16-07-2025
Learning for joy, not just for a job
Have we become too pragmatic about what we choose to learn? If so, it's our loss.
With ongoing debate about work-life balance, we risk falling into the illusion that enjoyment can only come when we are not working or studying.
Singaporeans are well known for their appreciation of food. Whether it's waiting in long queues or travelling large distances just to get a bite, our hunger for good food never seems to diminish. But what about our hunger to learn? Do we have the same appetite for knowledge?
A few years ago, I chanced upon the book, Thank You For Being Late: An Optimist's Guide To Thriving In The Age Of Accelerations, by Thomas Friedman, a New York Times best-selling author. I also attended his talk, where he spoke about his greatest wish for his children growing up in a developed world: to survive in a competitive environment without feeling entitled and spoiled. His advice was to have a migrant mindset – a desire to learn, demonstrate resourcefulness, and overcome challenges. Essentially, he emphasised the hunger to learn. Do we possess that same hunger?
