As students we face a dilemma of whether to study only for exams or enrich our learning process while being enrolled in an educational institution. Given the rigid time lines, we have to keep pace with the given curriculum and there is little scope to do in-depth analysis of what intrigues us in a subject. The possibilities to explore and discuss with our mentors and peer groups get lost. We become constrained by our schedules and despite an urge to know more we just let go and give up.
There never was and will never be more time than we need. The very dilemma of our previous generations now becomes our worst fears. With no possibility of change in the systems we have to just become slaves of the process.
In such a milieu the entire energies we expend is to continue propagating an absolutely worthless existence, hardened to the core with the burdens of parameters we have not even set.
Is there any way out of the inevitable rat race. We were told from the beginning that each one of us is blessed with different qualities. So how is it that success in the education or learning process arena is based on marks alone. Excellence in maybe only one subject of our specialization is not enough. We need to be masters of skills in all areas, both academic and non academic to land up a job or have any good career prospects. The harsh realities of inability to earn a livelihood loom large and there are so many unanswered questions.
No one seems to be bothered and so is there a way around this mediocrity which seems to be engulfing us at a very fast pace.
Given the various restrictive parameters we are bound to adhere to, we seek for a simple solution for an issue of such magnitude.
Let’s start a cooperative movement in the college. It is an initiative to share skills and seek growth for everyone together. The idea is based on promoting an egalitarian system, the need of which is being felt in an environment which is based on the negative competition ideology.
When we compete we do so not to be the best but to beat the rest. The achievements of others may not be very far from those of ours but just different, however assessment parameters are designed only to glorify the highest rank holder. Such a system creates strife among near rank holders to the extent that they become disgruntled for life. Such a big community of possible productive workforce is then relegated to believe that they are non performers and nothing in life will compensate their being second or of a lower rank. Their entire future existence then suffers from the finding justifications for their failures and finding blame in others or circumstances. Such an attitude not only harms their own self esteem but also is troublesome as it becomes a part of their psyche. The wounds fester without their being aware and future generations are forced to live up to their expectations or face rebuke for not responding to their lost goals.
We aspire to be good humans first and bring out the goodness in others.
Process:
1. Start forming groups, such as mentor seniors and juniors, like minded peer groups,
Different course students groups for liberal idea exchange
2. Start forums for discussion of doubts. It is possible that you may have an easy way of doing a particular subject and that approach allows others also to grasp faster and clear their fundamentals.
3. Conduct small sessions on the area of your expertise or interest and seek assistance from others in their areas of specialization. A mutual respect and eagerness to learn will allow all to benefit. Rather than wasting your time on topics that are time consuming, learn about better practices or approaches adopted by others.
4. Invest time in creating networks that are approachable, easy to communicate with. Create an environment that is learning friendly and at the same time allows everyone to excel.
5. Stop running after a probable medal, rather spend your hours more fruitfully in finding ways for certain results by way of improving your chances of doing work in a field you enjoy.
6. Remember the more you share your knowledge your skill set improves. There is no harm in sharing your thoughts as by discussing or teaching others your self learning becomes better.
7. Appreciate the fact that you can never be best at everything, be humble enough to accept that others may be better in their understanding process, so why not take the best from them. It certainly helps.
Take away for everyone
1. We assist each other in becoming achievers.
2. Everyone drives each other towards performance