Monday, August 29, 2011

Never Too Late to Rediscover

If you are a geography, history and economics nerd (like me), I'd highly suggest reading the following blog article at: http://thoughteconomics.blogspot.com/2011/08/brazil-how-to-build-great-country.html that contains an interview with the Brazilian Foreign Minister from 2003 to 2011, current Minister of Defense Celso Amorim, on "How to Build a Great Country" and how Brazil got to the international position it holds now. If only we could send a Celso Amorim to every developing country...

Monday, July 11, 2011

The "College Bubble"

Came across a pretty interesting video on YouTube today called "College Conspiracy"...
Here is the link to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpZtX32sKVE&feature=pyv&ad=6739540474&kw=conspiracy

Personally, I don't understand the need to create such an opinionated video. By claiming that "college education is the largest scam in the US history," the producers of this documentary are basically stating that college is a dishonest scheme, a fraud, or a wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in personal or financial gain (according to definition of the word "scam" in the Online English Dictionary). After watching all of the video, I realized that their biggest dissatisfaction with college is based on how high the price of a college degree is and how little benefit a college degree can supposedly provide you.

However, I'd like to point out two things in response to this video. First, there is not one path in this world that is perfect for everyone, and a college degree is not a requirement, therefore it should be one's own choice whether to attend college or not. It's not like there is a certain fixed guarantee that one will not succeed in life without a degree or will with one. The video itself is influenced by an interview of a man that succeeded without a college degree. This example should be used as an illustration of someone who made the right choice rather than the pointlessness of college. College is just another way to systemize the job market, just as many other sorting systems in life, but it does not mean it is absolute - there are exceptions. Second, yes, the prices of college are high, but what prices aren't? The group that provided the research for this video is called inflationUS, and inflation is frankly one of the most contributing factors to this issue. They interview several people that have fallen deep in debt because of college, but they don't see that college isn't the reason. They took an unnecessary risk and made a bad bargain when signing to an unrealistic payment schedule, that's all it comes down to.

My response to this video should be regarded as my objective view on the matter. I did not intend to offend, in any way, the makers of the above mentioned documentary.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Fears and Decisions

Fear. Just the word itself exudes cold. It's a feeling that can grow into one of the largest and most powerful forces behind almost every single decision you make in your life.

It starts out simple, of course. In kindergarten and elementary school, it was fear of being alone that drove me to stay as long as I could at school or outdoors with my friends until my parents came home in the evening. In middle school, it was fear of defeat that made me work myself till sweat and blood in every single sport or other activity I was involved in. In high school, there were so many important decisions to make that it was fear of making the wrong choice out of which I tried to excel at everything. It was fear of letting my parents down that drove me to study Physics through and beyond college level while in 9th grade and brought me to earn the third place title in the whole nation during the National physics Olympiad that year. I’m afraid that in that case, it was probably the only driving force involved. To this day, I still don’t understand – why physics? Honestly, I don’t even like the subject. I never did, not even outside the stressful atmosphere of the competition. Interestingly, acquiring the medal brought more of a sense of relief rather than accomplishment.

See, fear isn’t the best-quality driving force, because it doesn’t do much when there’s nothing else pushing along with it. Neither is it only a driving force. Fear can be as much of a stopping force as it can be a driving one. It is fear of danger and death that stops you from taking risks or breaking rules, whether you’re sitting on a plane or just crossing the road on your way to work. It is fear of missing out that stops you from leaving a baseball game until there is a break. It is fear of being dependent on someone and missing out on certain chances later that stops many young people from creating a family before they think they’ve tried it all. However, when fear is a stopping force, it becomes, in some twisted way, partially less effective. Whether you turn off your cell phone before the plane takes off doesn’t guarantee you that everyone else did the same, therefore, doesn’t quite guarantee you your safety. If you marry late, you still might later miss out on things that you would get if you married young. The point being, no matter what you do and where you are, you’re always missing out on something. But is that a problem? No. It just means that decisions shouldn’t be based on simply your fears. Every turn taken in life can become the “ultimate right choice” for you when led by passion, love, knowledge, belief and purpose.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Life is Either a Daring Adventure or Nothing

I love flying. It is and has always been a part, or, might I say, a start, of a new page, new experience, new opportunity throughout my life. For some, it might accidentally become a problem of identity - if you find yourself lost and confused about who you are, due to all the places you have visited.

I love flying. Flying is annoying to most of the people that use air transportation, but to me, this is always a start of something exciting. This is where I take time to think deeply and realize what awaits for me in the very near future when I get off that airplane. All the biggest impressions in my life and career have resulted from traveling.

As a college student that goes to school half-a-planet away from home, I don’t really get to see my parents and friends that often. Oh, forgot to mention, I am from a Central Asian country named Turkmenistan. So, when I do get to fly home (once in 1-1.5 years), it’s a long, expensive and exhausting trip. Consisting of about 4 flights averaging 10 hours each, that’s what it sounds like to anyone. Anyone, but me. I do not possess explanation to it at this point, but I hope that all the odd pieces come together in the future.

I hope that through reading my blog, at least some kind of an urge to travel awakens inside those who have never stepped foot outside of their own country. It isn’t about patriotism, not at all. I am and will be spending most of my twenties in the States, but it doesn’t mean I’m betraying or losing love for my home country. Nor will I ever be able to deny a special, developed over time, place in my heart for all the countries I’ve visited, especially America, the country I’ve visited the most.

The purpose of this blog isn't just advice, it's more of a message. A message that, in today's globalized world, traveling is a MUST.