So much for practise what you preach..

I have been getting feedback on what to major etc. In the past, I used to believe that in uni, if one does not major what he/ she is interested in, then there's little motivation to carry on and persist in times of mugging. I still uphold this principle, but I just found need to come up with a new principle to account for another problem: What if what u think that you are interested in, is better off learning in yr leisure than to be examined for?

Learning is really fun business and I am still loving it with all my life, but the fact that exams and projects etc are existent really turns ppl off. The amount of effort and stress ppl put thru (Im usually included in this list of ppl) for their "A"s and honours and whatever. Sometimes such paper qualifications just drive people the wrong way. Instead of being used as positive reinforcement to motivate us, it just becomes negative punishment when we dun get them (forgive me if I happen to misuse the psych terms, cos I have yet to read that part).

All and all, at the end of the day, I dun see the love in studying half the time. Exam-oriented is who we are, if u came from a certain red dot on Earth, and most of us will probably just stay as what we have been conditioned to be. I envy the exceptions in this case.

I met a guy from my Philo class today and we had quite a hearty chat. He believed that u must enjoy what you are studying and not be so stressed about things. Honours and "A"s are not what he is aiming for; its the learning processes and fun derived from it all that he is after. He is not pursuing what ppl will call the "most useful subject to major in" but somehow he claims he is doing well. It doesnt take a fat monthly paycheck to make one happy, its finding happiness thru yr experiences. He quoted professors who regretted doing their PhDs and said that they rather have spent the time pursuing their PhD on something they are really passionate for.

As Socrates said: An unexamined life is not a life worth living for....

How's this: A life where yr passion is not fully utilised to its maximum is just leaving room for regrets

It amazes me just reading some of the the things I write amidst studying pressure. It amazes me even more that I somehow do not always follow them. Is it due to conformity to social norms that limits my allegiance to my beliefs or is there more to it? If I can only find more time to stop mugging, maybe I can approach this qn with an open mind...