The Internet And Me

I survived life without internet for 5 days….!

The internet connection at home decided to crash on Good Friday (22 April). Murray is the one who usually manages the internet account at home and since he is still away on honeymoon with Hannah, this means no internet during the Easter weekend, through to Anzac Day on Monday and an additional observed holiday on Tuesday by the University. Which explains my abandoning this blog for like a week now. Oh how I miss blogging.

It was rainy and wet during the Easter weekend. I was stuck at home with no internet. For 5 days. I know, re-writing this made it seemed very daunting to me too. But I can’t believe that I survived it and worked out my modelling in the process. Ahhh….I realised I never really talked about what I do as a student. Well, I model. No really, I model.

Mathematical modelling that is! I have been trying to solve this one problem. By the way, that’s what we PhD students do, we create a problem (usually a complicated one) and then drive ourselves crazy trying to solve it in order to inch closer to graduation. In my case, I have been trying, (for months..!!) to derive an accurate mathematical expression to describe a complex chemical reaction. Yes, it drives me crazy every week day. The absence of internet, it seems, made me work and focus better on my modelling. Even though it’s not runway modelling, but still…

I am guilty of spending way too much time on the internet checking e-mails, Facebook, chatting online, reading blogs when I should be doing something else of more importance. I am sure I am not alone in this I thought I have an addiction to the internet. I felt like I will miss out a lot if I stop checking in for even a day.

But I went through 5 days straight doing just fine. It reminded me of the days when the internet was a luxury rather a necessity. While having no internet was a hassle for me because it made information access that much harder for my work, it has also gotten rid of unnecessary distractions that have potential to make me “wander off” from it. Yes I couldn’t blog or check on my favourite bloggers, but hey, it’s the internet, they won’t be gone :)

5 days of bad weather and no internet made me realise that life without internet is possible. Or rather, life with controlled internet access is possible and possibly healthier. I have a love affair with the internet, but not an addiction. What about you?

How To Have A Job And Not Work

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

~Confucius~

As a soon-to-be job hunter, I strongly believe holding onto this quote tightly might just be key towards having a contented life. Then I can be truly happy.

After fourteen schooling years, four more in university and another two as a working adult, it finally hit me that I got it all wrong right at the beginning. Getting a high-profile or professional career does not define my life. My career should be something that would provide me the essentials to fuel a lifestyle I enjoy.  While I am at it, I might as well choose a job that I take pleasure in.

I have been studying science as opposed to arts for as long as I could remember. Back in the day, my choice of major was not driven by my passion but more to a list of items which I now perceive as shallow:

1. Students doing science subjects are deemed “smarter”.
2. Science students can always switch to art stream anytime but not vice versa.
3. Being “technical” has a bigger chance of making more money than being “artistic”.
4. A professional degree is more prestigious than just a science or arts degree.

Perhaps it’s a cultural thing. Most asian kids are typically programmed to “study hard and get a high paying job, ideally as a doctor, engineer or lawyer.” I was really poor in biology and sucked at remembering facts so I ended up graduating with a Bachelor in Engineering degree. It never crossed my mind to choose my major based on what my true passions are. Never.

My subsequent two years as a practicing engineer in Malaysia had me feeling miserable, confused, lost, frustrated, incapable and very stressed at my job. Finally, everything simply boiled down to “I hate my job!” I found out the hard way that I don’t have what it takes to be an engineer. At least not in Malaysia.

I don’t hate engineering. I am not really good at it either. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder if I might be better off and happier doing something else that suits my personality more. If only I knew myself better then.

My decision to further my studies in New Zealand was motivated by the hope that it will open up doors for another career path – an academic profession and beyond. A second chance. I hope it’s not too late to acknowledge that I love to teach and write. Sometimes I question my own decisions in doing yet another degree in engineering, whether I am making another mistake in the choice of major yet again. Yes, I am still stuck in engineering. I have gone too far to not do a PhD in Engineering. Plus, those who can’t do, teach I trust that my background in engineering will help me teach better.

Now that I am many years older, hopefully I am much wiser in my career choices this time around. A job that not only lets me teach and write but also provides for a comfortable lifestyle. Professional recognition and opportunities for promotion are just bonuses for me.

Are you happy with your job? Have you ever regretted your choice of major or course of study?