My comeback to college had led me to a little soul searching. I always question the importance of what I do, or compelled to do in order for me to cope. The things I try to avoid to discuss before are now the most fascinating topics for me. Is this what it means to grow up?
We have classes that involved us to be more knowledgeable about the world and what's currently happening to it--something I could care less about then. The reason why I don't like discussing about government and local issues is that I've already given up hoping for anything to change. It's probably because that's how I was raised.
While growing up, my parents had this plan for me, especially my father. He wanted me to walk in his footsteps and be successful in the same career he's in. I understood that they only wanted what was best for me, and later I found out that the reason why parents plan like that for their children is because they were raised knowing that the same formula could lead to a successful career. But as I continued to study I began to question, was there only one formula?
I wondered why some people instantly become successful without getting the same academic achievements or even get a job that pays enough to support a whole family. Then I came to another question: what were my parents' definition of success? Back then I thought it was about getting a high paying job, and being the boss of many people. It was about working hard to get promoted, and it was all about money. But after actually experiencing what it's like to be employed I wondered was it really just about those things? I wasn't happy, because I feel like I was settling for a narrow path that doesn't have much scenery. It felt like walking into trap, and all I see was success and gloom.
I observed my supervisors, and I wondered how their lives were. I read about rich people and tried to imagine their views about being them. I compared both, then I thought about my parents' formula again. I began to think: There's got to be more than this. I don't want my life to be just about money. I want to do something more.
It was then I began feeding my mind with information. I felt like I was on this mission that could lead to a big change--so big that I don't even know how much. I began to dream big--bigger than I was capable of accomplishing. I wanted to build a new Philippines; one with people who strives to evolve and break boundaries. I don't want to become a president, I wanted to build the foundation that would lead to innovations. The Filipino mind possesses a kind genius that is continuously suppressed by the country's uncontrollable conditions. But if such genius were molded properly, the possibilities for new technology are endless.
Filipinos have this great skill to endure almost any kind of hardships, because we were raised to be like that. Our main mindset in dealing with struggle is to think that eventually it will get better, and that hardships are only temporary. This kind of thinking led us to create another kind of intelligence, one that isn't favored by human laws, but exhibits a great form of resourcefulness. We developed a different kind of street smarts.
The problem with it is that, it's used as a form of rebellion against society, because most of us weren't really properly equipped with the right knowledge for a more productive growth and we mostly rely on our childhood mentors--our parents and our people. Sometimes these mentors don't actually exhibit the best examples, and they cannot be blamed because their knowledge was derived from their own teachers. So basically, most Filipinos are stuck to settle with what they have, make the most of it, and hope that things will eventually get better.
There are so much potential in Filipinos that are left untapped. The best way to develop that potential is to invest in them. Filipinos should stop being a follower of other countries and start adapting a leader mindset, but without guidance they will not even see the promise that mindset holds. If no one would dare to invest in our own people, our country would continuously be underdeveloped.
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