I am very surprised (pleasantly and puzzlingly) at the number of the people (like more than 20?), and the kind of people, who have expressed any form of concern at my potential change in choice of university education. From the expected people whom I have had very close contact with - it was understandable and welcome - and to those whom I have not spoken to in two or more years, it was certainly strange, although definitely much appreciated.
So, a back-track is in order (not really cutting to any chase anymore).
For the last two or so years, I had been rather strong in expressing my decision to study communications, and to reject law, for the following reasons:
- I figured I was way more interested in studying communications. Though my proficiency digital- and IT-wise was at best dismal (this blog is the pinnacle of it), I foresaw myself dabbling in the PR and corporate comms area, and maybe a little of journo, even though I was never the hit-the-ground-running kind of person, with the indomitable news sense and hunger for stories. I maintain that while I do not exhibit the usual tendencies of a writer on a creative mission - the short poems or verses scribbled on napkins (or better, a dedicated notebook), the occasional inspiration to churn out drafts that could compete with novellas on the shelf - I consider myself a writer nonetheless. This was where I felt one of my strengths lay, and as any mildly insecure and half-determined individual would play it, I stuck to my perceived strength (be it qualified or not), worked at it, and hoped to make something out of it.
- I had dabbled in internships of both kinds before, having pushed paper at a law firm for a while, and roaming the workings of the biggest print media organisation for an even shorter while. While neither were fantastically exciting nor off-putting, I figured myself leaning towards the (slightly) more meaningful (do not read: rewarding) job of a journalist (okay, I realise on hindsight that was because I wanted to be an editor without the hassle of working my way up, which is hardly possible. The ability to control a publication's content, self-censorship and late hours never looked so good before).
- Scholarship. To me that was a big plus, and continues to be so. The assurance that finances are not at all a worry is really a fantastic blessing, one which not many get to enjoy, and one that I continue to be thankful for.
- The amazing flexibility the course offers, in choosing what you want to pursue. Communications allows me to (very nearly) choose any module I want to pursue, and judging by the range it offers, it far surpasses that offered by law.
- I simply could not see myself as an effective litigator. I think this had a lot to do with my involvement in debate in the early days. Debate definitely honed my writing and argumentative skills, no doubt, but it also made me realise I fell quite far short, in terms of being able to express myself eloquently in speech, without tripping over words, or my worst nightmare, rambling in incoherently circles of argument, which I often find myself guilty of.
- The double degree offer opens up a new avenue for me, which is the chance for the faculty to consider giving me a law and communications double degree. I was never against studying law, just that I did not see the need to study law if I was sure my career in future would not involve it. In fact, I find the study of law useful and potentially interesting. Sure it is dry, and probably boring to many, but while I would not underestimate its esotericism and profundity, I am pretty sure that it is possible to adapt to it. After all, I did enjoy studying in JC, and as long as it was words and not numbers, anything goes.
- Should the faculty turn down my request for the abovementioned double degree, there is the option of doing a minor in communications, which requires me to drop my double degree option (entirely fine with that, which means only four years, not five). Though some professors I spoke to said that it was possible to come up with a "structured programme" that incorporated the double degree elements, others said that they did not foresee it happening in the near future, due to problems like lack of critical mass (I admit, I am still not fat enough) to necessitate a review of whether such a programme would be feasible for students. But what of law and life sciences? If anyone told me that there was a bigger field there than for the corporate secretaries who handle both the legal matters and the corporate affairs for most companies, I would be very much astounded. Bioethics may be up and coming, but definitely it is most unlikely it is a pressing need now.
- As much as I would like to be sole and only stakeholder in the decision-making of this matter, I know it cannot be so. My father's input is that he prefers me studying law, as he sees it more "fitting to my temperament" (dull, who would have guessed?), and wants me to "keep my options open".
- What I look for in university education is not just interest and fulfillment. I think this needs some explanation. You could call me a masochist who sees pain as part of the growing process, and that suffering is needed to bear fruit. In many past endeavours, if I didn't feel that the going was tough, or that there was no difficulty in achieving something, I never felt at ease. Sure, things were smooth-sailing (which is good too), but I felt that I would have learned more from whatever I was doing, should it have been more "painful". I may whine and grumble when I do something difficult, but after it is over, there is a sense of accomplishment, greater than what would come out of something achieved so simply, a breeze. Of course, I am not looking at utter failure (I am not so into self-inflicted pain as to throw myself into a mathematics degree), but at the arduous travail which, in my opinion, builds character and bonds people.
- Whatever I want to do, whether in the comms-related fields or in the event I am suddenly interested in law (we never know), law is a suitable qualification. For a comms degree, I am limited to the former. While I continue to maintain that I do not hold any interest in a legal career for now, I cannot rule out that possibility. As it stands, the corporate comms area that I am interested in, as well as the foreign affairs openings, also view legal graduates favourably.
