Why do you study?

[okaywhy]

I know this question is stupid. Yet, having asked many people, elders, teachers and friends about this, I still find their answers either unsatisfying or unfathomable.

As there're so many scholars and scorers over here, I'm interested to know what education means to you. :wink:

[johnleemk]

I study because I enjoy it. Naturally, I tend to ignore subjects I dislike. :roll:

[wawa]

I know this question is stupid. Yet, having asked many people, elders, teachers and friends about this, I still find their answers either unsatisfying or unfathomable.

As there're so many scholars and scorers over here, I'm interested to know what education means to you. Wink

Me too. :lol:

[juventus]

I guess I study because I want a better life. It sounds kinda lame, but it's the truth really. I hate sejarah, but I drag through it because I want to be the best.

I've never really studied because I enjoy it though. I hate the way we have to follow the format, technic of answering those essay questions in physics, chemistry and biology.

Pendidikan Moral is the worst! Seriously detest it very much.

I hope to enjoy studying in college! :D

[youngyew]

I know this question is stupid. Yet, having asked many people, elders, teachers and friends about this, I still find their answers either unsatisfying or unfathomable.

As there're so many scholars and scorers over here, I'm interested to know what education means to you. :wink:
For me, education means knowing things, gaining knowledge, and widening vista. For the thrill of knowing something mysterious, something brilliant, something which I would have not known if I were not given the chance. For the wonders of nature - mathematics, physics, biochemistry, religions, philosophy and so many more. Probably, I concede, for the thrill of knowing something which others don't know (yet).

I admit that the last bit is a sign of self-pride and arrogance, and I am working to minimize such thought. But I can't deny that the thought is there.

[Leen]

Test of course, what else?

:lol: :lol:

A major reason will be the test since our education system is exam-oriented, if you dont study, how can you score? That simple. Even until now, I still dont understand why do we have to memorize all the 40+ moral values definition word by word. One letter or word wrong, like "dan" or "serta" will immediately cause the whole marks to fly away. Seriously, I HATE Pendidikan Moral. It is really quite pointless to ask us to write this and that. You must write the nilai first, then 2 huraian from the definition and another further 2 more elaborations on your own. Simply bad. That's the worst subject, in my opinion. :wink:

[GodRox]

Hmm... Y I study? I study because I need good grades to get me into a good U, n hopefully a better career opportunity n hence a higher living standard.

However, I learn because I want to understand more about life n enable myself to value n see life in various perspectives. Learning n knowing also help in enhancing d quality n meaning of life...

[meselsohnstahl]

i study so that i can get good grades and enter the uni of my choice... i want to enter that uni cause i know that the unis best for me and i will enjoy myself and its worth studying hard for..

i also study so that my parents wont get on my case and let me do things i wanna do in my free time... :lol:

pretty sad and embarrassing really

[thesoothsayer]

It started many years ago when I was still a precocious little kid and was sitting on my potty reading my story book when my mum thrust an encyclopedia into my hands and told me to start reading. I realised that I liked learning new stuff and decided to make it my lifelong occupation. ;)

However, I do regret the fact that she didn't thrust a ball or racquet into my hands though. I could have been a multi-millionaire with tonnes of hot babes surrounding me. Instead, I'm in my lab at 1am surfing the net and writing my presentation materials for tomorrow's seminar with only 2 other foreign students still around. Sigh...

[vseehua]

i study because i want to study;

i learn because i want to learn...

[iQing]

it is a big game, honestly

good player wins all.... it is really about how u play the game.

the scope of the game is wide.
u can build affiliation by forming bonds of friendships with other students and teachers, which gives u an advantage in the game.

exam is actually a game, not really a good tool to test how well u understand the subject.
certain subjects requires u to use some strategies like some might need spoting questions.

you can upgrade your learning ability 2 deal with the game like increase your memory capacity and creativity.... it is your choice actually. it is a good strategy but funny why many ppl avoid it. for example, u can cycle and explore new places frequently and that will increase the mass of your brain and the will give u great advantage when spatial ability is needed.

have fun playing the game...
is education is about learning? really? think about it....
it makes u obedience more than making u intelligent.

if u wanna learn things,
do it outside the system

[johnleemk]

I guess I study because I want a better life. It sounds kinda lame, but it's the truth really. I hate sejarah, but I drag through it because I want to be the best.

