It can be tempting for many students to view the first two years of secondary school as a “honeymoon period” of sorts. After all, you’ve just survived the pressure cooker that is the PSLE the previous year, and there’s plenty of time (so you think) before the next major examination — the O-Level — rolls around.
The plan is for you to cut yourself some slack, take your foot off the pedal and only start to worry about the O-Levels in Sec 3 or Sec 4. But if your parents or teachers at The Learning Lab haven’t already told you: that is not a good plan at all. Everyone deserves a break after the PSLE, but not if the break lasts for two years.
While the lower secondary years are less heavy in workload and responsibilities compared to upper secondary, they are equally important because they help lay a solid foundation from which you will find preparing for the O-Level a much easier undertaking.
Here is why you shouldn’t think of Secondary 1 and Secondary 2 as a honeymoon period.
1. You have to get used to secondary school life
Coming from primary school, there is a lot you have to adjust to in secondary school.
You have to get used to new friends and classmates, new teachers, a new environment, a new commute, heavier CCA commitments, longer hours — and that’s before we even talk about what you are learning in the classroom.
While you won’t be able to predict the exact shape all these changes will take, you will find that your transition will be smoother if you enter secondary school on your toes and actively prepared to deal with change, rather than passively waiting for change to hit you in the face. Think of it this way: if you are already struggling mightily to get used to life as a secondary school student, you will find yourself even more hard-pressed to keep up with what’s being taught in class.
2. With great independence comes great responsibility
Getting used to secondary school life is a major transition because it is the stage of your life when, on one hand, you will be given greater independence to make decisions by your parents and teachers.
On the other hand, having more independence as a teenager also means that you have to take on greater responsibility for the consequences of your actions, a fact of life that will persist into adulthood.
You can’t have it all: if you decide to treat Sec 1 and Sec 2 as a honeymoon period and take it easy, you should do so knowing full well what the consequences will be (your parents and teachers will be more than happy to describe these consequences in great detail). If you are happy to live with those consequences, then that’s fine.
But if you are not, then you should take steps to guard against that outcome. In primary school, you had less freedom because your parents and teachers watched more closely over you, but that also meant that they could pull you back on track if required. In secondary school, you have more freedom, but that also means the freedom to dig yourself into a deep hole if you so choose, and then you only have yourself to blame.
3. You don’t want to fall behind academically
At the same time, we can’t forget that what and how you will be taught in Sec 1 and Sec 2 is a significant change from primary school too. To begin with, the number of subjects you have increases, and will increase again when you reach upper secondary.
You will have to learn how to manage your increased workload. Secondary school is also less about rote learning — memorising stuff and reproducing the answer — and more about being able to think critically and apply what you have learnt.
These are new ways of learning that have to be learnt before you can actually learn any content! What this means is that if you do not make the required adjustments early on in lower secondary, you will not be able to learn and perform optimally.
And this in turn means that you will be scrambling to make these adjustments in upper secondary, when you will also have both lower secondary and upper secondary content to catch up on, all in one terrifying snowball that will threaten to crush you. In short, the price you pay for a “honeymoon period” in Sec 1 and 2 is a “hell period” in Sec 3 and 4.
At The Learning Lab, one of your teachers’ key focuses is to support you in mentally adjusting your mindset to be more self-motivated and independent. This helps you not only adjust better to secondary school life, but also the more advanced curriculum you will be exposed to.
For example, our Secondary 1 English curriculum focuses on introducing you to the new things you’ll encounter in secondary school: summary writing, literature (a new subject) and for Integrated Programme students, expository writing. Your teachers do this by not just teaching you step-by-step but also providing you writing practice in class so you can apply what you have learnt and get feedback on your progress.
The “Honeymoon Period” is Precious Time You Cannot Afford to Waste
The thing about honeymoon periods is that they end sooner or later, usually sooner. And when they end, the most common question that everyone asks whether we’re talking about secondary school or romantic relationships is ‘Okay, now what?’
You do not want to be asking yourself that question in Sec 3. Use your lower secondary years wisely. You do not have to be studying all the time, just enough so you can keep up with all the changes happening.
Think of your teachers at The Learning Lab as your partners in this journey. Go to them for advice, ask lots of questions about how you can adjust quickly and better, and keep them updated on your progress. You’re not bothering them, but showing that you’re an engaged and committed learner, which they love to see!
Click here to find out more about our Secondary 1 and 2 programmes and how our teachers can support you throughout your secondary school journey.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may contact us at 6733 8711 or drop us an email at enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.
The Learning Lab is now at 9 locations. Find a location that suits your needs.
If you have any questions about our range of programmes or class schedules, you may fill in the form below or contact us at 6733 8711 / enquiry@thelearninglab.com.sg.