Until recently,
my life has been driven by some sort of induced philosophy-more like a proliferated
opinion. It can be summarized thus; live
as much as you can, co-exist
peacefully with other people and advocate
conventional, life-supporting tenets to earth’s new inhabitants. This was the
norm in my community and majority of its populace appears to share this
philosophy of life.
I was born into
a variegated African community where the rich and the poor seem to co-exist
without apparent friction. Its populace, share sundry religious background and
spiritual beliefs though most people acknowledge the existence of a supreme being.
However, hard work is well advocated by the members of my community. Parents
and guardians are in the business of setting much younger members, on the
journey to the future such that they will be exposed to possibilities of a
better standard of living or at least, be assured of subsistence.
Education was esteemed
as a means to a relatively brighter future and the educated ones were perceived
to be closer to opportunities sporadically offered by developed world. They also
get to function as secretaries or technicians in manufacturing industries and practice
high ranking occupations such as lawyers and doctors and engineers. However, children,
who could not be sent to school for one reason or the other, faced an
alternative as early as they can because no one should get into the future
unprepared.
I was among the
children in my community who were sent to school by one means or the other. My
parents who were fairly educated sacrificed unstintingly to see that my quest
for a brighter future was duly facilitated. My Dad was a technician and my mum
was a seamstress. However, the level of seriousness at which they respond to my
educational needs left me astounded been the little boy I was.
I learnt at school because I was taught and I
read so that I pass the examinations-that’s all. I couldn’t figure out any other
reason why I am been sent to school. My parents are always pleased whenever I
pass my exams and sometimes got me presents to express their appreciation-this really
got me more confused. I was an average
kid, I did not struggle much with my books unlike some of my mates whose
behavioral expressions could tell that they are not enjoying this whole
schooling craze. As I grew older, I began to witness seniors go to college and
universities, graduate, and become payable workers with a relatively improved
standard of living. “Ok. So this is what it’s all is about?” I thought.
At the early
stage of my secondary education, I studied with this reason-to be able to get a
‘good’ job in future. Ha! Who will be
willing to settle for less anyway? I chose to work towards being a doctor, because
that was one of the lucrative careers been practiced in my community, with good
financial returns. I wouldn’t deny the fact that I can’t stand the sight of
blood not to mention having body-contact with reptiles and other animals that were
frequently used for biological experiment. As a matter of fact, I was no fan of
those ambiguous scientific term used in biology. Yet I kept on shying away from
the fact that these personal issues of mine are most likely, going to be
show-stoppers. I knew I was worried at the thought of this situation but I kept
on forging ahead as the thought of getting into a financially promising future,
clouded my fears.
Some few years
later, workers in my community, were becoming unemployed as companies and
industries where they worked, were been downsized as part of their strategies
to survive the economic hardship which the country and most other
under-developed worlds were facing at that period. Apparently, I sensed qualms.
What will become of me and other students if this situation persists? My
entirety was curious for an answer and I became worried. Is there a way out? If
there is, what would it be?
The term
‘self-employment’ became the latest phrase among students shortly after the
announcement of the country’s economic status and I started to question what
that really means. After making some consultations, I deduced it’s all about
rendering services on a sole platform, like being one’s own boss. This defeats
the purpose of going to school which is to get a ‘good’ job and this development
became really disturbing to me.
As I began to
research further, I read about invention, innovation and entrepreneurship. I
also read about inventors. I read about Thomas Edison, and his determination to
make an electric bulb despite the long chain of failures he encountered. I also
read about Walt Disney, Isaac Newton, Mary Anderson, Helen Murray, Michael Faraday,
Bill Gates, Steve jobs and many others that are recognized as huge contributors
to humanity in distinct ways. I became inspired by the achievements of these individuals.
I also discovered that they had one common attribute-passionate service to
humanity whilst utilizing their instinctive abilities then it became obvious
that my reason for acquiring education need to be addressed.
As I continue to
explore the lives of these rare gems, I discovered that many of them were uneducated.
Also, Most of them came up with ideas that were previously non-existent and
their finding and discoveries are what we get to study at school. For instance
I was taught the laws of motion that were postulated by Sir Isaac Newton. These
findings led to my discovery of the true reason for acquiring formal education
– to be enlightened through shared knowledge about our environment and to know
how far mankind has been able to utilize natural resources with technological
feats, for collective benefits. I began to see a school as a centre for
impartation, calibration and self discovery other than a breeding ground for sophisticated
laborers.
Looking at my
immediate environment, I noticed that majority, do not seem to share this
definition which I had gotten and to most, education is a dogmatic pathway to a
brighter future. Each individual appears to share one of two apparent
definitions of a ‘brighter future’- to some, it is; getting a ‘good job’, and to
the others, it is a rewarding platform in which they can passionately
contribute to their immediate community and the world at large through life sustaining
services to both man and nature whilst utilizing their instinctive abilities.
Of course the
former definition has failed at this point in time while the later portray the
possibilities of a brighter future indeed but I became troubled as I tried to
understand its key terms-passionate contribution, service, and the utilization
of instinctive abilities. This drew my attention to the story I had read
earlier. It was about Ben Carson a renowned neurosurgeon who was said to have
‘gifted hands’ and an incredible ‘hand-to-eye co-ordination’. “This must be his
instinctive abilities.” I concluded. Do I have any instinctive ability that can
enhance my aspiration to be a doctor? Do I have passion for medicine?
Somehow, I knew I
do not have positive answers to those questions. I just couldn’t see any other
reason to beam than the possibilities of getting a good pay. Satisfaction was
nowhere to be perceived.
I need to do something I’d really love, to
really be passionate-that’s was one fact I took seriously. I then began to
search for my instinctive abilities and I got a handful within a short while-I realized
that I was good at handling logical calculations and also enjoy taking
electronic gadgets apart and coupling them thereafter. This marked the
threshold of self discovery for me.
“What will I
love to do”? I asked myself. I love electronics and how they influence our
daily and corporate activities. I will love to know how electronic circuits are
being constructed and will love to make them myself. That was it! I’ll surely
be happy doing this in future and that I need not be told. I have gotten a new
reason to study-to be an electronics engineer who will meet the technological
needs of the people.
Afterward, my
attitude to education changed significantly. Now I have a better reason for
acquiring formal education-to be able to contribute to my community as an
electronics engineer who will build electronics devices to meet needs its
peculiar needs rather than a medical doctor who might freak out his patients or
just pass exams to earn parental blessings. I just couldn’t really visualize a
clear picture of me been a passionate doctor. It’s just that I wanted to secure
a better future anyhow. Now I see the possibility of not only securing a
brighter future but also attaining fulfillment and satisfaction in it and thought
of this really gladdens my heart.
I will no longer
learn because I’m been taught, read just to pass exams or go to school just to
get a job. I now have something to live for, a dream to actualize, and a
superior reason for acquiring education. I now live by a different philosophy than
can be summarized with these words; self discovery, Knowledge acquisition for
enlightenment, and unstinting contribution to humanity via passionate rendition
of selfless services.
I can’t wait to
join the league of prominent individuals who had passionately contributed to
mankind by making life better for their generation and others to come. I have
realized that true satisfaction and reward, come from service and in this, I
have found a brighter future indeed.
