Gen Y Speaks: I almost couldn't graduate after 6 years, but it worked out fine

In 2014, I was just like any other fresh A-Level graduate: Looking to get into a reputable university. I was unsure of what to study but was advised that the safest bet would be either business or accounting.

And that was how I opted to study accountancy at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, even though I did not study any accounting subjects previously and did Higher Two-level Economics in junior college.

I was just like any other university student — I attended seminars, endured the examination season, went overseas for summer school and so on. The only difference was that I did not get to graduate with my cohort.

During my first year, I went through my first re-sit exam for a module that I had failed. Over the next two years, I ended up retaking exams for modules that I could not cope with as well as repeating the classes for some of them.

What this meant was that there was a snowball effect and I struggled to clear all of my required modules by my fourth year.

I remember the day that I got the dreaded news after the first semester of my fourth year. One of my academic advisors informed me that I would not graduate along with my schoolmates, as I had not fulfilled the number of credits required with one semester left.

When the news sank in after a few minutes, I hit rock bottom. I was disappointed with myself and scared for my future.

My friends consoled me, but I was still in a state of panic.

I had to think about breaking the news to my family as well. When I shared the news with them, I got the lecture I had expected, but they were also supportive of me.

A few months later, when I was supposed to don my graduation gown and proudly stand on stage to receive my degree, I was instead waiting outside the auditorium to meet and congratulate my friends.

I had to suck it up and put on a smile even though it was hurting my pride.

Thereafter, social media reminded me that my friends were getting jobs in well-known accounting firms while I had to go back to school for lessons.

My peers were moving forward with their lives while I was stuck in a rut.

I shut myself off from my university clique, even though I knew they cared about my situation. My pride did not allow me to face them.

The author (extreme right) with her coursemates in 2018 as they graduated on schedule while she had to repeat two more years.   Photo courtesy of Durga Devi Emayavaramban

I was also facing a deadline. I could extend my candidature at SUSS for only two additional years, as students are not allowed to take more than six years to complete a degree course.

This added to my stress and guilt. I dreaded going for classes full of juniors and having to see some of my professors again.

It affected my self-worth as I felt “stupid” for not having graduated on time.

I deliberately did not let my new course mates know that I was repeating the module as I could not handle the embarrassment and feared being judged.

But over time, I realised that this was not an issue with either my classmates or my professors. 

I ended up making new friends and this helped to bring back a little confidence in myself.

Another blessing: While my courses in the fifth and sixth years were in the evenings, my parents never pressured me to convert to part-time studies and were clear that they wanted me to concentrate on studying full-time.

Still, my journey to a degree had more bumps to come.

In my fifth year, I managed to clear all my modules except for two that had haunted me since my second and third year: i) Intermediate Financial Reporting and ii) Accounting for Decision Making and Control.

While I understood the theories involved in these modules, my main struggle was with applying them to the exam questions.

My ego and self-esteem were hit once again as I accepted the reality that I had to spend another year in university.

Entering my sixth and final year in SUSS, I doubled down on my revision sessions. I regularly consulted my professors and re-did examination papers.

My elder sister was also a great help in coaching me as she has an accounting background.

I sat for my exams — the fourth time for both these two modules — in May and cleared only one of them. I was given a final chance to re-sit the exam in July.

Six years’ worth of hard work and sleepless nights all boiled down to the result of this last module. My mother told me that even if I did not pass, it was not the end of the world.

The day of reckoning came in mid-July. When I learned that I had passed, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.

I was finally moving forward in my journey and was not just stuck in one place. 

For that, I must thank my family and a close group of friends.

An advice that sticks with me is: “When nothing goes right, go left”. There are always ways to move forward, even if it is not conventional.

My best friend, Natrisha, provided a listening ear for the many times I felt like giving up. Talking to her made me feel at ease and gave me the confidence that I lacked.

I also felt like I was not judged when I was with her, which was what I needed at that time to push myself.

I am also grateful for the support from SUSS and my professors. My work attachment mentor, Mr Billy Hu, also checked in on me regularly and helped me look out for job opportunities.

It was because of him that I was motivated to get a second internship last year which helped me put into practice what I had learned.

My school had also provided useful workshops on spreadsheets, photo editing and computer programming, which I took up during my fifth and sixth year to equip myself with new skills.

With the current Covid-19 situation, job hunting is a challenge for many fresh graduates.

Shortly before I had received my results, I started to apply for jobs at several accounting firms and kept a lookout for SGUnited Traineeships opportunities and openings on MyCareersFuture portal.

I was shortlisted by DBS for an online interview in late June and was offered a tax analyst traineeship position a week later. I am glad that compared to my university education, my job search has been relatively smoother.

My university experience has certainly taught me a lot, in particular on how to pick myself up and not wallow in self-pity.

My path ahead will come with many hurdles. However, now I am confident that with the support of my family and friends, I can overcome them.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Durga Devi Emayavaramban, 26, graduated with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honours) from Singapore University of Social Sciences. She is currently on a six-month traineeship at DBS as a tax analyst.