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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

It's not the comfort zone that matters

This is all due to my irritation to some of my students (who think that they just need to study for the diploma so they can go abroad, period) and to my sisters (who are fucking-up my parents' pocket for being irresponsible students and failing passing only 11 out of 26 units in a semester, beat that). I just want to emphasize that in whatever perspective you try to look into, it will all show you that education (or degree for that matter) IS important. Anyway...

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Since not all parents can support their children's education, some are constrained to work. With the establishment of call centers, these kids are given another avenue (better I think) to source out money for their education (maybe bigger than what they need).

However, this opportunity of working in a call center has actually thwarted others to continue with their studies. I know some people, amidst having enough money, have not continued working on their degrees. My speculation is, they've found their comfort zone already. Meaning:

1. They are earning enough or even more than enough though they aren't degree holders.

2. For some call centers, even non-degree holders are qualified for promotion.

3. There's no reason to hurry as their situation (being a call center agent) is not something physically challenging say compared if you're working as a student assistant (or any other low paying and physically challenging jobs).

And now, those who are simply tired of studying (or those who care less about their studies) have reason not to fret if they aren't able to finish a degree. It's easy for them to tell their parents that they want to stop schooling (since they don't do well in school) and work in a call center instead.

But it's always different if you have a degree. You learn concepts (theory) in school. Your skills are developed in school as well. Theory and practice matter. You learn the theory in school and apply it in your work. Being formally educated means acquiring framework that you can utilize in the REAL WORLD.

Yes, people may think that other people have become successful even if they haven't finished any degree but these are exceptions. But having a degree gives you more opportunities. In life, it's not the comfort zone that matters. Discomfort moments make you a better person. And not because you're in a comfort zone, you're already successful. Finish a degree.

3 comments:

missingpoints said...

But then again you see a lot of college graduates who don't get past that "comfort zone" either (if they reach it at all). With these call center people, they probably feel they stumbled on a short cut.

For a lot of them, a college degree is supposed to get them a job. They couldn't care less about loftier stuff.

alwaysanxious said...

Which is why some prefer not to study anymore. For example, a cousin earns 100k a month as an agent. Now, younger generations in our family are comparing the situation of those who finished a degree but are getting just 1/4 (or even less) of what my cousin earns. But I think that shouldn't be the motivation of getting a degree.

Some really believe that the end all and be all of life is being in that comfort zone. Personally, I fret whenever I find myself in that comfort zone already. It hurdles wanting to learn more and lessens the yearning to be someone.

missingpoints said...

The problem with those arguments is that they're just variants of "Bill Gates / Einstein never finished college but..."

Any statistical study will show that on the average, higher education means better pay. Gates and Yang and your cousin are flukes. Unless they're in a field that doesn't require one (like showbiz), having a degree means better chances in general.

Reliance on this kind of anecdotal evidence is probably one of the reasons we have so many talentless showbiz wannabees.

Lastly, we have to accept the fact that not everyone wants to learn or, more accurately, see education as simply a means to an end and not a worthwhile pursuit in itself.