This article is authorized to be transferred from: Wan Ma Look at the World (ID: greatbaymom), author: Guo Ruixiang
This article is from National Taiwan University professor Guo Ruixiang.
When he was a student, Mr. Guo was a proper student, and he was also the envy of many parents and students: he studied all the way to the best schools in Taiwan and the United States, and after graduation, he had a high salary and seemed to be smooth sailing, and he had reached the peak of his life.
However, he said: Since the second half of my life, I have encountered changes one after another, and finally understood what a deep sense of powerlessness is...
He has experienced major turning points and challenges in his life, and has a new understanding of how to learn and the truth and value of life.
He set up a special course on "Life Management" at National Taiwan University in the form of a reading club, hoping to enable students to think about the essence of life in advance, and to make judgments and choices that reflect their personal values with wisdom and courage when facing challenges big and small in real life...
This sincere article is shared with you~
In the first half of my life, in the eyes of others, it should also be a standard "gold list title", and I can be regarded as a super good student.
He was admitted to Jianzhong University and National Taiwan University, and then completed his master's and doctoral degrees at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.
After graduating, he found an engineer job in Silicon Valley with an annual salary of millions, and then married Mei Jiaoniang, returned to National Taiwan University as a professor, and had two children.
Professor Guo Ruixiang, School of Management, National Taiwan University
I must admit that for a while, I really felt very lucky, and I also believed that as long as I worked hard enough, whether it was the "American dream" or the "Taiwan dream", I could make my dreams come true.
However, since the second half of my life, I have encountered changes one after another, and finally understood what it means to have a deep sense of powerlessness.
First, when I was in the prime of life, I got cancer. In the first tug-of-war with the Grim Reaper, although I was lucky to win, I was also greatly discouraged.
And a few years later, I lost my wife in middle age! Losing the person you love the most, there is nothing left in your heart but emptiness.
I was in a mess, but I didn't have much time to feel sorry for myself, because I had to pull two young boys who were going through puberty to grow up.
A family photo of Guo Ruixiang with his beloved wife and two children when he was a child.
It turns out that what happens to us unexpectedly is the real life.
The traditional good students who won the first place in each subject,
I was most reassured
"Teacher, can you help me write a letter of recommendation? Here are my transcripts for the past seven semesters. "Recently, a female senior came to see me and asked me to write a letter of recommendation for her to apply to graduate school.
I was shocked to see her grades, and for the past seven semesters from freshman to senior year, she has been a book award winner every semester! On the NTU campus, where Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and students who can study abound, this is not easy, which shows how hard she works!
But as soon as I opened my mouth, I poured cold water on her, "Classmate, can you not continue to win the first place?" ”
"Why? Is there anything wrong with chasing good grades? If you want to apply for a master's degree or doctorate in a good school abroad, shouldn't you have good grades? ”
Faced with her puzzled expression, I asked her to sit down in the research room, "Let me take a moment and tell you a story, okay?" ”
To be honest, in the 18 years of teaching at National Taiwan University, the students I am most worried about are not the students who are at the end of the performance crane, but on the contrary, they are the traditional good students who have won the first place in every subject, which makes me feel at ease the most.
Source: pixabay
This story started many years ago with a very serious National Taiwan student who often won book awards.
Once, there was a young Taiwanese man who studied in high school and National Taiwan University in college, and in the eyes of others, he had smooth sailing in the entrance examination, and after long-term and unremitting efforts, he finally got his wish and came to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States to study for a master's degree and a doctorate.
At that time, in his mind, a "successful" life was like a straight line with a trajectory, and graduating from MIT with beautiful grades was equivalent to getting the first entry brick for "success".
He told himself: "I'm here to study, not to play, so let's do my homework!" ”
This Taiwanese student, who has studied science and engineering since he was a child, loves sports and books, but he is out of place and even at a loss for American pop culture and the colorful social life among his classmates.
So he devoted himself to learning, and sure enough, in the two years of his master's degree and the first year of his doctorate, he scored beautiful A's in every subject!
At MIT, An A is the highest score, and it is not easy to get an A in all subjects.
He couldn't help but be a little proud in his heart, quite proud of himself, and always thought that his supervisor must also be happy for him, after all, in a group of talented students, his good grades can be called "first".
All A results, finally hit the big iron plate.
图源 :p exels
There is an unfamiliar but compulsory important course, after he took it for a few months, he knew in his heart that his grades would probably not be too ideal, although it was absolutely no problem to pass, but I am afraid that I would not be able to get A.
This "good student" simply broke his wrist and resolutely withdrew from this course before the final exam to avoid the "terrifying" crisis of B in the transcript.
Many American students don't understand, and the teacher thinks it's even stranger, the credit fee has been paid, and he has been serious for a few months, why did he withdraw from the election? Just to avoid a bad transcript? This reason is incredible for Americans!
In the coming year, he challenged this compulsory course again, worked steadily all the way, and redoubled his efforts, but after the final results were released, he actually got the first non-A grade!
The previous withdrawal from the election was tantamount to a futile exercise of time and money.
Frustrated, he was a little embarrassed to go to see the American advisor, and even, with apologies. However, the advisor was very happy to congratulate him! Congratulations he didn't get an A!
The professor said earnestly, "I'm so happy for you!" From today onwards, you no longer have to study for A's and high grades, you can finally be bold and do more important and valuable things! ”
图源:pexels
So what is more important and valuable?
The professor smiled and replied, "Go for mistakes and innovations!" Use textbooks to teach you the basics, and then make mistakes and try to innovate in a planned way. That's what counts! ”
Taiwanese boys, like a slap in the face, wake up: what is the essence of the pursuit of knowledge? The essence of knowledge is to stand on the shoulders of predecessors, constantly seek breakthroughs, continue to accumulate new knowledge for the next generation, and benefit human society with innovative momentum.
Delicious cake is the essence; And the good results are just the beautiful cream flowers that are decorated.
A culture of fear of losing leads to a conservative mindset that leads to conservative choices
I'm the protagonist of the story above, the Taiwanese kid who once recognized the wrong direction.
When I was pointed out by the MIT advisor and pointed out the fundamental mistake in the concept of studying, it was actually very useful.
Before that