Gen Z Speaks: Going to polytechnic after a life of homeschooling was terrifying. But the journey transformed me

Unlike the typical Singaporean kid, I was homeschooled for almost all my educational journey since kindergarten. 
My parents initially chose this path to provide me with a less stressful and more personalised educational experience compared to traditional schooling. 
Even though I had the option to transition to a conventional school after completing my PSLE exams, I remained committed to homeschooling. 
Homeschooling allowed me to enjoy studying while pursuing my hobbies, such as writing and reading. This unconventional approach not only made learning enjoyable during my growing years, but also instilled in me the discipline to manage my time effectively.
Throughout my homeschooling years, I used relevant curriculum programmes from the United States, which has a more widely established homeschooling scene. I learnt through pre-recorded videos and remote grading by American teachers. 
Upon completing my Primary School Leaving Examinations in 2015, I felt ready to become more independent in my studies.
But plans changed when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.  
My aspirations to attend university were put on hold when the College Board in the United States discontinued SAT subject tests globally due to the pandemic. I considered Advanced Placement exams, but the lack of prior exposure to relevant courses left me hesitant to continue pursuing self-studies. 
Having heard of other homeschoolers taking the polytechnic route to university instead, I decided to do so as well.
As an avid writer and reader, human behaviour and psychology has always interested me. Thus, I chose to apply to Republic Polytechnic (RP) and secured a spot in the Diploma in Consumer Behaviour & Research course with the US high school diploma from my homeschooling programme.
Transitioning from homeschooling to a polytechnic setting was initially daunting.  
Though my experience with co-curricular activities and supportive social circles had equipped me with essential communication skills throughout my homeschooling years, I’m still an introvert at heart. 
I was afraid of entering a new and unfamiliar environment, one where I would be learning alongside classmates. What if I wasn’t able to get along with them?
Despite my initial apprehension, I was very excited to develop new friendships at polytechnic, even though I was not the most outgoing person. The pandemic had created some “pent-up social needs” in me, as the multiple extended lockdowns had prevented me from attending co-curricular activities and seeing friends in person. 
Instead of focusing on my worries, I set my sights on embracing opportunities to make new friends and catching up quickly in my learning pursuits. I told myself that I would try to be as friendly as possible to every classmate I met. 
I’ve always been pretty articulate and I had no problems speaking up in class, so I was able to perform well in class participation.
That said, I was touched whenever my mentor in RP checked in to make sure that I was making friends and adapting well, and to answer my questions on IT matters and school fees. 
Despite the encouraging start, my polytechnic journey was not always smooth sailing. Even so, I tried to see each challenge as an opportunity for growth. 
Daily graded assignments were part of the grind, which I was not used to — while homeschooling, only tests, quizzes, and certain assignments had been graded. But my passion for writing proved extra helpful in staying on top of them.
The rigorous demands of regular group projects and presentations allowed me to develop new levels of endurance, confidence, and effective communication skills.
I particularly enjoyed modules on people and psychology as I’ve always been fascinated by how people think and how their thoughts affect their actions. 
Academics aside, poly life also offered me many other precious experiences and opportunities for broadening my horizons even further.
In my third year, I got an internship opportunity at a leading market research company, NielsenIQ.
Getting to learn more about people from the marketing perspective was so exciting, and I even got to participate in the conduct of real-world market research. 
The internship taught me more about how to communicate professionally and effectively with colleagues and to be more confident in my own abilities as I continued to grow my knowledge.
After that, I had the opportunity to serve as a student leader on an international service learning trip to Batam, where we taught local kindergartners basic lessons in Mathematics, English, dance, and sports. 
During the trip, we had to improvise due to the language barrier. It was the first time I’d had the opportunity to reflect on how learning English can be a different experience for non-native speakers.
This was a valuable experience that showed me how my skills and knowledge could be put towards making a positive impact on communities in need.
All in all, as much as I had enjoyed homeschooling, it was fun to have classmates for once. The workload in RP could be tough at times, but working alongside friends made it more manageable.
I graduated from RP on May 7, 2024.
Looking back, my polytechnic experience turned out to be a transformative journey. Despite my initial concerns about the forced deviation from my original education plans, transiting to “normal” schooling had provided me with invaluable lessons, diverse experiences and meaningful connections.
All of these have profoundly shaped my growth both as a student and as a person. 
The most impactful aspect of my experience at RP was the confidence I developed. It helped me not to fear changes and challenges, but to have faith in my own abilities.  
I also learnt how important companionship could be on a big journey like education. While homeschooling worked for me, it could also get pretty lonely at times as I didn’t have anyone to discuss my work or progress with. 
Being in RP was a good change for me, as I got to work alongside peers, and discuss and exchange ideas with them. It was nice to feel like I was part of a group. 
Post-graduation, I intend to pursue a degree in Linguistics, driven by my fascination with the intricacies of language. 
Whatever path I choose, I know that many more opportunities for growth await me. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Arista Loh, 20, recently graduated from Republic Polytechnic with a diploma in consumer behaviour & research. She has a passion for writing and strives to become a better writer every day.