Secondary school was a defining time in our lives with a whirlwind of uniforms, early mornings, lunch breaks, awkward crushes, and, of course, those subjects that made us want to feign a cold or wish the bell rang quicker. While we now chuckle about it, many of us remember certain classes that felt more like punishment than education. Here’s a nostalgic look at some of the most dreaded subjects we tackled back in the day.
Mathematics
Let’s face it, for many of us, Mathematics was the ultimate nemesis. Algebra, trigonometry, simultaneous equations… the mere mention could induce cold sweats. It wasn’t just the complexity of the problems, but the speed at which some teachers expected us to grasp them. If you were one of the few who found comfort in numbers, count yourself lucky. The rest of us were trying to figure out why ‘x’ was always missing in action.
Further Mathematics
If Maths was a mountain, Further Maths was Everest. Reserved for the boldest of brains, it left many quaking in their black shoes. The concepts were abstract, the logic seemed alien, and the pressure was relentless. Many avoided it altogether and with good reason.
Physics
Physics was the master of mixing the practical with the perplexing. Yes, we enjoyed the occasional experiment involving springs and electric circuits, but the moment we had to start applying formulas about velocity and resistance, many of us switched off. It took more than enthusiasm to make sense of Newton’s Laws or the behaviour of light.
Chemistry
There was something oddly thrilling about Chemistry, like the lab coats, the test tubes, the whiff of sulphur in the air. But once we left the lab and returned to the classroom, that excitement often turned into confusion. Organic chemistry, the periodic table, balancing equations… it was a lot to digest. And don’t get us started on mole calculations!
Economics
Economics had the potential to be interesting, except for understanding how money, goods, and markets worked. But the abstract theories and endless definitions could make your head spin. Marginal utility? Opportunity cost? Most students never really knew whether they were writing an answer or just rambling cleverly.
Literature in English
While some found solace in Shakespearean sonnets and Chinua Achebe’s prose, others struggled. Analysing texts, memorising quotes, and interpreting themes often felt like a stretch, especially when the teacher insisted there was a ‘deeper meaning’ behind everything, even when the poet clearly just wrote about a tree.
Technical Drawing
For those who weren’t naturally gifted in art or engineering, Technical Drawing was a nightmare. The pressure to get every line, angle, and scale perfect could be maddening. The tools alone: set squares, T-rules, compasses, looked like a maths kit on steroids. One wrong move and your whole drawing goes lopsided.
French
Ah, French, the language of love that many students couldn’t stand. While learning a new language is enriching, the struggle with pronunciation, verb conjugation, and masculine vs feminine nouns turned what could have been fun into frustration. By the end of the term, most students could barely manage je suis fatigué.
Agricultural Science
At first, Agri-Science sounded simple until planting crops, rearing animals was repeated. But it quickly became clear that it was far more detailed. Soil types, crop diseases, animal husbandry, and economic importance it was a science in their own right. And let’s not forget those practicals under the scorching sun.
Today, many of us laugh at the memory of blanking out during equations or trying to read a novel the night before the exam. These subjects may have given us headaches, but they also made us knowledgeable.
Which subject made you consider hiding in the school toilet during lessons?