I've never really studied because I enjoy it though. I hate the way we have to follow the format, technic of answering those essay questions in physics, chemistry and biology.

Pendidikan Moral is the worst! Seriously detest it very much.

I hope to enjoy studying in college! :D
Uh...if you go to a private college, you must take Malaysian Studies (basically Sejarah + Civics) and Moral Education. It sucks. :(

[CurbsideProphet]

I actually quite enjoyed moral education in college. Much more than I did in highschool, at least. And learning it shows that no single theory would describe one person's belief as a whole - at least to me.

Knowledge comes in many forms, but they are all gathered experiences... so theoretically, you reap knowledge to put yourself in a upper-hand, being able to predict and react in a positive manner to things that will happen to you in the future. You might detest a lot of stuff when you're forced to study it, and sometimes be critical about the neccesity to learn what you learn (and I've been in that dark, deep pit where I couldn't see the point in gathering knowledge at all because it seemed so ever changing, and uncertain), but most of it will prove useful to you some day, in miraculous, riddiculous ways. Here is when it is important to remember Mr. Feynman's wisdom again, which I am extremely happy to see you quoted =D -

'Science alone of all the subjects contains within itself the lesson of the danger of belief in the infallibility of the greatest teachers in the preceding generation . . .Learn from science that you must doubt the experts. As a matter of fact, I can also define science another way: Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts.'

I think that this quote holds true for all knowledge, and not just science alone. =P

And back to answer the original question : I study to relieve curiousity. =x 'Curiousity is the cure to boredom, and there is no cure for curiousity.'

[vseehua]

there is another saying..

"curiosity kills the cat"

hehe...

[yuckfou]

Knowledge is KING!

Stay away from drugs and meth too...

Drugs are bad... mmmk...
So don't take drugs...
If you take drugs you're bad... mmmk...
(from Southpark)

[Shoblast]

Education doesn't need to be confined to the modern perception of the school-teacher-assessment style. Education should be the very act of learning. And to learn is to gain knowledge.

Why do i gain knowledge? Because:
With knowledge comes information; you learn.
With information comes power; you learn.
With power comes action, be it the action of non-action or proaction; you learn.
With action comes consequences; you learn.
With consequences comes experience; you learn.
With experience and learning, comes wisdom.
And from wisdom comes appears the road to the proper way of life, for treating people around you, or for treating the world.

Some may stop learning at any point of this progress, and they choose the wrong choices, and if they still refuse to learn, they become misguided, ending up lost and hurt. So i learn to gain knowledge, and i learn as a ticket to the proper way of life.

[iQing]

The problem with school education is that
It does not suit all learning styles of individuals.

For example, I am a very strong visual learner and a very weak auditory learner.

I can learn the whole course easily by just reading.
but when you want me to go to class or lecture, I can only absorb less than 50% and I feel very bored in long lectures.

That is why I always skip class or read books in the class...
and that causes other problems....

see the picture?

[Seiryu]

The problem with school education is that
It does not suit all learning styles of individuals.

For example, I am a very strong visual learner and a very weak auditory learner.

I can learn the whole course easily by just reading.
but when you want me to go to class or lecture, I can only absorb less than 50% and I feel very bored in long lectures.

That is why I always skip class or read books in the class...
and that causes other problems....

see the picture?

You are rite. I have a friend who is a strong khinestetic learner, he had a tough time when it comes to reasoning. I am also a strong visual leaner, so i tend to prefer teachers who make full use of the white board...

[iQing]

khinestetic learner as a lot of disadvantage in our current edu system

teachrers r not trained to hv emphaty towards them and they are slower in terms of verbal communication, which might cause further disadvantages to them

[WinnieH]

i find studying interesting. its a hell lot better than working was the answers i got from my older cousins who had started working. they claimed that the stress of studying is nothing compared to those at work.

[iQing]

depends on the type of work

[vseehua]

education system is based on how you can teach the most people with the least costs...

and the most cost efective way of doing it is to cram lots of people in one class with one teacher in front of the class...

