Another Brick In The Wall

I have been tagged by a sweet gentleman, he's all the way from Florida and his name is Charles. It's a tag on Education. So let's fulfil his 'academic' spell on me. Diving in mate, SPLASHHH!!

What was the name of the teacher that was most influential in your life from grades K through 6?

I'd say the top teacher here would be Miss.Ingrid Martenstyn, among some other great teachers ofcourse. She was unbelievably kind and strict at the same time. She stood out from the rest cos something wierd happened when I was in Year 3 and that stuck in my head for good. I was always one of the best students in class (not bragging here) and almost all teachers knew that. And Ms.Ingrid was my Year 3 class teacher, and she too appreciated my work and my good behavior etc. I was also the class monitor then hehe. But one afternoon I got so chattery during class (yakking away with another girl and we were only 8yrs old LOL!), Ms.Ingrid punished me and my friend. She made us both go to the front of the class and stand facing the window (and our backs to the whole class). Outside the window, far away, I could see the ocean. I actually enjoyed that 20mins or so :). But what struck me most was the lesson I learnt out of that experience. I was not the kind who got punished in school...I was always great with my work and with the teachers. So when Ms.Ingrid punished me that day for the very first time, I learnt that no amount of good work can save you when you are in the wrong (as heart-breaking as it was for the 8yr old me back then, I had to accept it with dignity). When you do something wrong, you must pay a price for it no matter how good you may have been in the past. That lesson stuck in my head for good and I'm glad about it. Thank you Miss.Ingrid, you taught me to accept my faults with grace.



What subject did you favor in High School?

I was to become a doctor you know...yes that was my dream. But thank God for the greater benefit of the humankind, I didn't become one. Let me tell you why. Since I wanted to become a doc someday, like a big-fat doc in the making, I joined the Biology stream in High School. The first lab practical was to do with dissecting roaches and some were all over the place, having escaped out of their jars. Well guess what, that was the last day of my Medical career cos I ran out of the lab screaming (I'm traumatised by roaches, I can't stand them). Yes a roach changed my entire career (some of you already know of this quite tragic story). I then joined the Maths stream and eventually became an IT Consultant. My fav subject in H/S therefore was Applied Maths and I topped it in HSC - don't ask me how and no tuition will be given.

Did you attend a university and if so, did you attain a degree?

Yes and Yes. I went to UNSW (University of New South Wales, Sydney) for both my Bachelors in Comp Sc and Masters in Commerce & Economics. I have 2 degrees to my self-worth hehe.

Do you learn best through books, by watching, or hands-on?

I hardly read books these days. But I did learn alot from books back in school. I used to read alot of classics as a requirement for literature readings and began to love them alot. I learnt so much from books like Pride & Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, The Class, Little Women, Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Wuthering Heights etc etc. I believe some of the books we read as kids have so much input into character building and foundation. I also learn by watching things and people around me - it's ntaural I guess. And I also learn from experiences in life - that's my biggest teacher. No amount of academic qualifications can teach you about life like experiences do. I believe both cognitive and behavioral learning happens best through experiences.

Has education been an on-going process for you?

For few years it was on-going but now all my academic needs have being fulfilled - however I believe Learning never ends. It's a continuous process till death.

Everyday there's something new to learn.

How do you feel about that?

How do I feel about Education? Well it's required for doing well in career but not necessarily for doing well in life. To do well in life, you need to be able to Learn from experiences. And if you can't do that, no amount of education can help you to lead a satisfied life. As you can see there are so many 'educated' people around but not enough sensible people around.

What seven people are you tagging to do this?

Anybody who wishes to educate us on them may take this tag up :).

Thanks Charles it was fun doing this tag. Hope you enjoyed reading my answers too. I'd like to end this post with 3 clever quotes on Education.

Education is one of the few things a person is willing to pay for and not get.

by William Lowe Bryan

Education is one of the chief obstacles to intelligence and freedom of thought.
by Bertrand A. Russell

Education is what remains when we have forgotten all that we have been taught.by George Savile

Current Music: Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd