Travel

To be able to travel as a tourist is a privilege that not many in the world can enjoy. In fact, to be able to do is really an anomaly in many parts of the world. There, much of the travel is governed by economic factors--it becomes what we call 'economic migration'.

Too Much School Can Be a Bad Thing

Building upon my earlier post, I have come to think that maybe it does not hurt so bad to have less formal schooling. We have spent so much time in school that we get too preoccupied with our chosen subjects or disciplines. What results is that we get stereotyped (a doctor, an engineer, an accountant, a lawyer, even a historian?) by our chosen field of study to the point that it defines us as a person, and even affects our habits.

Someone who has less formal schooling, conversely, is less influenced by school subjects. At that stage, school forms but only a part of his or her life, and does not consume it like it does the rest of us. Given sufficient circumspection and maturity, he or she can advance in the direction that provides the best odds of sustenance and sustainability, and not be tainted by the subject matter until it colours his or her whole existence, and choices. And where it does not work out as planned, he or she can change tracks easily. Somehow that flexibility is not often imparted to school students, who are more often than not taught a methodology by which follow for the rest of their lives.

Which is why we see so many early school-leavers being much more flexible than graduates and post-grads in career choices and also, much more successful. More years in school doesn't really help, unless you are depending on someone else for your livelihood. And it takes away time you could possibily spend more fruitfully working, and learning.

Two and a Half Years On...

I think evidently my priorities have changed. I am no longer the kid who does nothing all day except indulging his interests in history and books, and far-fetched fantasies about being a mover and shaker in international politics and diplomacy.

I have more down-to-earth objectives and aims--to maintain my parents and to afford myself and my family a reasonable standard of living, which given the current environment of soaring CPI's is fast becoming an all-comsuming occupation.

Therefore I have to consider whether to continue my current pursuits in the past will yield significant returns, especially financially. And the answer, it seems from the past 1 year of pondering, to be a resounding "no".

And hence my priorities have changed some. To me, the most important thing right now is not whether a new piece of narrative about the past can be unearthed, but of what relevance and benefit it can bring to contemporary and subsequent generations, and ultimately, to me.

It has led me to realise a particular truth about school, work and life in general as well, assuming the mass majority of graduates like me seek the same object after graduation--a reasonable means of livelihood and financial independence. The truth is that, when we were in school, we indulged in subjects and disciplines, but after graduation we seek a livelihood and an income that can sustain and enrich ourselves. Now, if that is so, what are we doing by being an employee? Shouldn't we be doing something else?