I don't fit in at Uni.
It's not just that I'm doing a postgrad course without doing an undergrad course so I'm constantly behind the eight ball, (What's endnote? Where is blackboard? What the hell is the difference between a tutorial and a lecture?) - it's a variety of reasons.
For example, I don't look like a business student. I generally wear a flanno, jeans and thongs to my lectures and carry a backpack I've dragged around the world three times. Whereas everyone else is wearing business attire with laptops and briefcases. If "Dress for the job you want" was true apparently I'd want to be on the dole.
I am also not Chinese. I sat in an airport in China for several hours and I like to eat Chinese food but alas unlike 70% of my class, I'm not Chinese and can't speak any Mandarin. (Although I do like eating them too; mandarins, not people.) This shouldn't be an issue, but when my lecturer makes remarks and jokes in Mandarin, I don't get it. Ni Hao?
I have trouble respecting my lecturers. This one I'm in two minds about and it takes up most of my thoughts while sitting in my lectures. Most of my lecturers have had stella careers in major multinational corporations and know their shit when it comes to business. I admire them for that. But as soon as they step into that classroom and abide by university policy, the real world goes out the window. When I write a report to a client no one gives a shit if the full stop in my referencing is outside or inside the bracket, not my boss, not the client, NO ONE! It certainly isn't clause to deduct 20% of the marks. Content is what matters except when you're at university, then no one cares about your opinion or the content of your article, so long as you all act like sheep and follow procedure. Bah!
I suppose the biggest reason that I don't fit in at my postgrad uni is my attitude. By the time you get to postgrad you're supposed to be there because you not only want to learn but you like university learning. Whether it be for the intellectual challenge, the peer discussions or because you really like reading journal articles, (who are these people?)
My attitude is the same as when I was in high school. "I don't want to be here, when can I leave." It's not that I don't like the course, I do. Before I started my MBA I would read business books and articles on my own free will because I like learning and I like the subject. But I struggle to learn by lecture. The inefficiency bothers me and my inability to sit still and concentrate on one thing leaves me doing everything but listening to the lecturer. I try to rectify this by making notes on the text or reading related texts on the subject instead of facebooking. Key word there is try.
It also helps when I realise I'm paying $200 each lecture for the privilege.
One down, two thirds to go. Wish me luck!
It's not just that I'm doing a postgrad course without doing an undergrad course so I'm constantly behind the eight ball, (What's endnote? Where is blackboard? What the hell is the difference between a tutorial and a lecture?) - it's a variety of reasons.
For example, I don't look like a business student. I generally wear a flanno, jeans and thongs to my lectures and carry a backpack I've dragged around the world three times. Whereas everyone else is wearing business attire with laptops and briefcases. If "Dress for the job you want" was true apparently I'd want to be on the dole.
I am also not Chinese. I sat in an airport in China for several hours and I like to eat Chinese food but alas unlike 70% of my class, I'm not Chinese and can't speak any Mandarin. (Although I do like eating them too; mandarins, not people.) This shouldn't be an issue, but when my lecturer makes remarks and jokes in Mandarin, I don't get it. Ni Hao?
I have trouble respecting my lecturers. This one I'm in two minds about and it takes up most of my thoughts while sitting in my lectures. Most of my lecturers have had stella careers in major multinational corporations and know their shit when it comes to business. I admire them for that. But as soon as they step into that classroom and abide by university policy, the real world goes out the window. When I write a report to a client no one gives a shit if the full stop in my referencing is outside or inside the bracket, not my boss, not the client, NO ONE! It certainly isn't clause to deduct 20% of the marks. Content is what matters except when you're at university, then no one cares about your opinion or the content of your article, so long as you all act like sheep and follow procedure. Bah!
I suppose the biggest reason that I don't fit in at my postgrad uni is my attitude. By the time you get to postgrad you're supposed to be there because you not only want to learn but you like university learning. Whether it be for the intellectual challenge, the peer discussions or because you really like reading journal articles, (who are these people?)
My attitude is the same as when I was in high school. "I don't want to be here, when can I leave." It's not that I don't like the course, I do. Before I started my MBA I would read business books and articles on my own free will because I like learning and I like the subject. But I struggle to learn by lecture. The inefficiency bothers me and my inability to sit still and concentrate on one thing leaves me doing everything but listening to the lecturer. I try to rectify this by making notes on the text or reading related texts on the subject instead of facebooking. Key word there is try.
It also helps when I realise I'm paying $200 each lecture for the privilege.
One down, two thirds to go. Wish me luck!
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