My Corner for Education

My life in Taiwan was quite ordinary. My stories from the bygone past were nothing exciting at all. This series of articles, however, are my written thoughts for my own reflections and for family and friends who care very much about me. If you happen to enjoy reading them, I thank you for your time. 

Eons ago when I was in junior high school, prior to my attempt for the high school entrance exam, I had decided that I would never want to go to a regular high school. I simply could not stand to spend another three years to prepare for another tedious nation-wide university entrance exam. I knew I would not be able to make it to the top three female public high schools in Taipei, nor did I care about going to any top high school. I hated the way we studied in junior high. Heck, I certainly did not want to repeat that kind of life for another three years! What little did I know was that life has its twists and turns! 

At the time, in Taiwan, junior students generally had to take many entrance-exams in July to determine the destiny for our future. The first and foremost was the entrance exam for public high schools. The second exam was for five-year junior colleges. There was also an exam for public vocational high schools, and finally, if all failed, we still had the option of entering private high schools. You see, it was quite mind boggling for a little Grade 9 girl to decide her future, but that was just the way it was and the way it had always been in Taiwan. (Apparently, there is no more entrance exam now! I don’t really know much about the new Taiwanese education system.) 

I was so full of myself, young and ignorant, I guess. Since I had completely dismissed the idea of going to a general high school at the time, my options were either to attend a public vocational high school or a five-year junior college. At first, I thought my marks should be decent enough to enter a public vocational school easily. Then I realized that a high school diploma, however, might not be sufficient enough to secure a job later on. So, after much thought about my options, I decided that maybe I should go to a five-year vocational college to get a college degree and get it over with. You see, I got it all figured out and I was very happy with my decision. I declined to take the exam for public vocational schools and saved the fee for the exam all together. “Why waste the money since junior college is a better choice for me!” I thought. 

As the results of the two exams came out, I was facing a really tough decision. First of all, I was lucky to pass the public high school exam and got into the last public school (the 7th at the time) on our wish list, Fu Shing Municipal Public High School. On the other hand, I also got accepted at Ming Chuan Commerce College. (Apparently, it is a university now.) Of course, I wanted to go to Ming Chuan for her famous International Commerce Program. English was the only subject that I enjoyed in junior high. Since English was emphasized so much for this particular program, it was quite obvious to me that I should just seize the chance. 

A week before I had to make my final decision, I discovered a very disappointing truth which turned out to be the most important turning point in my life. My parents told me that they did not have enough money to pay for my college tuition. If I really wanted to go, they would have to borrow money from my grandparents to send me to college. Ming Chuan was a top notch private college, and the tuition was very high comparing to a regular public high school. On top of that, the college books and uniforms were quite costly as well. I was extremely disappointed when I heard of the news, but I did not have the heart to tell my parents that I REALLY wanted to go to the college. 

Life had not been easy for my parents who tried to establish new careers in a new city. They had struggled financially to provide four children with a decent living. I simply could not see them get deeper in debt to send me to a private college for five years. I realized that I, at least, was lucky enough to pass the high school exam, and I had a school to go to in September. To be honest, at the time I thought I really had no choice but to attend the public high school and to continue my struggle within the education system for another three years. Strangely enough, life in senior high turned out to be a surprise for me. (To be continued.)