International Students

Reading the papers in amusement, I had to curb my instinctive eye-rolling when I saw that the overzealous Singaporean competitive spirit had reared its head again, this time in the form of a debate revolving around the overseas students studying here in Singapore. The main gist : are overseas students (quote and unquote) "snatching" the top positions in schools from their Singaporean peers, and thus causing the Singaporean students greater stress to keep up with the competition?

Just my two-cents' worth on the issue, and I'll try not to work up a passion on the topic, for fear of incurring the wrath of either (or both) my Singaporean and foreign friends and peers :) Having been a 'foreign student' in overseas institutions, as well as having had 'overseas-scholar' classmates here in Singapore, helped provide (and hopefully understand) both perspectives. *Little reminder of footnote disclaimer :)*

I, too, have been intimidated by the sheer (and awesome) academic strength displayed by classmates who were overseas students. They always appeared twice as smart, twice as hardworking, twice as formidable, and often held the top scores and top positions, compared to our local peers. Something that many of us wrote off casually with the justification that 'they're scholars from overseas, what can you expect?'. Many times, that would spur us on to work harder and keep up with them. Naturally, some other local students also made wistful or bitter remarks that they would be holding those positions if it wasn't for such high-flying competition from foreign students. True, to an extent, I guess. Who wouldn't want their local students to be receiving top spots and awards in their own country?

Move into the shoes of the overseas student, and one gains a partial insight into the motivation behind this whirlwind force. Many of my friends and I have also been students in overseas institutions, however, I cannot speak for all international students. What I have is only a point of view, and would not sufficiently encompass the myriad of experiences and sources of inspiration that many of them would also have had (And yes, I also think some of these people are just born geniuses :) But the rest of us, like other students, struggle through each step of the way too. We get lost (and usually fall asleep) during difficult lectures, winge and stress-out when faced with insurmountable piles of assignments and tests, and our hearts flutter nervously when we enter examination halls.

Studying in another country adds a further layer of challenges for many foreign students. First, there is an unspoken need (or desire) to prove that although you are not a citizen of the country you study in, it doesn't mean that you are a second-class individual or student. This may be especially so in countries where racial and cultural discrimination is prevalent, or where equality is often preached but seldom practised, or even in multicultural societies. Striving and excelling in studies is often one of the many ways to prove their worth as students, and a source of justification for their identity.

Many also study in overseas institutions, where they have to pay extremely high fees as international students, and most are funded by their family members who have to work extra-hard to pay these fees for them. As such, there is also the intrinsic desire to put in a greater effort, to honor and live-up to unmentioned expectations, to do their families proud, and to justify the high costs of their education that their family bears. These have been the two main driving forces of many friends and acquaintances I've spoken with. This is especially so in the case of Asian cultures, where families recognise the value of academic achievements, and thus place a greater emphasis on their education.

Being an overseas student, for many, also means being away from family, who would otherwise have protected and taken care of them. With this separation from their security blankets, and with no one to blame for the mistakes they make, they have to learn to take responsibility for themselves and their actions. The realisation hits them, that any mistakes in judgement or behaviour would directly affect their lives, and possibly the lives of others. This sense of responsibility breeds self discipline, which is an important aspect in motivating oneself to carry out undesirable tasks (such as completing an assignment although their favourite reality show is on TV :) And what about those who have to struggle with a language that is not their native or mother tongue, how much more difficult would it be for them?

A friend once advised me before I embarked to study overseas : when you go abroad to study, that's when you really learn about yourself. I find that so true. You learn about your roles and responsibilities, what motivates you, what are your abilities and limitations, your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your fears and how to overcome them (although I'm still a wimp when it comes to pain...). With more chances and time for reflection, many then find greater incentives to work harder and reach for their goals.

Having overcome those hurdles, many overseas students come out stronger, not just academically, but emotionally and in character as well. It is no wonder that many of them do better than locals in more ways than one. Although many parents complain about them scoring better grades and snatching coveted titles or positions from local students, we should not be jealous of them, nor ostracise them for doing so. That would reek of myopic selfishness and xenophobia, in our meritocratic society that is supposed to encourage diligence, tolerance, and open-mindedness. Instead, these students should be commended for their efforts, and for overcoming the psychological obstacles that they face.

Singapore is a part of the global economy, and fellow Singaporeans will not be the only competitors we will face when we are out in the workforce. Therefore, we should not choose to live inside a box. If anything, we should be glad that we are exposed to the realities of working with people of other nationalities early in life, and should learn with as well as learn from them. High-flying overseas students can also help and influence local students to strive to do better, as long as the competition is healthy and does not get too obsessive. I, too, have been heartened by encouragements when I was studying overseas, from friends and peers who included both local and overseas students.

Another friend and I, who had studied in different countries, were chatting one day. Both of us agreed and joked that 'Kiasu-ism' (fear of losing) is not a uniquely Singaporean trait, it's just Singapore that has turned it into an art. Which is quite true :) However, as much as we'd like to, you can't win everytime. Sometimes you'll be ahead, and sometimes, behind. There's so much more to life than than that. Just because we do not do as well in one area of our life, doesn't mean that we're a total failure in life. Joy may not always be found in doing well academically or in our careers. What matters most is that we try our best, and be true to ourselves.