前一陣子我路過工地碰上一些建築工人，他們面無表情，沒有靈魂似的執行著他們的任務，這讓我想起一個問題：我們是否該將努力付諸於讓自己興奮、享受的地方？然而對大部份的人來說這個答案卻是否定的。這讓我重新思考工作的概念，什麼是職業，而當中又包含了什麼？廣義的來說工作就是雇主和雇員在白紙黑字上簽訂契約，就商業上來說也是，各個公司就像是個人一般互相簽署合約，然而這並不是許多人嚮往的關係。
我感覺台灣的年輕人尤是如此，許多還未進入社會的學子都對於人生抱有過於浪漫的憧憬，他們認為無論如何，只要咬緊牙根通過考試及測驗，命運最終將引領他們前往對的方向，但他們不知道更艱辛的歷程還在後面等著。許多年輕人對於面對工業革命後所產生的那種想辦法將員工價值壓榨極致的老闆並沒有準備。
這種理想與現實的偏差是如何產生的？這是因為深愛、關心你的親人有著非正確的指引，或許老師也是推手的其中之一，大人們認為他們了解孩子的世界、明白孩子的未來該何去何從，但我舉一個科技的例子，許多我們這輩的人認為只要有個臉書帳號就算和現代科技接軌，這就是他們為何無法了解年輕人會因為在網路上被霸凌而走上絕路。換個方式在職場上，如果沒有給這些年輕人面對工作該有的知識，他們就會像你無法了解網路世界一樣無法了解職場上的競爭、殘酷、和充斥著許多不理性的人，而這些不理性的人通常是他們的上司及老闆。
盡管如此，我還是對下一代的人充滿期待，有些人體會到穩定的工作看似完美卻無法帶給他們快樂，他們會花時間理解到教育和經驗會帶來專業，進而投入大量的時間學習和獲取經驗進而達到那個境界，由此而生的專業才是能帶個他們自由和築夢的職業。這些決定權都掌握在你的手上。
The other day, I watched a group of disheveled and obviously disgruntled construction workers performing their perfunctory tasks: their efforts were without ambition or (could one say?) love. Should not our endeavors be stimulating and enjoyable? The answer from the vast herds of humanity is “no.” This led me to reflect on the idea of work. What is a job and what does it entail? A job, essentially, is a contract between two individuals; a business may be one of these entities: in the United States, for example, a company is considered a person. (1) This unfortunately is a relationship that many people do not want, once they realize the truth.
In my opinion, this is especially true of Taiwanese young people. Many senior high school students are under the romantic assumption that life is a predetermined path that has its initial tranche of tests and pain leading, ultimately, to a state of paradise and tranquility. This is rather sadly, far, far from the truth. What awaits is even more pain and an additional dose of ennui. The reality that you are responsible for your life and not others now also blunders into view. Many of the youth in our county are ill prepared to face the vagaries of a life that must, by the very definition of economic reality, constitute effort and lots of it: few if any at graduation have ever faced a “boss,” that individual, constructed during the Industrial Revolution, who extracts the maximum profit out of your struggles. Now, to be fair, this is equally true in Western countries. (2)
Where should the gauntlet of responsibility fall for this unpreparedness? It lies solidly at the feet of the misguided and loving parents and grandparents who have raised these children. The teachers are secondary players (3) in this tragedy (The critical thinking skills and the knowledge of the world that students’ possess, however, I would attribute mostly to these hard-working, and under appreciated, souls). “How has this happened?” you may ask. The simple answer is technology. Most parents do not understand this digital generation: yes they (we) can consider ourselves conversant with the technology (I have a Facebook account, as I am sure you do as well) but I cannot understand a child committing suicide because of disparaging comments placed online. (4) This is also true of employment. If you have never been subjected to getting up early, getting very dirty and getting screamed at, it is very easy to fool yourself with what working life really is. In the “real world,” it is difficult, competitive and filled with “fools,” many of whom are your managers or owners. Marx calls this unfortunate realization “alienation.” This phenomenon is when the worker or employee loses the ability to determine his life’s destiny and is deprived of the right to feel responsible for his actions: sound familiar?
In spite of this, I am greatly encouraged by many in our community, both young and not-so-young, with or not-yet-with children, who are part of the “new awakening” in education. They know that good marks and stable employment are nice but not necessarily the secrets to personal happiness. Taiwanese people are very smart and, though it has taken a little time, the new generation, the Millennials, know the model: education+experience=expertise. Those who are willing to affect a “little hustle” and put in their requisite 10,000 hours to gain experience, (5) and thus expertise will gain a career and will be free to determine their own employment footprint. Those that seek to appease the older generation because of money or a misplaced sense of familial piety will invariably be malcontented and left behind in a quickly moving society. The choice lies with the self.
The solution to this educational dilemma, in my estimation, is that we must realize, as parents, that a higher education, arguably, does not guarantee employment: university is not a job-training institute. Additionally: the reputation of a tertiary institution does not necessarily increase the graduate’s initial salary, excluding certain unique professions. What does make a person “successful” is passion and commitment. The eminent educator Sir Ken Robinson (b. 1950) leaves us with a thought: The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn’t need to be reformed — it needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardize education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions.(5)
A small joke: A man went to see his doctor. “Doctor,” he said, “I just can’t relax!” “You should do what I do,” said the physician. “When I get home, I take off my coat, put on my slippers, sit in my big armchair and read a good book.” The patient thanked the doctor and left the clinic. In several weeks the man returned. “Thank you Doctor!” he exclaimed profusely. “What a great suggestion: I feel like a new man and you have such a beautiful house!”
This week, please ask yourself how you would change the educational system to produce a more peaceful and tolerant society.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful.
Quote: An untested and untried life leaves little for future generations to reflect on. The risk takers, at all levels, force us to think and in doing so push us to still higher levels of discovery and accomplishment.
Footnotes:
1) IRS.gov
2) New York Times, It’s Official: The Boomerang Kids Won’t Leave
3) Parenting