went for university talk by faculty of law and medicine on wednesday and thursday respectively. suddenly something struck me whilst i was stoning. people want to be lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers and all the 'prestigious' occupations reserved for the elite in the country. normally, these are only applicable if you're somewhat like the cream of the crop and have great academic results.
we begin our education as early as nursery or kindergarten, which is around the age of 5. add that to the primary school years, secondary, tertiary, and university life, and you have just wasted more than 15years on education which might not even turn out useful in future. most of the time, the incentive for work is to have enough money to pay the bills, so that we have enough savings to tide over our old age, so that we can buy that gorgeous dress in that display window, or that dream car we have been dreaming for since young. you slog, day in day out, to earn the money which steadily acumulates in the bank.
so what do you do when you're old? when you become unemployed and all the young blooded people take over your positions? you tell yourself that you've worked hard for more than half your life and that it's time to enjoy life. you buy birds, play chess at void decks, or have tea with old buddies in coffeeshops. or maybe you're those who arrange for high tea in high end hotels with those business colleagues you got acquainted with in the course of your working life.
how different is this, from some average person who takes home a decent salary to keep herself sustained and emotionally satisfied? she need not have very good paper qualifications, but she's contented with her life and saves whenever she can without compromising her lifestyle. she can relax and have tea with friends, play chess and buy birds or shop. compared to the former, she gets to enjoy life since or before she started working while the former only gets to do so after retiring. the enjoyment of life here refers to the emotional satisfaction and need not necessarily mean material comforts.
i don't see the fuss in not having straight A's, unable to get into a good university. today clemence asked nadiah and me whether we would go to a-not-so-good jc if we had lousy results or attempt suicide like the case mentioned by ms ng during the GS lecture today. is there really a need to go to that extent? if i'm can't get into a jc, i won't cry over spilled milk. after all, the damage's done, what's important was to make the best out of it. just because you don't get to study with the elite few at the time of your O levels, it doesnt mean you've been shortchanged a chance of education. stupid stupid people.
after all, not getting into jc isn't the end of the world. getting a diploma is also as gratifying. since last year, i've set a few goals for myself. it's not a matter of whether it'll benefit me in monetary terms or so, just the sense of achievement that i presume i'll get if i get my way.
like getting a driving license, and then a taxi license. if i do get into university after my A levels, i'll try for a diploma in poly. (i think it's allowed, right?) if i don't get a taxi license, a bus license is fine by me. i want to learn how to ride the motorbike. i want to experience prison life, be it as a prisoner or warden. weird i know, but you only live once. shouldn't you try what you can? but i WOULD draw the line at smoking and drugs, because i absolutely abhor the thought of destroying your own body for artificial highs. and i do not like stupid people. so i doubt i'll be one myself and do stupid things like afore-mentioned. i want to cut an album, be it profitable or not. it'll be MY album. beat that.
okay, my eyes are tired, and i guess i can end my 'intellectual' entry at this note. i don't want to be blind. i don't.
p.s. i don't have a grudge against stupid people, but sometimes i get irritated. but smart people being stupid is one of the most infuriating thing in the world. ughh that's YOU
;12:24 AM