[WinnieH]

depends on the type of work

yes of course. i'm talking bout profesional jobs out there.

[iQing]

depends

[okaywhy]

Okay, you mean education is about knowledge and curiosity, but, do we need to go for formal education to learn all these? We've libraries, books, internet, TV and all those stuff, you name it. Why do we need to be taught what should be studied and what shouldn't?

Say, you're curious to know how cockroaches make love. Questions arises as you ponder further. You may ask why cockroaches make love in such a way that is so similiar to other forms of animals? How do they get attracted? Does love exists between cockroaches? All these questions would indirectly lead you to study about biology, chemistry, physics and so on in detail. You don't need to go to school to learn these stuff, do you?

The question is, what drives you to studying something without knowing the purpose to study all the stuff that the "authority" demand you to learn? Is it worth our time to do so?

I've gone through 12 years of formal education, passed some major exams with satisfactory results, but I kinda feel like actually I'm knowing nothing.

[iQing]

yes

as I hv said,
if u really want to learn things,
do it outside the system.

those who say they go to school to learn are programmed to think this way.....
it is a pattern that is planted in their mind, which is not so in reality.

in school,
it is like fulfilling mujndane respondsibility whether u like it or not...

u learn real things out of the system.


tips :

I agree with u that is why I always find ways to skip homework, study syllibus effectively to save time so that I can do more stuffs out of the system, like bla bla bla on ReCom

[ck]

Totally agree with IQing. I believe we should not term it as study but rather life long learning. You can finish studying a book / course, but never about life.

Why do government emphasis that we do the min 11-12 (6 years in primary and 5 years in secondard) years of education? It is to ensure that we have the right mind to think. Look at you guys now, without that 12 major years, where would you guys be?

And yet we loathe at it. :lol:

And secondly, working is not tougher but the fact that we have more responsibilities. Imagine, you need to pay tax, petrol, loan, and bills... plus work itself. During school or uni time, atleast you still get some assistance from your parent.

[iQing]

nowadays there are books, internet and other stuffs 4 u to learn new things.
now u even can buy yoga books and pilates instructure that comes togather with mats and fitness ball so learning should b fun

[okaywhy]

I agree with u that is why I always find ways to skip homework, study syllibus effectively to save time so that I can do more stuffs out of the system, like bla bla bla on ReCom

From what you've said, I guess you're an active learner, you pursue your own interests outside the system, but why do you care about your study (i.e the formal-education)? The system does mean something to you, doen't it?

[iQing]

it means mundane responsibility and parent pressure. yuck

u ?can say u study 4 ur future but can u say u can see very clearly the road in front of you?
more likely we are like walking blindly on the path of education and asking ourselves, "hey, why the hell we are doing this?"

[johnleemk]

Regarding school, I think I once heard a very good argument about why libraries aren't necessarily the best form of learning. First of all, iQing is correct -- different strokes for different folks. What works for one does not work for another. I am also very visually-oriented, while I cannot pay attention to lectures (arguments or debates, yes, but lectures, not really) -- I think I learned more by reading textbooks for four months last year than in three years of lecture-oriented secondary school.

Another thing is that education isn't just about absorbing knowledge. It's about applying it and synthesising new ideas from the old. You could probably get a damn good university education reading textbooks, but you wouldn't necessarily learn how to apply the concepts you learned, nor would you have the benefit of critically discussing them with your classmates.

[PJKru]

are you still in school johnlee. why did you quit? u in the states now? us citizen alredy?

[Schye]

Totally agree with IQing. I believe we should not term it as study but rather life long learning. You can finish studying a book / course, but never about life.

Why do government emphasis that we do the min 11-12 (6 years in primary and 5 years in secondard) years of education? It is to ensure that we have the right mind to think. Look at you guys now, without that 12 major years, where would you guys be?

And yet we loathe at it. :lol:

And secondly, working is not tougher but the fact that we have more responsibilities. Imagine, you need to pay tax, petrol, loan, and bills... plus work itself. During school or uni time, atleast you still get some assistance from your parent.

