What he really wanted to do was study

New York : Scholastic Inc.,[2009]

c1989

“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education”.
Albert Einstein

Owen sitting at the helm, in the same place David sat now, telling him what he really wanted to be, wanted to do. Nobody else knew. Not even David’s parents. He had spent his whole life working one job to the next, working construction, clerking, getting by, but what he really wanted to do was study.

Just that. Study.

“I want to know all the things I don’t know,” he’d said, sailing in the bright sunshine on a summer afternoon.

“You mean about the sea,” David had said.

Owen had nodded. “But not just the sea. All of it. I want to know all of everything there is to know that I don’t know. I want to know about other planets and I want to know about the molecules. I want to know about art and science and music and love and hate and dreams and trees. I want to know everything …”

“But that’s impossible.” And David had thought then how much he hated to study, hated the whole process of school. It was a drudge to him. Something to get through.

Extract contributed by Tung Ai Jui

What does studying mean to you?

15 Responses to “What he really wanted to do was study”

grace ong Says:
May 19th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
To many people in poorer countries, education is a luxury. Their time is spent on eking out a living as best as they could.
Yet, in Singapore, many young people see education as a means to an end.They are only interested in the paper chase and all they care about is grades. Many grown-ups too have this erroneous view and pass on this value to their children.Learning, therefore, has become a drudgery. Love for learning is rare and those who really do, are blessed.Just to quote the janitor Gae Filipaj who graduated from Columbia U at the age of 52. He is not interested to further his studies to make more money. “The richness is in my heart and my head, not in my pockets.”
Cassandra Says:
May 28th, 2012 at 12:21 am
“The richness is in my heart and my head, not in my pockets”. So true but hard to achieve this. Many of us are told to study hard for a better future and Singapore is such a small competitive country, either you make it or you don’t.
Study to me is to get a decent job and have a better life and this is quite manageable at my time but no longer for my kids.
Seok Yee Says:
June 22nd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Studying, in my definition, means learning about the world. In our modern society, we adopt a narrow definition of “studying” which equates to “reading up knowledge through books and excelling at examinations.” In the olden days, men didn’t have the luxury of written text. So how do men “study”? They study by investigating the phenomena around them, such as how to start a fire or how to utilize nature’s resources to build a tool for chopping woods.

While it is easy for us to “google” the answer or pull out a book from the library shelf, does that mean we actually understand what we read? I’m sure most of your answers are “No.” If understanding is not achieved, have we achieved the objective of “studying”? Again, the answer is “No.”

So, let’s embrace studying in its true-st form. Studying should constitute — among others — “analyzing, applying, contemplating, investigating, musing, questioning, reflecting and thinking.”
Letha Says:
June 22nd, 2012 at 8:27 pm
As a student and as a Singaporean, in the times when I am world-weary and jaded (well, I AM a teenager..), studying only serves one purpose: for me to get a “good job” which will have “good money” so I can have a “good future”. Does that sound familiar? Studying is so often a chore, something we have no way round so we do it. But when I’m being honest with myself, I see the value in what I’m studying. In fact, I LOVE studying. I love that each day I’m renewing my brain cells, learning new things, and becoming more equipped with knowledge I never had before. Studying is too often, and too unnecessarily, linked with the word “exams”. The thing is, studying per se can be a most enjoyable thing to do.
Valerie Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Studying to some is a chore, but to others is a luxury.
To singaporeans, studying is the stepping stone to get a high paying job. Studying is nothing but a compulsory process one must pass to ‘live well’ in the future. Studying is a ‘chance’ card in our lives. However, this is not what studying is. To me, studying is understanding knowledge and putting it into good use.
Diane Says:
August 9th, 2012 at 8:12 pm
Studying can be defined in many ways, depending on your willingness to absorb knowledge, your hunger to know more and whether you are forced through this learning process or not.

The word studying, as expressed on social media would be a combination of the two words, students and dying, forming the word studying. But I beg to differ that definition.

