Actually, a lot of times I only write and update my blog when I encounter incidents that incite me to certain strong emotions or feelings, or when I have thoughts springing up in my head, but unfortunately, a lot of them may be too complicated or philosophical for me to share with others. So, I will end up being here, writing a blog now to readers unknown, yet who are patient enough to read or skim through my poor writings. Thank you, anyone joining the conversation with me now.
To begin my discussion, I probably need to explain what happened earlier.
In this week's business briefing class, we are asked to make a demo-presentation power point on the topic of college admission, which will, in two weeks, be presented to several high school students who are freshman-to-bes.
First, I explained that the background (two books stacked up) in the first slide is an opening indicating to the broad range of knowledge, related to English, that they are about to gain in our department. Then I also expounded the meanings of the later slides, but let's not get into them now, since I will be discussing about a comment based on the first slide, which I found quite depressing. As far as my vivid memory reminds me, the professor said that high school students will not be interested in enrolling to the college once they see the stacks of books presented. There she continues to say that we should arouse the students' interest so that they will apply for the department.
Of course I agree that schools should try their best to attract students and draw in students who are willing to apply for the program, but before we do so, shouldn't we also be asking what kind of students we wish to be welcoming and enrolling?
If students who will only be amused when learning about the extracurricular activities of college, but will be easily bored when seeing that college life is also about reading and learning through the written words from tons of books, do they know why they are entering college and will they survive through their future careers, in which the patience to dig into a profession with occasional boredom is needed. I also wonder, if college is just a place for student clubs, parties, sport events, relationships, and fun, then why do we call it "college"? Why not just make it a recreational center or amusement park? And, to mean no offense, since I also dream to be a professor someday, if these are the most important elements of an university, do we still need professors even?
It's even more to my confusion and doubt of what to respond when the same professor always complains how lots of students do poorly on their research and how those students care so much about vacations instead of their studies. Should she also be responsible for the students she met, since she has made contribution to attracting and welcoming students of this kind in the first place?
I do not mean to criticize anyone, since I do believe that the professor is certainly well-trained in certain fields of study so as to be qualified for the job. But I just felt it strange when a teacher who should be passing on the wisdom and value of education talks about general education as if it's a product (she actually told us to "sell" our program to the high school students). So, a business person working as an educator? Interesting.
Sometimes I question whether I am really simply strange comparing to others, whether my thoughts and personal values are all but meaningless and wrong, and whether there would be people thinking the same things as I am.
I guess this is the bizarre and conflicting moments I have to accept when many people of the world are thinking of one thing while I am thinking of the other. And it just happens all the time...
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In fact, my day is overall an, maybe not perfect, but excellent one.
The main reason for my light mood is you and You. It was great to be sitting beside, listening, looking, and feeling my blood flushing, streaming and bursting inside.
Like always, I am happy to see that you are too.