You forgot one, you basically can do what you want during school/univ time and you wont get fired ...


The formal education system now is just a guide and an introduction to what we need for further learnings. It provides the basic for ones to think, to learn and the most important things is, to at least let ones to being able to communicate with other media or people.

Okaywhy,
If you dont even have the basic education either from the school or parents, then most probably you wont think that much when you see cockcroaches making love.

[okaywhy]

The most damaging phrase in the language is: 'It's always been done that way.' - Grace Murray Hopper
Your quote speaks for itself. :roll:

[johnleemk]

are you still in school johnlee. why did you quit? u in the states now? us citizen alredy?
1. I am in KDU College.
2. Why bother with SPM when you have the opportunity to take the GCE 'O' Levels, set and moderated by a world-class university (Cambridge), which will get you into college just like the SPM?
3. No, I am not in the States.
4. Why would I want to be an American citizen?

[bush]

are you still in school johnlee. why did you quit? u in the states now? us citizen alredy?
1. I am in KDU College.
2. Why bother with SPM when you have the opportunity to take the GCE 'O' Levels, set and moderated by a world-class university (Cambridge), which will get you into college just like the SPM?
3. No, I am not in the States.
4. Why would I want to be an American citizen?

In case you do already know, UCLES does advise the MOE/MES on certain issues, like the determining of grades and standards..........

[kaiba]

Okay, you mean education is about knowledge and curiosity, but, do we need to go for formal education to learn all these? We've libraries, books, internet, TV and all those stuff, you name it. Why do we need to be taught what should be studied and what shouldn't?

Say, you're curious to know how cockroaches make love. Questions arises as you ponder further. You may ask why cockroaches make love in such a way that is so similiar to other forms of animals? How do they get attracted? Does love exists between cockroaches? All these questions would indirectly lead you to study about biology, chemistry, physics and so on in detail. You don't need to go to school to learn these stuff, do you?

The question is, what drives you to studying something without knowing the purpose to study all the stuff that the "authority" demand you to learn? Is it worth our time to do so?

I've gone through 12 years of formal education, passed some major exams with satisfactory results, but I kinda feel like actually I'm knowing nothing.


i totally agree with u. after my spm , my whole world was like falling apart, coz only then when i started to b more exposed 2 da outside world, wat i had learnt was merely da basics...like ur fingertips.

[misled_youth]

I studied because of access to hundreds of cute college/uni chicks.

[iQing]

I studied because of access to hundreds of cute college/uni chicks.

another honest saying that u watch porn....
students should not do so when they are still underage

[ck]

Come to think of it, when I enter college, I didn't really care much about the chicks. LoL. I was there to redeem myself as I did badly in SPM.

Besides, it is also an opportunity to get away from home. First taste of pure freedom.

:lol:

[johnleemk]

are you still in school johnlee. why did you quit? u in the states now? us citizen alredy?
1. I am in KDU College.
2. Why bother with SPM when you have the opportunity to take the GCE 'O' Levels, set and moderated by a world-class university (Cambridge), which will get you into college just like the SPM?
3. No, I am not in the States.
4. Why would I want to be an American citizen?

In case you do already know, UCLES does advise the MOE/MES on certain issues, like the determining of grades and standards..........]
Yes, but realistically -- what's more prestigious, SPM or 'O' Levels?

[bush]

are you still in school johnlee. why did you quit? u in the states now? us citizen alredy?
1. I am in KDU College.
2. Why bother with SPM when you have the opportunity to take the GCE 'O' Levels, set and moderated by a world-class university (Cambridge), which will get you into college just like the SPM?
3. No, I am not in the States.
4. Why would I want to be an American citizen?

In case you do already know, UCLES does advise the MOE/MES on certain issues, like the determining of grades and standards..........]
Yes, but realistically -- what's more prestigious, SPM or 'O' Levels?

prestige don't come into play because these are just standardised qualifications......one talks about prestige when one is talking about universities....O-levels is just well known, a brand name that's all, just like taylor's for A-levels. I am not sure about O-levels, but SPM has more stuff compared to GCSEs and IGCSEs. Not talking about moral, but the popular subjects like the sciences and maths.