Studying to the less developed countries would be a priority and some children might not be even able to receive an education and would go over the limits or borders just to pursue what they want, an education. Some might be too poor to be able to afford an education and the child would rather go out to work in order to collect enough funds to fund themselves for an education. For others, they take studying as for granted, they dread studying and take it as more of a chore than a golden opportunity for them.

For students like us in Singapore, we tend to complain about school, about how mundane school life is, how much homework we have to face every day and the stress school puts on us. But we always forgo that fact that some people want this opportunity and yet we complain about it. We take education for granted and would not treasure it until it is taken away from us. Others would even cross borders to get a better education, and we in Singapore are showered with opportunities to learn from every day experiences.

“It does not matter where you go and what you study, what matters most is what you share with yourself and the world.”

What does studying means to me? Studying really means just that hunger for knowledge, that willingness to get down and learn things you never knew and just acquire knowledge to be able to excel in life. Grades in school does not really matter that much because in the end, it is just a certificate at the end of your full education. But what really matters would be the process of studying. The experiences you gain, the amount of knowledge you acquire and just really the joy of learning sets in. Although society judges you by the grades on your graduation certificate, but I feel that there is more to that in studying. Studying gives us that mental struggle that is not usually experienced and also that hunger for knowledge.
Yat Sze Says:
August 10th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Studying means different things in different people’s eyes. Studying is a must to shape one’s personality and values. People study to gain knowledge and to do things in a better and more effective way. Apparently studying does make one’s life better. Nowadays, the employers always look at what kind of certificates the candidates have. If they are not graduated from some famous universities, they will be less competitive to other candidates. This shows that how important studying is. It helps us to get a good job, have a higher salary and hence to have a better life. In my opinion, studying is a process to absorb knowledge in different aspects, including science and humanities. We learn from our ancestors’ experiences and prevent ourselves to repeat the same mistakes. Studying is essential in making ourselves become more intelligent and to have logical thinking, which will make our lives easier. For the children in the developed countries, they started studying since the age of three. In some countries such as Hong Kong, the students enjoy free education in a good environment and they only have to pay a little for miscellaneous fees. Being able to study seems so easy to them that they do not really cherish the chance to study. Nevertheless, for those children in the developing countries, the number of schools is very few. They may have to walk for two hours, climbing over the mountains and crossing the rivers to go to the only school in that region. The basic facilities like desks and chairs are not enough for every student as well. Even though the environment is so bad, the students still show an eager to learn. Their attitudes towards studying are much better than us. Since we have such a good opportunity to study, under a good environment and with so many good teachers, we must study hard and to prepare for our future.
Marcus Says:
August 10th, 2012 at 11:23 pm
To me, the main purpose of studying would be to prepare us for what we would be experiencing when we eventually grow up and face the real world. Studying can indeed be a tough process, especially when we are faced with examinations and tests. Personally, I feel that although studying can get stressful at times, it is actually quite an enjoyable process. It is a period of time which we are able to bond and have fun with our schoolmates, and do not have to worry about anyone except ourselves, as we are still largely dependent on our family for support. Thus, I believe that as long as we have the right attitude towards studying, it can actually become the most enjoyable and carefree period of our lives. Lastly, I feel that we should actually appreciate the fact that we are able to be able to study, as compared children in certain parts of the world which might not even have the chance to enjoy this privilege and opportunity, even though they might be very keen on it.
Max Says:
