Pursue Money Instead of Dreams?

Recently I have been following the blog of a few TV journalists and news anchors. Like I mentioned before, there is much to learn from blogs because on these blogs are the experience of others. The lessons they have learnt, the experience they have gain will be ours as well when we read other people's blog. Well we all know TV journalist and news anchors lead interesting life. Who they really are after we switch off the idiot box, what they do, who are the people they meet are interesting experiences.

Recently, one journalist and one news anchor left the TV station to pursue other careers. Well, if the other careers are their dreams, I should congratulate them, but after reading the blog entry of one journalist, I beginning to lose even more confidence about our education system in Singapore. Why I said this is because in the blog entry, he said that journalism is his No. 1 Love, he enjoyed journalism a lot, so much so that anytime he comes across a news lead, he refer the lead to his former colleagues. The reason why he left journalism, which is his passion, was because he needed more money. He said that Singaporeans at the end of the day, work for money, which readers would know, I totally disagree on that. That is what our education system wants you to believe in. So that you will stay in the system and be shaped into workers that generate tax for the government, and have you work until you are 70 years old and beyond so that you have money for retirement and medical fees. (You think you are forced to work till 70 years old, you will still have healthy body to enjoy retirement?) As you can see, why I am not convince that his passion is in Journalism. The reason why he said that all Singaporeans work for money, was just to reassure himself that he left for the 'right' reason.

At the start of this month, in the New Paper in Singapore, there was a tragic news that was reported. A young lady, worked herself to death. Her reason for working hard was very noble, to earn enough money to bring his mother on a tour but I think her strategy is wrong. She is working on earned income. An income whose amount is determined by her boss, not herself. No matter how much effort she put in, it is the boss that will decide whether she will earn more or not.

These two cases tell me a lot about the education system here in Singapore. What have we become? How are we being shaped? Did the education system here in Singapore taught us to be so money-minded that we should give up our dreams, sell our soul out for the sake of money (ok, maybe I put it too seriously.) Did our education system taught us so much working skills, and we lack the life skills that are the necessary skills to survive in this society? Or is it the fault of our society to begin with?? I am a product of the current education system and I know how I was taught. My teachers told me that I should study hard so that I can land myself in a job that pays well with good benefits, but look at where I was just after graduation (or commencement), I did not get what I wanted, and I spent my 16 years of my life, with that dream of landing the job that I want, a dream that was shaped by the education system. A dream that I did not realise with the education that I have. (Just in case, I still have great respect for my teachers, at least they impart me with the tools to learn more, well for most teachers that I met :P) That is why I have great respect for people who leave their high paying job to pursue what they want for their life, not the other way round. I would snub them actually. There are a lot of such stories of the former being published in the newspaper, and these guys convince me that that is their passion. For the journalist, sorry, I do not believe in your story.

It is very important that people come to realise that we can pursue our passion and settle our bread and butter at the same time. We have come to such an era where it is easier for us to do that compare to last time. People should drop the foolish thinking that studying hard and landing the high paying job is a form of success. I don't think so. Unless that is your dream job, but what are the chances? Also drop the mindset that the only source of income is through a job. That is crap. Rubbish. If you look around you and pay attention, there are a lot of money making opportunities where you spend the similar amount of time as your job and still earn. The only drawback is that these income sources need time to develop and pay very little initially, once you have reached the tipping point, you will be flooded with cash.

Ok enough said. After this month is really crappy on the local front. Haha. Lucky me, that my mindset has changed for the better, otherwise I have to work until 70 years old and beyond and repeat the whole process everyday, every week, every year. Yucks! Haha! Cheers!