading system is also differ. Previously, the minimum score for getting an A was fixed (even though it might be a totally different case during the public exam) and position in class was not written down or officially announced (unless you go and kay boh from the teachers). Thus, life had been so relax and easy. In the uni, it is totally based on the curve (the dumbbell curve), which means, if the mean score is very high, you may even get a B or C even if you score 75.
That system really freaks me up. When the marking system is based on relative score, people will, of course, these kiasu people, will start mugging their books and stick to their lecture notes 24/7. I mean, economically speaking, this is known as rat race or arm race or whatever, can’t really remember, when everyone pays more effort, the relative intelligence would still be roughly be the same while the mean intelligence increases, that is because, our IQ mainly falls on the middle or technically, the mean and also mode region (assuming that people’s IQ obey mathematical law and perfectly distributed, in actually case, it really does). So, the rate of absorption of what you are reading is also the same for everyone. Of course, things would be different if you are at the upper region (so call, geniuses). So, what’s the point? You are not getting any where, if you are moderate, so you are. While the curve is perfectly distributed (already competitive enough), someone who is so itchy handed, go and disturb the equilibrium by importing geniuses from all over the world, making the curve even positively skewed. Now, you have to get EVEN higher score to maintain your position. Sigh, why would we keep buzzing around and making ourselves suffer? Perhaps, this is due to the disturbed equilibrium.
Today is my physics paper and I can do most of the paper. I was quite joyful initially. But this joy doesn’t last long, I though of the curve suddenly: “If I think this paper is easy and could be finish, others should be the same also. Then, I may need to score 100% so that I could earn an A. Ooh no….”
The day before was my material and energy balance exam. I can’t really manage to finish all, almost I mean, but I don’t really know what I am writing. This is what I thought during the paper: “Sigh, damn it, can’t finish. I am going to fail.”
What kinda world is this? Can do, sad. Cannot do, even sadder. Sigh.
University is no more than a restless living hell to torture living poor souls like me. When is this going to end?