By Cayla Goh (25A01B) and Chen Ying (25A01C)
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that one considering the “Arts stream”, must be in want of “impracticality” and “poor career prospects”.
Alright, perhaps that may be an exaggeration, but such ideas are definitely a reality faced by most Arts students. Whenever we mention our subject combination, our friends, family, or perhaps that-annoying-Auntie-during-Chinese-New-Year will cheekily ask, “Really ah? You not scared you later unemployed meh?”
Of course, such questions are usually intended as a joke, but one cannot help but wonder if there is even the slightest sliver of truth behind them. After all, the humanities have long been reputed to offer little job opportunities in Singapore, and they are generally considered less prestigious than the Science stream (especially by #kiasu Singaporean parents).
That brings us to the question: is choosing Arts stream really a one-way ticket to unemployment?
Arts Stream—En Route to Unemployment?
The odds are stacked against the arts, it seems. Triple science is considered the more prestigious subject combination in secondary school. JAE students know very well that the L1R5 required for the Science stream is higher than the Arts. Then there’s the sheer ratio of arts vs. science students. In RI, there are five arts classes stacked against at least 40 science classes.
The Science stream is seen as the option which “keeps your doors open”, while choosing the Arts stream effectively cuts your options off.
Why is the Science stream seen as “better” than Arts? The easy answer is pragmatism. Singaporeans are pragmatic through and through. With Biotechnology comes advancements in the medical field. With computer science comes Artificial Intelligence. Science improves our quality of life. It’s practical. Useful. Because of this, the education system is geared towards preparing students towards science related fields. From NUS High School of Math and Science to the School of Science and Technology, Singaporean schools push high ability students towards the sciences. In RI, the Raffles Academy does the same thing.
Just from a quick skim through the Programme Prerequisites for the courses offered at NUS, we can easily observe that science subjects are prerequisites for a lot more courses than arts subjects are. Thus, it’s easy to see why choosing Arts is seen as “closing your doors” to future success. But does it really have to be that way?
Passion or Pragmatism?
The two words dance in front of you. Passion is fiery, hot and dazzling. Your gaze follows it and your heart beats with the sight. But then you turn and see Pragmatism. It’s stable, and you know that it’ll catch you when you fall: a steady foundation. So, which one do you turn to?
There are several ways that you can approach this question.
Pragmatism is something that is different for everyone. If we zoom into the micro, then it’s about the skills that you need for each subject. Time management, memorisation and the ability to articulate yourself are at the core of arts stream papers. They’re skills that you can hone in your time throughout your time at JC. But if sitting and doing multiple essays doesn’t seem quite your cup of tea, then it’s practical for you to choose something else.
If we look at the macro, then it’s about the university courses that you’ll be admitted to. Science may offer more courses, but it may just be more practical to choose arts if you’ve already chosen to specialise in the humanities. Getting a headstart in the language skills department is definitely a booster. If you’re not too sure yet, science can be more practical, since it leaves more options open!
If we zoom out even further, in a world of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models, human writing isn’t obsolete – it just means you need to prove you can bring even fresher ideas to the table. Even if technology is king, it’s those that can wield the sword of language that can utilise them well. The arts will help you sharpen this sword.
Then, what about passion? Even if pragmatism is important, there’s no denying that satisfaction from your studies is important too.
What is passion anyway?
Even if the answer is different for each person, the foundation of it may just be the hunger for more. More often than not, the ‘textbooks’ for those in the Arts are not just notes but the world. Each discipline in the humanities is expansive, sprawling with details waiting to be discovered. It’s watching the world fall into place. Things that we take for granted – language, political and economic systems – being put into focus.
Passion in the Arts Stream looks a little like craving to look deeper; To see beyond the syllabus, finding as more of the world becomes sharper and more focused – like tweaking and polishing the eyes to which you see society. More than likely, the knowledge you learn in your searches will come in handy while writing papers. However, it’s also the hunger for this knowledge that will make you feel satisfied in the long run. (Isn’t it cool? Just knowing more?)
There’s the sword that is your language skills too. Even if your sword is too blunt in one analysis, how do you feel about sharpening it again, then again? Many of the skills used in Arts subjects are transferable, but this means that you’re heavily dependent on wielding this weapon. Even if you come out battered and bruised from one essay, the will to pick up your sword to try again is the most important. If you can see yourself doing this, then maybe the Arts stream is for you!
Passion isn’t something you can know about yourself right off the bat. Sometimes, passion is also about seeing how it grows, rather than an initial insatiable hunger. So, it’s about trying to find out.
So, why not choose one and see where it goes?
But, there’s also…
Bridging courses! Though there is no singular right choice, should you feel like you made the wrong choice, bridging courses are often offered for students who want to pursue a course but have not taken the subjects required. These bridging courses are offered in most Singaporean universities, such as the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). So, it’s not like the stream or subject combination you choose in junior college will be the be-all and end-all.
The truth is, there are many people who go on to pursue professions that they didn’t study. There are people who find new passions in different fields every day. Things ebb and flow with age, and there is no singular path to success. Who knows what you will be tomorrow?
If you’re reading this, it’s more than likely you’re a teenager learning how to navigate life. A lot of discussions about this seem to lay a trap. You’re stuck. You need to decide now. You need to do what you choose in school for the rest of your days. These are not objective truths. Bridging courses exist, and people change their majors all the time. The boxes we put ourselves into are just illusions that we create in our head, because we simply can’t see where we’re going yet.
As much as subject combinations matter, they’re just a step that you take to keep going. If you choose one route, there are always steps you can take to get you closer to where you’re meant to be. You don’t have to figure it all out now.
Arts or Science, JC will help you grow in ways you didn’t know you could. And you’ll keep growing. You have the rest of your life.
So, Arts or Science? Passion or Pragmatism? The two words dance in front of you. The choice is yours to make – but it isn’t the end, mostly just the beginning.