Good morning readers. I'm here to seek for advice for my best friend, let's call her Candy. Candy joined a degree in either electrical, electronics or electric engineering for nearly 2 years. Along her studies, she faced many hardships (she told me all the hardships she faced but I managed to only listen as I'm not from engineering stream).
This is how her lectures go. Notes, followed by a touch on exercises and then the lecturers will the new chapter comes in.
And these are her responsibilities in terms of studies. She has a total of 4 subjects taught by the same lecturer, 3 tough ones and 1 easy subject. For the 3 subjects she will study the notes, refer textbooks for anything that she didn't understand and attempt exercises (twice at most, although she's expected to do it 5 times according to her lecturers). At the same time, she needs to complete her coursework (2 each except for the toughest subject of 6 coursework - 2 major coursework which is separated into 3 'mini' coursework).
She lives with her parents. She usually goes back home after her lessons which sometimes can be 4 to 5pm. When she reaches home, she takes a rest before helping with some chores or continue studying. Sometimes she cook, sometimes she buys dinner for her family as both her parents are busy. After dinner, it depends, sometimes she will be doing house chores and study or she will be studying before resting around midnight. That's if she's not studying until after midnight. Along the way, she will chat with me a bit and sometimes with her juniors. So, this summarises a day of her life if she does not go for a hangout. Sometimes I do visit her and sometimes, around once every 2 months, she will go for a hangout.
Initially, she's able to keep up with her lessons but as soon as she works on exercises and rushes heavy coursework, she became slower in catching up with lessons. As time goes on, she didn't have the time to attempt the exercises anymore as coursework filled up her time.
She didn't procrastinate (she hates gaming and clubbing) and instead tried to look for missing parts which she needed. When I visited her at home, she'll be beside me working on her coursework while I will sometimes get her some food to make her relax as well as listen to her suffers and talking to her. She does complain that she isn’t able to do her exercises as she is busy with her coursework. As soon as she finishes her coursework, she'll work on another coursework which has the fastest dateline (usually 50% done). After submitting the final first round of coursework, the 2nd round comes and the process goes on til a week or 2 before her study break. This leads to lack of time to study. A total of 40 over chapters for all subjects to squeeze in a maxed out 2 weeks.
As of exercises, the lecturer refused to provide any solutions, stating that it's very easy and she can check with her friends and if many of the friends got the same answer, her answers is probably correct. In fact, it is really hard for her and many of the smarter friends too.
Along her studies, she constantly forget to do her chores and sometimes her parents gave her some scolding and asked how she could forget them. Well, she admits, she became irresponsible due to workloads. Some chores that were told to her previously are just 5 minutes ago and she will forget them. She was feeling forced to be reluctant to do house chores due to workload.
She turned down many invitations to hangout even for her previous lecturers' invitation for farewell and graduation. She even said that she did not get to learn useful skills for life such as cooking, how to count huge amount of money fast (yep, I taught her that, i was shocked that there's a way to do so), how to post a mail and how to apply a job properly (as shes going to a workforce soon). Many foods also got expired as she forgets to eat them. She said she has no life ad should have joined other courses. At times, she thought of making a U-Turn to join another course but she told me that she needs to clean up the mess and stay til the end before making any turns although she is now scared about her course.
All I can say is stay strong for 1 more year and she'll be fine. She did complain to me that her grades are not good as her lecturer loves to fail his/her students. I saw quite a number of them retake or resit his/her subject. The lecturer is also very stingy in terms of marks, especially towards students who aim for top grades. The lecturer will find every small fault to deduct marks. I can only say that she did her best but I know, it is easier said than done. For many valid reasons, she cried. I will let her cry all she wants but I am unsure of what to say besides telling that I am there for her besides hugging and kissing her.
So are there any advice I can give her? I am not from these courses so I am a bit bad at giving advices besides the aforementioned.
That is all I can recall for now. If there is anything I would like to add, I will type them below here with the word “Edit: “ Thank you for your time and I hope to hear your advice soon.
This is how her lectures go. Notes, followed by a touch on exercises and then the lecturers will the new chapter comes in.
And these are her responsibilities in terms of studies. She has a total of 4 subjects taught by the same lecturer, 3 tough ones and 1 easy subject. For the 3 subjects she will study the notes, refer textbooks for anything that she didn't understand and attempt exercises (twice at most, although she's expected to do it 5 times according to her lecturers). At the same time, she needs to complete her coursework (2 each except for the toughest subject of 6 coursework - 2 major coursework which is separated into 3 'mini' coursework).
She lives with her parents. She usually goes back home after her lessons which sometimes can be 4 to 5pm. When she reaches home, she takes a rest before helping with some chores or continue studying. Sometimes she cook, sometimes she buys dinner for her family as both her parents are busy. After dinner, it depends, sometimes she will be doing house chores and study or she will be studying before resting around midnight. That's if she's not studying until after midnight. Along the way, she will chat with me a bit and sometimes with her juniors. So, this summarises a day of her life if she does not go for a hangout. Sometimes I do visit her and sometimes, around once every 2 months, she will go for a hangout.
Initially, she's able to keep up with her lessons but as soon as she works on exercises and rushes heavy coursework, she became slower in catching up with lessons. As time goes on, she didn't have the time to attempt the exercises anymore as coursework filled up her time.
She didn't procrastinate (she hates gaming and clubbing) and instead tried to look for missing parts which she needed. When I visited her at home, she'll be beside me working on her coursework while I will sometimes get her some food to make her relax as well as listen to her suffers and talking to her. She does complain that she isn’t able to do her exercises as she is busy with her coursework. As soon as she finishes her coursework, she'll work on another coursework which has the fastest dateline (usually 50% done). After submitting the final first round of coursework, the 2nd round comes and the process goes on til a week or 2 before her study break. This leads to lack of time to study. A total of 40 over chapters for all subjects to squeeze in a maxed out 2 weeks.
As of exercises, the lecturer refused to provide any solutions, stating that it's very easy and she can check with her friends and if many of the friends got the same answer, her answers is probably correct. In fact, it is really hard for her and many of the smarter friends too.
Along her studies, she constantly forget to do her chores and sometimes her parents gave her some scolding and asked how she could forget them. Well, she admits, she became irresponsible due to workloads. Some chores that were told to her previously are just 5 minutes ago and she will forget them. She was feeling forced to be reluctant to do house chores due to workload.
She turned down many invitations to hangout even for her previous lecturers' invitation for farewell and graduation. She even said that she did not get to learn useful skills for life such as cooking, how to count huge amount of money fast (yep, I taught her that, i was shocked that there's a way to do so), how to post a mail and how to apply a job properly (as shes going to a workforce soon). Many foods also got expired as she forgets to eat them. She said she has no life ad should have joined other courses. At times, she thought of making a U-Turn to join another course but she told me that she needs to clean up the mess and stay til the end before making any turns although she is now scared about her course.
All I can say is stay strong for 1 more year and she'll be fine. She did complain to me that her grades are not good as her lecturer loves to fail his/her students. I saw quite a number of them retake or resit his/her subject. The lecturer is also very stingy in terms of marks, especially towards students who aim for top grades. The lecturer will find every small fault to deduct marks. I can only say that she did her best but I know, it is easier said than done. For many valid reasons, she cried. I will let her cry all she wants but I am unsure of what to say besides telling that I am there for her besides hugging and kissing her.
So are there any advice I can give her? I am not from these courses so I am a bit bad at giving advices besides the aforementioned.
That is all I can recall for now. If there is anything I would like to add, I will type them below here with the word “Edit: “ Thank you for your time and I hope to hear your advice soon.