Caution: Plenty of cynicism ahead!
1. When we simply don't practice that which we 'babble' of all too often...
Last weekend, my colleagues and I attended a weekend seminar organized by our institution. Minus the fact that it was a good excuse to simply have dinner and sleep over with a friend and then another dinner and overnight stay with another friend....I figured the sessions were a good 'by the way' event, since I have been pretty ignorant on the subject matters discussed.
In our academic institution, there is a lot emphasis on continuous and life long learning. This seminar we attended was mostly for professionals (not over-enthusiastic students with desperate weekend plans).
Sadly, the turnout was appalling. We had so many people in coat suits, neck ties and fancy make-up for the opening ceremony, which was nice to see...
And then the numbers dwindled, as soon as the officiating ceremony was over. As soon as the speeches from the distinguished guests were done...As soon as the camera men decided they had taken enough pictures for press coverage....
I hope so much that I will never have to turn up for any event, just for the 'catchy part', whatever my station in life! N-E-V-E-R!
It was students who made the numbers for the rest of the session, with a handful of professionals (literally a handful).
But then I remembered the important reasons: people are busy, people have families, these aren't very important, we've arrived so we need not step down to another level...
The very same incident happened during a day-long workshop a fortnight ago. It was sad to see history repeating itself. But then again, who am I to say?
2. Evidence based?
My mother is a perfectionist. As I've always said, everything she does has a touch of class and perfection to it. As an organizer, she is terrific. As a host, she is almost incapable of nothing. (As a mother, she is the BEST).
But then, I always say, that is my opinion. Until I've had many friends who have visited our family home over the years and then they confirm my beliefs, of my mother.
And then, it becomes a fact. To some extent at least...But it can still remain a theory only (though my sample size is quite fair).
What then do we make of statements, just plain statements, that we are supposed to embrace as true?
Last weekend, I had a tough time comprehending facts like 'the spleen is the mother of the lung'; I kept an open mind, we tried to keep our questions simple (such that we do not patronize another, stay diplomatic and refrain from condescending remarks). We kept our ears tuned. We were hardly mentally absent while being physically present. We stayed both days!
I find it odd that our institution has accredited a new field into our curriculum, amidst our learning outcomes that stress on evidence-based information. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the seminar in some ways....but again, I wished we had some of our educators among the audience/forums to address the need for research...such that the public can scrutinize everything we offer them, on the basis of research.
I have my suspicions though....if we have prized commercial gains, such that we compromise on our value systems.
3. Graduation
But after all that, the biggest irony will still be with regards to myself...
I am 2 months away from my finals, feel hopelessly unprepared for the beginning of 'the rest of my life', and yet I also sit with a few people who will plan the graduation dinner.
Ironies help us laugh at ourselves at times. At least for that, it can still count for many things!
1. When we simply don't practice that which we 'babble' of all too often...
Last weekend, my colleagues and I attended a weekend seminar organized by our institution. Minus the fact that it was a good excuse to simply have dinner and sleep over with a friend and then another dinner and overnight stay with another friend....I figured the sessions were a good 'by the way' event, since I have been pretty ignorant on the subject matters discussed.
In our academic institution, there is a lot emphasis on continuous and life long learning. This seminar we attended was mostly for professionals (not over-enthusiastic students with desperate weekend plans).
Sadly, the turnout was appalling. We had so many people in coat suits, neck ties and fancy make-up for the opening ceremony, which was nice to see...
And then the numbers dwindled, as soon as the officiating ceremony was over. As soon as the speeches from the distinguished guests were done...As soon as the camera men decided they had taken enough pictures for press coverage....
I hope so much that I will never have to turn up for any event, just for the 'catchy part', whatever my station in life! N-E-V-E-R!
It was students who made the numbers for the rest of the session, with a handful of professionals (literally a handful).
But then I remembered the important reasons: people are busy, people have families, these aren't very important, we've arrived so we need not step down to another level...
The very same incident happened during a day-long workshop a fortnight ago. It was sad to see history repeating itself. But then again, who am I to say?
2. Evidence based?
My mother is a perfectionist. As I've always said, everything she does has a touch of class and perfection to it. As an organizer, she is terrific. As a host, she is almost incapable of nothing. (As a mother, she is the BEST).
But then, I always say, that is my opinion. Until I've had many friends who have visited our family home over the years and then they confirm my beliefs, of my mother.
And then, it becomes a fact. To some extent at least...But it can still remain a theory only (though my sample size is quite fair).
What then do we make of statements, just plain statements, that we are supposed to embrace as true?
Last weekend, I had a tough time comprehending facts like 'the spleen is the mother of the lung'; I kept an open mind, we tried to keep our questions simple (such that we do not patronize another, stay diplomatic and refrain from condescending remarks). We kept our ears tuned. We were hardly mentally absent while being physically present. We stayed both days!
I find it odd that our institution has accredited a new field into our curriculum, amidst our learning outcomes that stress on evidence-based information. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the seminar in some ways....but again, I wished we had some of our educators among the audience/forums to address the need for research...such that the public can scrutinize everything we offer them, on the basis of research.
I have my suspicions though....if we have prized commercial gains, such that we compromise on our value systems.
3. Graduation
But after all that, the biggest irony will still be with regards to myself...
I am 2 months away from my finals, feel hopelessly unprepared for the beginning of 'the rest of my life', and yet I also sit with a few people who will plan the graduation dinner.
Ironies help us laugh at ourselves at times. At least for that, it can still count for many things!
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