Receiving your exam results at the end of the semester can be terrifying, and the mere thought of failure is enough to cause anxiety to build up and take control of how you feel about yourself. To make matters worse, seeing an ‘F’ grade on your transcript would mean that you’d have to take the module again, possibly having your graduation date delayed.
Esther Tan, a graduate from RP shares about her experience having to remodule and how she turned it into a positive learning experience.
How did you feel when you first learnt that you had to remodule?
Esther: When I first heard that I had to remodule, my first reaction was 'why?'.
I did pretty reasonably well for the other modules I had in the same semester, so I questioned what went wrong with the module. I wondered if it was because I didn't do well on my exam papers, which impacted my overall grade for the module, or other missed requirements that affected the results.
So many thoughts raced through my mind and I did not know how to tell my parents that I had to remodule if they asked me about my results. However, I was relieved when I realised that I was not alone as there were others in the cohort who needed to remodule too.
Some of the modules were difficult to understand for the first time, and I cannot instantly understand the theories if I just studied them for a short semester. These were the struggles of other students as well.
On a brighter note, I was thankful that I needed to repeat three modules for only an extra semester while the other students had to complete the modules they failed for another one or two years. This directly impacts the graduating year because the longer you delay, the later you can graduate from Poly.
How did you deal with your disappointment and feeling of being a failure?
Esther: I made an appointment with one of the lecturers. I talked to them personally about it as they knew how to deal with this situation, and I felt relieved that I had someone to talk to as it is not easy to explain the remodule situation to my parents.
When I eventually plucked up the courage to tell my parents about remoduling, I was fortunate that they weren't angry or disappointed about it. However, they supported my decisions and said that everyone has a different way of learning things, and it is still okay that I was not able to do so well.
I decided to work harder for the coming term and made sure that I did well to achieve an acceptable grade and clear the module. It was not easy having the thought of failure in the back of my mind, and I worried about it almost every day. But I chose to look ahead with a positive attitude that every day will be a great day and to simply live in the present and enjoy it to its fullest.
How was it like to take the module again with people you don’t know? Was it difficult?
Esther: I didn’t encounter problems taking classes with unfamiliar people or whichever year's lessons I went to. Having taken other modules with many students from different diplomas for a couple of freely chosen modules, I was completely okay and acceptable with it.
Working with unfamiliar people is fun and exciting as you get to know them better. You will learn from their point of view and work better together as a team. Looking back, it was memorable and exciting at the same time. Knowing new people also helped me to widen my circle of friends.
However, it still felt a bit weird not having the familiar classmates that I was used to hanging out with as we all split up to different classes with our different schedules. I do miss working with them and hope that there will be such opportunities in future.
Despite staying for an extra semester which delayed my graduation, it turned out fine. I would like to see my remodule journey as a relatively smooth sailing one.
What were some ways you cope with having to remodule?
Esther: I made a few friends while I was still in Poly and talked to them frequently by WhatsApp or Skype. Being able to share my thoughts and experience with a close friend allowed me to feel a little better.
Even though I had to work with random people in the same group, having a friend or two whom you are close to helped remove the fear of being alone with unfamiliar people. At the same time, knowing that you have someone in Poly always rooting for you makes it more assured that I am not battling this challenge alone.
Of course, I talked to my parents about my experience while remoduling. They were interested in what I shared and encouraged me at the same time. It was a huge relief that my parents were supportive and happy that I enjoyed my modules again because they worried that I would not be able to graduate in the following year. However, I reassured them that I would work hard and not waste this second chance.
What were some mistakes you learnt to not repeat?
Esther: These were some mistakes that I made and I hope that you will learn from my experience and avoid making them too:
1) Last-minute revisions. This was a mistake I often made when exams are round the corner. As a result, I did not do so well on specific exam papers. To resolve this, I decided to make a day planner to ensure that I do not waste time on unnecessary things nearing my exam period.
2) Sleep late during the week. It is tiring, especially when I have classes early in the morning and having to stay awake for 2 hours straight while class is ongoing is not easy. As such, I slept early to make sure that I had the energy to listen in class.
3) Not asking the lecturer for help to understand specific lessons on the day. When the classes are very vague and confusing, I will try my best to understand. However, I will email the lecturer for help if I still do not know what they are teaching.
Any last words of encouragement to those who may be going through the same experience as you?
Esther: For those of you who are fearful of remoduling or currently remoduling, please know that it is okay. It does not mean that you are a lousy student and do not let it affect how you think about yourself.
We all have our own learning styles and you shouldn’t let this failure define you. Instead, try to focus on the positives and use it as a good lesson to find out what went wrong and look ahead.
With a positive attitude, I’m sure you can progress and do well in your second attempt. After all, “failure is the mother of success”. I wish all of you all the best in your studies and don’t give up!
