we took sense for granted back home... we tot that by producin the standard answer, it is sense... but here, i realise that is not the case.... as things consist of boths sides... back home, we see the "good" side, not the "bad"... this result in not able to analyse it as a whole picture....

singapore is considered as meritocracy society, where paper qualification is super impt in gettin a job, to get a promotion, to climb up the corporate ladder. ask any person on the street, they will tell you that paper is impt.... ok, so havin pass exams, get that paper, you get a job, end of story? maybe during our parent's time, but now... NO...

with the world gettin smaller, globalization, advancement of technology.... will singapore students survive? well... unless they are able to adapt to changes efficently and learn effectively, they will not survive.... sad story rite? let me explain with a informal case study of mine....

i have frenz arnd me who are taking the traditional way of getting a degree in which from primary - secondary - junior college - local uni .... the way that all parents felt will be the best for them.... ok, so they got their degree, they went out looking for a job, wao... got a job which they tink they like. good pay, good chance of promotion.... everyting looks good now.... but what happen when they face with global challenges that need to be resolved? there is no ten yr series to get the answer, no model answer set for the problem.... this is where, they are forced out of the box... the fact that they werent taught to tink out of the box, they are contented in their comfort zone, they start to stress up, they get disheartened and lose hope in the job, so they job hopped, the cycle go round and round. you noe what i mean rite? eventually, the future pillar of the society start to fall apart, they lack of self-confidence, in finding ways to approach a problem.... or looking at a point from different perspective.... they take flight den face the problems....

well, how does this help the economy? well, it decrease productivity, lead to slow growth of economy, which will affect everyone.... why did all this happen? well, it lead back to the fact that, what we were taught from young... spore students are always said to be fortunate, coz they are almost spoonfed.... well, true when you get the paper, but it maybe bad for you when u stepped into society....

give a personal case, well, everyone noe i did a research ppt for my Int Mgt, and there is a research report that had to be done.... well, for my ppt, i experienced with anor approach and fortunately, the tutor was impressed... she ask me stay back after class... and told me "well, the ppt was realli good, but for the report, pls make sure you have more on critical analysis den just quotes, quotes wun help in gettin good marks, as what i am looking for is more of analysis..." my mind is like "great, how to go abt doing critical analysis? what is critical thinking?" so i ask her to give an example, den i got a rough idea... but still, she said "i understand that most asian students have problem with critical thinking, dun hesitate to approach me if you have difficulties in doing that"....

well, what does this show? take in mind that i took the not so traditional way of education, in which primary - secondary - polytechnic - overseas uni ... yet, with the working experience i had back home, didnt even help me in developing critical thinking.... kinda saddening in a way...

realli make me wonder, after studying for so long, yet i cant even have a competitive advantage in this global world... so wat if asian work harder? everyone also can work harder.... but the key to break thru this barrier is to be able to adapt and learn fast...

i finally understand why private firms or MNCs back home prefer to hire overseas grad.... esp in singapore where the onli resources we have is knowledge.... overseas grad are exposed to much more tings den local grad.... for example... the diversified culture, the different perspective, opinions, suggestions etc ..... all these will give the company a competitive advantage over the rest. and anor thing is whereby, overseas grad are able to tackle problems more willingly, as they see more den one perspectives or even solutions... they see it as sth within their comfort zone.... this will lead to lesser turnover, higher productivity, higher profit and benefit the society/economy/ company/individual.

and also understand why everyone say that "the grass is greener on the other end of the pasture".... this results in lost of local talents which is a problem that singapore is facing... retaining of local talents especially those who went out to the "greener pasture" and found it better....

you may say that "well, u urself is an overseas grad, of coz you will side overseas grad, but there might be local grad whu are stronger den you." true, i have seen sucessful local grads. and i hav seen overseas grad failing... and of coz there will be ppl stronger den me "a mountain higher".... i dun tink i am the greatest one...

but what we all cant deny is that, although the society is much peaceful compared to our parent's generation in terms of world wars... but the battle in the business field have just starting to be intensifying... the competition will be tougher.... globalization .... the distance will be reduced.... comfort zones maybe destroyed.... the world will be one.... connected by the technology.... our generation need to battle out in the biz field... it is always "the strongest survive" but also with anor added factor "the one whu adapts and learn fast succeed" .... it is not just being critical, but also to be culturally sensitive, continous upgrading... although singapore is consider a multicultural society, but nth will beat being a international student in other countries... coz you will be forced to adapt as quickly as possible, the basic insinct of survival... and you start to absorb like a sponge to all the different cultures.... at the end of the day... you are more street-wise.... ur comfort zone expand... doesnt all this help u to survive the everchanging society.... doesnt that give you a competitive advantage....

well, i hoped that my bro will be able to pursue his degree overseas, dun everyone wan those they loved to survive in this world? but will he understand? well, it is for onli he himself to find out....