I guess i've been brainwashed from young by my parents to believe that the pinnacle of education is award of a doctorate. To be called a "Dr", to have that suffix "Phd." at the end of your name - is an elevation of a person to a position of academic respect. I'm not convinced of this argument, but i admit that i agree with them on one point: that education is the purest, most secure investment that one can have in this life (well, not if you lived in the time of Mao-ist China - then you could be shot for wearing specs).
I have always had a fascination for knowledge, for information that can be transformed into knowledge and how the human mind processes knowledge from its raw form into something that actually makes a difference in our lives. I guess, above all else, that's why i applied for a Chevening Scholarship this week.
My first degree is a BA in English Literature and Language. I took this because that was all my SPM results qualified me for. I wanted to do Law back then but, alas, with a pathetic grade for my History paper, that was not to be. No regrets, though. Everything has turned out ok.
My second degree is a Masters in Business Administration. I took this to help me better understand what i was doing at work - somehow i've ended up in corporate PETRONAS and, in business, i've learned that understanding business processes is necessary for success. I haven't achieved much success yet, but an MBA has helped me understand business processes.
I promised myself that my next attempt at education will involve something i really want to do, something that i can do for pure interest and the sake of knowledge alone. That's why when i applied for the Chevening Scholarships, i put in "Political Science with a focus on International Political Economy" as my chosen field of study.
For the longest time now, i've been intrigued by how nations deal with other. I look at my relationship with friends, and i ask myself, "Do countries treat each other as "friends" in the same way?"
"Why is one country rich and the other poor?"
"How do countries help each other? Why should countries help each other?"
"Why do countries go to war? How can conflict be avoided?"
"Why do countries group themselves into organizations? What are the responsibilities of members of UN, ASEAN, APEC, WTO, etc.?"
Don't really know how the answers to these questions (assuming that i ever find them) will translate into a living for me. Hahahah! That's the problem sometimes. Knowledge is knowledge, but not all knowledge is "marketable" (meaning: no big bucks). That's the greedy side of me. I want it all. I want the education, i want to be educated in things that interest me, and i want to be able to not worry about money.
If i get my wish, and get a chance to study under a Chevening Scholarship, i'll probably give up the business world and look for a job in the UN or the Foreign Service. Now THAT would be the life. A chance to serve the global community, AND get paid in US dollars!
*sigh* If dreams were pennies, i would be a rich man now.
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