I Googled the respiratory, pulmonary and circulatory systems. I think I learnt a fair bit from various websites about how the three systems keep me ticking along. Nothing warranted the online search. I did it out of interest.

Strangely, that made me think about my school days, and biology.  And, other subjects that I studied in upper secondary or form 4 and 5. I was 16/17 years old. Too many decades, and too long ago to remember much accurately. My memory is nebulous and the subjects, topics and contents are equally blurry.

I remember that I did not mind school. I liked learning new and interesting things. Not so much, the exams. Mainly, the stress to perform. To do well. It felt good when I did. Not so when I didn’t. It was my own measure and/or standard that I set for myself.  My mum and dad were not helicopter parents. I don’t remember them placing any academic requirements for me.  

Back to biology. It was one of three subjects that made up General Science. The other two were Physics and Chemistry. General Science was one of 8 or 9 subjects that I signed up for my MCE or Malaysian Certificate of Education or O levels. Yes, why so many? I honestly cannot recall why. Maybe, that was the number of subjects I had to sit for. I was an Arts stream student, when there were two streams – Arts and Science.

I liked learning about the anatomy. Where most of the vital organs were located, and their functions. I do not recollect details or much else but I was quite good at it. I am not sure but I think it has helped/is helping me understand my mum’s current state of health and anatomy better. Chemistry was alright only because I could balance the chemical equations.  How? I don’t know. I just did. Physics was a bit ho-hum to me.  

Geography, I enjoyed a lot.  Both parts – regional and physical. It was my first introduction to countries, far far away, that I never imagined I would actually visit years after I left school. Argentina, Chile, Canada and South Africa, to name a few. I got all emotional when I saw the Rocky Mountains up close and personal. I was so excited to be able to not only say out aloud Valparaiso (I like the way it rolls off my tongue) but to visit the seaport which is also known as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific.’ I felt blessed when I stood at the Cape of Good Hope. Wow. It was a very big deal. For a small-town girl from Alor Setar, Kedah, who only saw pictures and read about these places in my Geography book. Way before internet came along. And, to tell apart stalactites and stalagmites in caves, wherever in the world. Or identify cirrus and cumulus clouds in the sky, anywhere in the world. 

I excelled at History because I had a photographic memory and could visualise pages of years, names and places. Not anymore. Sigh. I just regurgitated the correct facts and figures. Nothing too clever. The one thing I learnt for sure from history is that history repeats itself because the general ‘we’ – people and countries – appear hell bent on repeating regrettable and bad decisions/actions while repeatedly claiming to say and do otherwise.

I gained some useful information about the types of bank accounts, different company structures, and the importance of insurance from Commerce. Principles of Accounts and Mathematics, I could have happily bailed.  Profit and loss and balance sheets are not my forte. I cannot count or balance debit and credit entries. I didn’t like doing accounts, then. I don’t like doing them, now. Tax filing is a chore I like to get over with quickly. Mathematics. I cannot add, minus, multiply or divide anything beyond 10. Thank God for calculators in mobile phones. Bahasa Malaysia, I was fairly alright at. I looked forward to English classes – comprehension, precis, essay and grammar. The use and choice of words to communicate ideas, express emotions, relate experiences, tell stories, manipulate an audience and influence the masses intrigued me.

Were these subjects useful to learn? Yes and no. Yes, because I learnt things that are still quite useful. Naturally, some data have been revised and updated since the 1970’s. Back then, teachers and books were the main source of mostly genuine and accurate information. As were television, radio, magazines and newspapers, to a certain extent. No, because I had no interest in some subjects. There was no opt out or substitutes.  

Now, I can learn about most subjects from the excessive information from extensive sources on the Internet. Is it useful? Yes and no. Yes, when it genuinely informs, and are accurate and reliable. No, when it misleads, misinforms and is purposely fake.  Hmm…