It's really funny how one can plan for one's life in such detail, and then end up embarking on another path entirely. As I gradually receive university offers into courses I didn't even know about last year, I came to realise one thing: we can lay everything in our lives out, but in the end life just isn't what you expect it to be.

I initially wanted to study music in the UK; I went about telling all my friends about how determined I was about it, and they believed me. Even I believed it myself. Now I'm faced with the dilemma of which school to study in Singapore, and no, the course I'm looking at isn't music.

It's funny how time just flies by and it seems like my thoughts and impressions changed overnight, but of course that isn't the case. Over time I realised how music is a really niche course, and how if I do specialise in it I have to look forward to a tough life here in Singapore. Not to criticise anything or anyone, but being a musician in Singapore is tough, and I respect every single thriving local musician. Now that I think about it I don't feel that I can be such an excellent musician. I've seen people around me, students who genuinely have a passion in music, and I see how they shape their surroundings to suit their passion. For me, music is more of an interest than a passion. I like music, I can play, I can analyse, but I don't see myself doing it for the rest of my life. Thus my decision.

I'd rather keep music as a personal hobby - going for concerts, playing new pieces, learning new instruments - I would love to do these in my own free time. But having to do it as a lifetime job would probably just tire me out. I want to discover other things out there in the big ugly world, and at the same time keep and maintain my love and talent in music.

It's really funny how one can plan for one's life in such detail, and then end up embarking on another path entirely. As I gradually receive university offers into courses I didn't even know about last year, I came to realise one thing: we can lay everything in our lives out, but in the end life just isn't what you expect it to be.

I initially wanted to study music in the UK; I went about telling all my friends about how determined I was about it, and they believed me. Even I believed it myself. Now I'm faced with the dilemma of which school to study in Singapore, and no, the course I'm looking at isn't music.

It's funny how time just flies by and it seems like my thoughts and impressions changed overnight, but of course that isn't the case. Over time I realised how music is a really niche course, and how if I do specialise in it I have to look forward to a tough life here in Singapore. Not to criticise anything or anyone, but being a musician in Singapore is tough, and I respect every single thriving local musician. Now that I think about it I don't feel that I can be such an excellent musician. I've seen people around me, students who genuinely have a passion in music, and I see how they shape their surroundings to suit their passion. For me, music is more of an interest than a passion. I like music, I can play, I can analyse, but I don't see myself doing it for the rest of my life. Thus my decision.

I'd rather keep music as a personal hobby - going for concerts, playing new pieces, learning new instruments - I would love to do these in my own free time. But having to do it as a lifetime job would probably just tire me out. I want to discover other things out there in the big ugly world, and at the same time keep and maintain my love and talent in music.