The Motivation to be a Student
Posted by Jerome on | November 11, 2006
I am just now hoping to enter into a new phase as an institutionalised student. I should preface this by saying that for the past four years I have been working as a Lecturer A for Monash University and during that time embarked on the academic journey towards a Masters degree. I have since stepped off that boat. I must admit, the burden that has been lifted off my shoulders was unexpected but totally welcome.
You see, I was only doing the Masters because it was a requirement of my employment. Due to the astoundingly complex nature of the bureaucratic machine that is a university faculty, my topic (one which I was dearly fond of), was transformed into a painful thought cancer that turned my stomach and leached upon my soul. It took me a very long time to realise the amazingly ironic nature of what is meant by the term ‘research’ as opposed to what I naively imagined it to be. At every turn my motivation was squashed by requirements that had no place in my personal research methodology. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that the system of institutionalised research does not have its place. I am saying that it doesn’t suit me. It took me some time to realise this because I had bought into the myth that as you progress from undergaduate to postgraduate status, you are able to refine your study focus and become immersed in the field of your choice.
Instead, I was faced with teaching responsibilities that were based on an antagonistic relationship between lecturer and student. Most students, in my experience, have become overcome with apathy. Postmodernism has left a stain so thick and stinking that students mistakenly believe that it is ok to have no belief. The stucture of the Masters and PhD degrees restrict the evolution of ideas. As I progressed through my studies, I was confronted with more and more administrative work. I love(d) teaching and I love to learn but I was unable to do either of these in this environment.
I know well the arguments that would be thrown my way in opposition to all of the gripes that I have expressed and they certainly have their validity. Their value though is largely based on the propagation of the current system. I don’t like this system.
“What are you babbling about you idiot?” you may well ask.
“Didn’t you open by saying you are hoping to be an ‘institutionalised’ student again?”
Right you are. I am going to be a student again. I have applied to go to Tafe to study remedial massage. But, I have always and will always be a student. This has nothing to do with schools and qualifications but raher is based on the continual education that is required to remain conscious (I will define consciousness as the experience of existence). Institutions are a resource. They have libraries and interesting people and physical resources. They do not qualify students; being alive qualifies you as a student. If you are not a student then you have either died or were never born. What I am stuggling to express here is the importance of the point of departure for motivation. I believe it should come from a desire to increase and enhance the experience of existence. It is the only thing that can be undertaken with any sense of certainty. Everything else can change.
Exist Now, Love Funk and Learn Eternally.
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4 Responses to “The Motivation to be a Student”
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November 12th, 2006 @ 9:29 am
Dear prospective TAFE student,
I can only recommend becoming a student again, especially at TAFE. You will notice many differences between the TAFE teaching style, facilities, staff and fellow students and those you enjoyed/tolerated at tertiary institutions. TAFE means getting hands on - something everyone would benefit from. I hope you get as much out of it as I do. Now, how to get on your list of guinea pigs for massage practice?
November 12th, 2006 @ 9:31 am
Very well put Jerome. I think more people need to look at education the way you do.
November 13th, 2006 @ 11:05 am
Thank you for the encouragement Melissa. I have taught at TAFE and I must admit that this experience (which was a while ago) left me depressed about the nature of education there also. I realise that this view is in part due to the area in which I was working. The course I have applied for seems to be resourse rich (judging by the small insight I got from the intro class I recently did). Also, I am ready to suck the marrow out of the place so as to learn as much as possible. I am hungy.
Looking at your work and reading about your enthusiasm is very reassuring.
Also thanks to Benjamin for saying lovely things.
You are, of course, both on my list of massage victims.
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