Sorting My Life Out

Pros and Cons

I'm going to start weighing my pros and cons for the 3 "career paths" that I have had in mind.

Drama Teacher with MOE

Pros

1. I get to continue creating drama with students. And I think that sense of creating has always been quite a joy and, as of now, makes me feel very alive.

2. I get to chalk up teaching experience. This experience would be useful if I eventually decide to do education in other contexts (i.e. overseas educational institutes).

3. I will be able to build the experience needed to do my own applied drama projects in future.

4. I may continue to do applied research either in terms of drama or in an educational setting.

Cons/Points to Consider

1. There is no guarantee that I would be able to teach drama to the student; the school that I am eventually posted to may not have drama as a subject or elective or even as a Co-curricular Activity. I may have to teach my second academic subject.

2. The only way I can be on this path is to take on NIE's BA in Education with drama modules that I have taken before. However, the strategies will not necessarily be the same. Even if they are, the process will always be different when done with a different group of people.

3. MOE has reported to be in its optimal capacity and has thus been lowering its recruitment numbers. The chances that I will be allowed into the Ministry is very slim.

4. Do I really like teaching?

Psychology/Therapy

Pros

1. I personally think that it is a "safer" career choice.

Recently, I had to go for my medical screening for my national conscription (otherwise known as, national service). I was told to go see a specialist to validate if I am fit for combat (training) or not. I haven't thought about it in a long while but it was at that moment that made me realise I have horrible eyesight and that I might go blind one day.

Don't freak out. But recently, I've noticed this vibrating black spot on my left eye too. It comes and goes and follows my eye movement for about half a minute. My vision goes back to normal afterwards. I've been dying to see a doctor but I'm scared to be crying wolf again like that one time. I had just changed spectacles and freaked out that I couldn't read text in close proximity. Everything turned out well afterwards.

Hence, this warped thought has got me planning for this... possible future. Which other vocation will allow me to pay my bills without my sense of sight?

Cons

1. It takes a long time of about 6-8 years of studies to be able to practice. I would need a Masters or a PhD.

Through the psychodrama session, I was also quite surprised to find out that National University of Singapore (NUS) does not actually have a psychology bachelors and you can't practice after obtaining their equivalent bachelors in social sciences. This is strange because I'm pretty sure I came across a few university courses overseas that mentioned being accredited by their nation's psychology association. I think this warrants a look into the psychological accreditation in Singapore and in other countries.

2. Research opportunities are few.

I attended a talk by the professors of Australian National University when I asked how research projects are run in the academia. Apparently, you can only run projects when you are under supervision from a university, so it gets tougher to actually run your own research when you have left the academia.

Mind you, research is expensive. You have to really think of how to feed yourself. Plus, the fact that actually gaining access to previous and current published research is quite expensive.

3. The field is saturated.

This isn't official but I do have a gut feeling that there are too many psychologists in this generation. Every polytechnic has a psychology course and every undergraduate course seems to have provided psychology as a minor. It would be difficult to find a job in a saturated field. I may be wrong and I intend to find out by going to a Singapore Psychology Society forum soon.

Allied Healthcare Professional

Pros

1. I would be fulfilling a need in Singapore. There is a semblance of job security as there is a feeling that they greatly need people in these fields.

2. Taking up the studies in this field would mean that I will learn the expertise in another field and that allows me more career options.

Cons

1. Competition is stiff.

There are students who have been studying in the medical field. Plus, the fact that there are students who have studied the relevant diplomas.

2. I have not had experience in the field.

This means that there is a possibility that I like the idea of liking it though I actually do not thrive in an environment as such. Part of me really wonders how resilient I am in stressful situations. Am I really creative enough to be able to go through case after case of assessment, devising treatment, and implementing treatment?

3. Future prospects?

I know this contradicts the point about me being exposed to a new field. I had meant that it exposes me to a new field apart from education and social engagement.

However, I was starting to wonder in the long term. I mean, they are calling upon the public and altering the scholarship scope because of a perceived lack of professionals in these fields. I am assuming these professions were chosen to adapt or at least prepare for the ageing population. However, my concern is, if these policy changes are pivoted on this presumption that there will be a demand, what happens if there isn't one? Or if the demand seeps in say a decade or two? What will happen to us?

The specific diploma or Bachelors' programmes would have stifled the possibility of even taking up another job in another field.

It seems that I have had my sights too narrowly focused on Singapore's education system. I will look into the psychology accreditation and field in Singapore.