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Monday, May 08, 2006
Going against the normThat's what they say. The government, the professionals, the experts.
"Challenge the challenge, go against the flow", they proclaimed, "that's when you become special and not one of the ordinary."
But how do you go against the norm? How do you even start when everything you ever wanted to do in life is predestined for you since the day you are born, slapped with a birth certificate and knee-deep in shxt? Then everything falls into place subsequently: you attend primary, secondary, and then if you are "special" enough, college or polytechnic education. You are then channeled, like most others, to either of the 3 universities in Singapore, (or if your dad's rich enough, you might get a chance to play with snow abroad) where you realized that everything is not a bed of roses. Roses do have thorns, and oh yes, they do prick.
Competition is so strong in local universities that one can practically smell it. (Do I have to be more explicit in explaining this? Try walking around halls and residences) Undergraduates, too busy in their research and paper-writing, fail to develop their social life skills, fail to interact, fail to build up networks, but pass with excellent A's when crunch time comes. (Of course, Mr. Black is referring to the minority, watcha thinkin' about?) Do we really want graduates who can't give a proper presentation, or express his ideas in a fluent, undisjointed manner, but instead able to memorize and regurgitate 98% of his notes and books? (Hence scoring 98%, correct?)
No, we don't. At least I don't.
But that's what we are producing. Academics marching out en masse with no life (and lie) skills, but full of bluff that's easily available online. I wondered, "What's up with University education? Isn't it the SAME as JC and secondary school?" Secretly, I feel like a droid, or android for that matter since I possess biological materials, being mass-produced, inspected and dispatched for work in the various fields. The system is lopsided, and it kinda reminds me of a soccer striker (forward) being only trained in shooting and scoring while not being trained on how to dribble. His only job, then, will be to kick the ball in at the right time and will be redundant by the time another younger striker replaces him.
That's when the title comes in again. Go against the Norm.
Can we really do it; can we differentiate ourselves from foreign droids that cost less and (supposedly) work more diligently?
The answer is a yes, though not very resounding. But it starts with oneself. You have to have the willpower and stamina to develop yourself in other ways other than pure academics, and even if nobody seems to appreciate it, be proud that you possess such abilities, for these are the stuff that will segregate you from others. Then you can go against the norm.
Do something special. And that almost seems to be a taboo in local context since something special means something that will draw the unwanted attention of people around you and the glaring eyes of your parents most probably. But if something special is what you always wanted to do, Mr Black says go for it. Hell if people stood in your way or try to advise you otherwise (unless they are constructive advices by good friends). Play any song that has the lyrics "It's my life". Enjoy the wind.
And in the end, even if you fail, you will be remembered. But remember, not everyone is able to fight the storm and go against the norm. If it is so easy to go against the norm, then who forms the norm?
Disclaimer: This post is based on Mr Black's personal experiences and does not represent the views and opinions of students. It is also not meant as a nationalist (whatever you call it) post conjugated to distort the minds of people.
N Black Sey @
9:31 AM
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9:31 AM