August 10th, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Studying is the process of learning and absorbing information. Studying is commonly viewed as 2 extremes. One group loves studying while one group hates it. Then there are those that sit on the fence, including myself. Studying is a matter of perspective and one can embrace it or absolutely detest it. Studying is essentially a self-help module, it provides and enriches you with information. Knowledge is power. However, the issue lies with whether one wishes to embark on the self-help module in the first place. Those that hate studying will feel that a vast knowledge of molecules, how the light works is none of their business as long as it works to serve its purpose. Those that love studying will enjoy the new facts and information flowing into their mind. I feel that striking a balance is necessary as studying is both good and bad. Studying provides us with knowledge and some knowledge is essential to our lives, thus the analogy of a self-help module mentioned before. I agree that some information has no clear practical benefits to an average commoner, perhaps such as the deep study of quantum physics or string theory but studying largely improves our daily lives, gives us a chance to work our brains and think. Only through learning will we understand how things work. I do not deny that studying can be a pain and a chore at times but we need to understand that without this essential knowledge brought about by studying, life will amount to nothing. We would probably be one of those zombies in movies screaming ‘Brains!’ Studying may not be in the form of books but likewise in real-life situations. In prehistoric times, the cavemen could not cut down a tree with their clubs and they learned from animals with sharp claws on how to cut it down. That is learning and understanding, a representation of studying. Everyone should try to understand studying is essential in our lives and embracing it is also more enjoyable than detesting it. However, there are still other parts of our lives that are crucial for human growth and development so it is important to know the limits of studying and stay within the boundaries, lest one goes mad in search of the answer to the true meaning of life.
Jiahui Says:
August 11th, 2012 at 12:40 am
Studying can be viewed differently. Many of us in Singapore and other developed countries treat studying as a chore. We do not see the purpose of studying as we are unable to visualize how we can apply differentiation and fractions in our future. We seldom cherish the opportunity to study that was given to us and simply take it for granted. We just assume that it is perfectly normal for one to get an education at our age. But we often forget about the poorer children living in other less developed countries. Even if they have the burning passion and desire to study, they were rarely given the chance. The education facilities there might not be well developed and many families might just be too poor to send their children to school to study. Education and studying seems to be more of a luxury to them instead of the everyday routine-liked chore for us. The contrast in the attitudes towards studying is vast.
I personally understand the importance of studying and feel that it indeed fulfills our desire for new knowledge. The final aim of studying is still to prepare us for the future and help us secure a future job. However i believe that grades are not everything that matters in the end. The process of learning and absorbing new knowledge is equally if not more important than grades. But firstly we have to really let loose and enjoy the process of learning and studying to get the desired outcomes.
BN Huang Says:
August 19th, 2012 at 2:17 am
Studying means to equip myself with the necessary knowledge, skills and mindsets in order to succeed in my personal aspirations when I enter the society. Firstly, it is imperative that I possess sufficient knowledge to be applied in daily lives. For example, learning economics enables me to identify whether a politician is making a policy, let’s say, for the benefits of the economy and lives of the people, or appeasing the people to simple win their votes and neglect the future dire consequences. This is a very common case in our real life. At the same time, having the skills to analyse and reason allows me to convey my thoughts to others, contributing to any logical discussion I participate in. Most importantly, through studying, I nurture the relevant values and principles within me which would guide me through the “grey” areas in life and help me make the right decision in difficult situations. Being knowledge and shrewd, but without any regard to morals, can both make or break a person. This point is evident from the many cases where prominent people fall from grace due to their own misconduct, like the News of the World scandal. Staff of the News Corporation, a global media giant, resorted to wiretapping—a method which they might have considered creative—in order to get sensational stories that would benefit the sales of the paper. The top management might have known this, but blinded by the prospect of profits, did not act against it. As a result, the scandal broke out and cost Mr Murdoch his most lucrative paper. It is imperative that I exhibit trustworthiness and moral courage in any endeavor I choose to undertake in life.
Megan Says:
August 19th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Studying can be a chore when all we do is attempt to cram huge chunks of information into our brains within that short span of time, just to copy them out onto our exam papers and forget them once the test is over. However we can also see studying as a fun learning process. For me, each time I study or learn something new, it constantly teaches me that there is so much I do not know. My knowledge is but a fraction of what is known in the world, which is also a fraction of the unknown.

