Learning for joy, not just for a job

Have we become too pragmatic about what we choose to learn? If so, it's our loss.

- May Lim

Singaporeans are well known for their appreciation of food. Whether it's waiting in long queues or travelling large distances just to get a bite, our hunger for good food never seems to diminish. But what about our hunger to learn? Do we have the same appetite for knowledge?

A few years ago, I chanced upon the book, Thank You For Being Late: An Optimist's Guide To Thriving In The Age Of Accelerations, by Thomas Friedman, a New York Times best-selling author. I also attended his talk, where he spoke about his greatest wish for his children growing up in a developed world: to survive in a competitive environment without feeling entitled and spoiled. His advice was to have a migrant mindset—a desire to learn, demonstrate resourcefulness, and overcome challenges. Essentially, he emphasised the hunger to learn. Do we possess that same hunger?

Singapore will soon celebrate its 60th birthday, and we have been blessed with steady governance that has planned and implemented an excellent education system. Starting from education in schools to continuous learning through SkillsFuture Singapore—which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary—our country offers great resources and incentives to learn, upskill, and reskill. However, the growth mindset and hunger to learn must come from individuals themselves. We cannot expect those to be engineered for us.

READING FOR PLEASURE

Conversations about food come easily to Singaporeans. But try asking, "What was the last good book you read?" or "What was the last webinar you enjoyed?" Chances are, you will receive puzzled looks as though you have asked strange questions.