Learning Dilemma
When I submit my resignation letter to my previous company to go back to the school to pursue my MEng degree, my ex-boss asked me,
"Why do you want to go back to school?"
"I feel that it is better for me to go back to school to learn more things. I would be more valuable and well-equipped after my MEng."
"Are you SURE you can learn more things in school than you can here?"
Back then, I thought that was a silly question. Of course, I can learn more things when I can study and research full-time!
Now that I think back, I understood what my ex-boss mean. When I was in the company, I really learnt a lot of things. Everyone, consultants, mechanical engineers, civil engineers, process engineers, electrical engineers, down to the technicians, foremen and workers, willingly teach me all I need or want to know. Now, in school, I realized that this is not the case...
I am not saying that everyone in school refused to teach one another. I meant, people in the research field may be more conscious of the knowledge and skill they possess, to the extent that, they may want to hoard a certain information because they think they have an advantage over those who don't have it.
However, in this era, who can you hide from? Unless you're researching on stem cells or something exotic, all information is lying there for you to discover (I heard the internet has recipes on how to build bombs).
Perhaps, it's really human nature to be selfish. We can't blame anyone who think this way. It's the survival of the fittest right? This is evolution, we can never change this phenomenon. Perhaps, subconsciously, we are also guilty of it, just that we do not like to admit.
I think I need to redefine my definition of "school".
And, Mr Tian, I salute your vision.
posted by WSW at 7:05 PM
4 Comments:
Perhaps it's because your/our particular institution is privatising soon, after which the main source of income is from students. So research grants and commercial viability become very important. For the investigators, it's either you get the grant or they'll show you the door. That's why I guess those who are not on tenure are more sensitive about sharing information.
Plus, if you've been stabbed in the back, like me, for sharing information to others you feel are worthy, you'll think twice about revealing all next time.
While I do not condone their actions, but it's now a case of 'my-butt's-on-the-line'.
What's research without sharing or transferring knowledge? Progress will be extremely slow. Too many factors are at play here. Perhaps we are still figuring out what amount of transfer of knowledge or skills is adequate. Cliche as it is. Feed a man a fish, and he stays full for a day. Teach a man to fish, he stays full forever.
As for learning more by working, it's true to a certain extent. Out there in the real world, you are getting a broad-based education, an education on life, and of course, certain skills useful for your line of work. But in here, you are acquiring a more specific, in-depth set of skills but less of a life education. Is one greater than the other? No. It's what you make of it and how you put what you learn to use.
I seriously do not think the outside world is any kinder, if not harsher. People's rice bowl is at stake and the human evil is more obvious. To survive, you have to join them if you can't beat them... I say you are pretty lucky to have met a good company, good boss, good colleuges and good peers who are willing to teach you everything.. But hey, I think ur personality has something to do with it too. You have a charisma where others are willing to share things with you..ok, i know u are not going to believe it.. but that's my opinion lah..
The SMEs are not so kind.. you are employed to help them solve problems, not create more problems. They dun have time like MNCs to sit down to explain things slowly and wait for you to learn. No training period or programmes, which I have experienced..Under such situation, you only learn to become a mean and selfish person.. to protect yourself so that you can survive..
Then again, there are always exceptions..there always will be.. some SMES can be pretty homely also.. it's up to the company culture and management I guess. somewhere out there, there will be a place for each or us bah.. life is hopeful isn't it?
To add on lastly.. I have learnt that when pple act kindly towards you, it is always a prvilege..and that is why I really treasure my times here with you guys.. if they dun, it's just normal human behaviour.. coz, why should you care about people who are not even related with? who really cares whether you cut your hair or not..It's not like you need them to survive. The uglier and less capable you are, the more I will stand out and probably get promoted and make more money while doing less work.. Why should I teach you things so that you can replace me one day? How then do I feed my own family? Called it self-protection or being selfish, that's the real world.
this blog is super boring. i am seriously serious.
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