Its been a while
Its May already... and the time for the decision is near.
A little update on what happened since I last blogged (which is turning out to be a page from some ancient text). I joined small IT company called iPower, and started working out as a software engineer. By name, thats what I am. I usually end up picking up the system administrator tasks and meet people to gather requirements. Its something that I don't mind doing, and meeting people is a hell lot more fun than staring and lines of codes. Not that I am not technically proficient with programming, just that its something I don't enjoy doing.
Coming 28th of May, I will officially graduate from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Information Communications Technology w/ Merit. Its been fun working with some of my classmates, most of them younger than me. I can only say it brought out the youth in me, and kept me in tune with young people... somewhat. Having done well, both NTU and NUS accepted my applications. I applied for a Computer Science degree w/ Masters of science @ NTU+Georgia Tech, and Arts and Social Sciences @ NUS. I chose Arts and Social Sciences in NUS.
Hell of a jump, yes. In a way, I'm gonna be studying and hopefully in future working in a field that I would really enjoy, Defence Analysis. At least thats where I am aiming. @ NUS, I hope to be able to get an Upper Class honors while majoring in Political Science, and move on to Mindef. Military and Defence related subjects have always intrigued me, even through my secondary school years. I loved reading about the capabilities of the hardware back then, and now, I appreciate the dirty politics that go on behind them. Who would have suspected the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Serbia had anything to do with remnant parts of a shot-down F-117? I'm a Christian yes, and maybe some might think that this is a conflict of interest between religious beliefs. For me, its just an interest in conflict.
Unfortunately, I've hit a little snag of late. My parents objected to my university studies now. They insist that I do that after 3 years of working. I suspect that thats due to my sudden switch in what I'm studying. I'm 26 this year, and starting my studies at 29 will not be to my advantage. I'm gonna lose momentum, and lose sight of my dreams again.
At the age of 29, and graduating by 33, I'd be an old man in a young man's world. No, I'm not saying that scholarly activities are only meant for the young. Just that at that age, I'd need to start thinking of more than living from hand to mouth. Who knows, by then, I'd be getting married or worse, having children. For that, I need be already quite established in my career. Unfortunately as well, it'd be almost mission impossible for me to support anything more than myself with just a Poly diploma, albeit a Certificate of Merit. Oil prices don't look to be coming down anytime soon, and in turn, neither will inflation. Sadly, Singaporean companies don't adjust their payscale according to inflation rates, and soon enough a Poly Diploma is just gonna cap me at somewhere around $4-5k after 10-20 years of service.
Why do my parents object? They feel that I need to demonstrate my sense of responsibility Now, and work on my the career path thats set in front of me. They feel that I'd be successful as long as I obey God, and God will make me successful regardless of educational qualifications. They say that many degree graduates have a tough time finding jobs as well, so why bother? Just rely on God. They say that Arts & Social Sciences graduate tend to be too idealistic, un-earthed, floaty, flighty; with no sense of reality. The Irony.
No, its not that I don't trust God. But I'm just a realistic person as well. My logic is a hindrance to my faith. I guess thats my greatest flaw and weakness.
I believe that university graduates find it hard to find jobs not because they are degree holders. I believe that the issue is that not enough jobs are reaching Singaporean citizens. 2 mths ago, I remember seeing the statistics from the ministry of manpower. Half of the 200,000 jobs ( i cant really remember the numbers that well) created went to Foreign Talents and PRs. The other half went to Singapore. Most of these Foreigners are here, armed with degrees, and those from poorer countries albeit well trained, are working here at less pay when compared to Singaporean graduates. I know this because I have met 2 Burmese colleagues, and I respect them for their knowledge in technical matters.
Singaporean graduates typically expect a lot of benefits from the company (pay, welfare etc), and don't like to work a lot. Foreign Talents, are just willing to work simply cause they are already paid tonnes more than what they would earn in their own country. Sad effect of Globalization? Anyways, Singaporean companies and employers have to share the blame as well. They want to pay as little as possible, and get as much productivity out of it, and this I'd say is especially true in hard times. That makes Foreign Talents their ideal candidates for recruitment. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Manpower's guidelines are often skirted. End result, was more than a hundred thousand Burmese nationals coming into Singapore last year.
So I don't think that its just the degree holders that have trouble. Its gonna happen across the board.
Back to my parental objection.
No, academics are not the measure of a person's success. But getting this degree will allow me to get into a field that I feel passionate about. If I do well in that career path, I'd recognize that as a small measure of success that I've been blessed with. Ultimately, if God was to give a person success, it would still be through the works of the person's hands. Fair enough, the success can be given regardless whether the person is pursuing his dreams or not, but isn't more wonderful to be pursuing your dreams and be blessed throught it as well?
They've drawn the final line with me. The ultimatum now stands as, either I obey them and delay my studies (which somehow would lead to the questioning the need for university education, as above), or I carry on at the expense of them disowning me. I did not ask them to fund my education or allowance in anyway, but still they decided to draw that line. If I obey them, I'd be obeying God by honoring my parents. If I do not, I'd be in Sin, and have to be disowned until I repent.
Life is exciting, ain't it?
listening to the rain...
10:29 PM