Studying sparks our quest for knowledge, to explore and learn new things. It enlightens us on the many things about life, like a gift that lifts us from our ignorance. Studying, not only the content, but the process can teach us valuable lessons which we may not go through otherwise. It reminds me to strive for excellence, and keep this positive attitude in whatever I do. I challenge myself with what I find difficult, and overcome obstacles to improve. Along the path, we train ourselves mentally and in learning techniques, which would accompany us in life. For instance, studying forces us to concentrate and focus on task. If we get distracted, we will not absorb anything and end up wasting our time. In a sense, it does prepare us for the outside world, and is important when we transit to the working world.

It would be nice to say that we would study and love studying solely for gaining knowledge, but often the truth is that most of us are simply studying for fear of a lack of future without education, or ability to get a good job to earn money. No longer do you hear people say that they study just to learn, but rather we hear more of ‘we study to secure a job and money’. It is quite true though as society constantly reminds us that getting the grade and certificate are so important that we set our eyes on attaining it, unfortunately overlooking the process of acquiring knowledge.

Overall, I view studying as a road to improve ourselves and better equip us to face the world; not just as a working adult who needs to make money, but as a person perceiving and understanding his environment. If we can stop making it all about acing exams, and truly enjoy and treasure studying, learn to appreciate the meaning of it all and find our passion for acquiring knowledge, then we would live to the Chinese proverb, “It’s never too late (old) to learn”. Also, we ought to cherish this opportunity we have to learn, and not take it for granted, as others who aren’t as lucky would treasure every moment of it.
Johan Lim Says:
August 20th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
People all over the world look at studying differently. To the poor, studying is a dream. To students, studying can be a pain. And to others, studying can be for pleasure.

I feel that studying is both a pleasure and a pain.

Being forced to study is, obviously, a pain. This is what most students feel. All day long, things like calculus, trigonometry, organic chemistry and molecular genetics are being forced into our heads. We did not ask to study this. The government chucked it at us, making it compulsory for all of us to go through such a boring, stressful process — formal education. The only reason we continue studying, is because we need the grades on our certificates when we graduate. When one is forced to do something he has absolutely no interest in, he will begin to hate it.

Conversely, if studying comes out of the person’s free will, then studying will be a joy. Many retirees who did not have a chance to get a proper education because of the war are now taking classes to enrich themselves. New discoveries, advancements in science and technology are not made by people who have no passion for their work. Students are free to pursue other interests outside of curriculum, like art, music, dance, psychology, graphology, sociology, cryptology, or like myself, astrology. When we are pursuing our other interests, we feel happy, because we are studying out of interest, our desire to learn more.

In today’s society, however, studying is more of the former than the latter. As students, we are in school the whole morning, and nearly the whole afternoon. The rest of the day, we are usually doing our work or revising. This leaves us with very little time for the topics we really wanted to study. Furthermore, many things we study are deemed irrelevant by students. Are we actually going to use differentiation when we grow up? I don’t think so. In fact, most of us are probably going to forget over 75% of the things we learn in school.

Nevertheless, studying is important. While we probably will forget much of what we learn, the skills we acquire, such as logical and deductive reasoning, analytical skills, essay writing and comprehension skills will stay with us for life. It is in fact, this that the government wants us to bring into our working life.

Here’s a joke, “If it smells, it’s Chemistry; if it wriggles, it’s Biology; if it doesn’t work, it’s Physics.” This may be the perception of some students being forced to study science in the classroom.
Lee JieMin Says:
August 20th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Studying is the learning process of acquiring information to further expand our mind’s boundaries. It requires a discerning, disciplined mind to process data and to apply concepts correctly. However, there has been increasing association of ‘studying’ with memory work. Students, especially in Singapore, may complain that the result-oriented focus undermines the integrity of the education system. Certainly, at times, the pressure to do well can take away some fun out of learning. On the other hand, we should not forget that at the end of the day, it is the motivation of improving ourselves that drives us to learn more skills. The results we obtain are merely numbers on a slip of paper; the true fruits of our labour are the skills we take away from our lessons. Thus studying is simply one of the many ways to gain new knowledge.
Small Bathroom Vanities Says:
March 27th, 2013 at 7:00 am
Awesome website, and an even better book!