What Is Expected to Learn in the University
With the drawing near of end of term and also the holidays for Christmas and
New Year, I have thought something upon what I have done in this semester……
As a junior, I should have had some ideas about the presented question “What
is expected to learn in the university”. But I didn’t have quite clear
thoughts until recently. I am double major students, majoring in both Computer
Science and English. In my English writing class, now we are working on how to
write a good personal statement for post graduate program or a future job. In
order to make the teaching and learning easy to understand, the teacher provided
us with a personal statement written by her friend who want to apply for the
master program of liberal arts in St. John’s University. In order to make my
essay more logical and clear, I would like to explain something about his
personal statement. Then I will present you with my point of view about this
question including some thoughts about the interviews for both post graduate
program and future job.
The man who wrote this personal statement described himself as goal-oriented,
motivated, committed and passionate. He wants to be headmaster of a school in
the future so in his elementary school, high school and college he followed his
pattern. And also in his first job in a private school as a teacher he followed
the pattern. So I think in the university we should have a “pattern” too.
The task of university is to complete individual, the mind, the body and the
soul. Here is my point of view about this question.
First, unavoidably, we are required to learn some basic knowledge in our special
field. Bear this in mind, we are not sponges, simply absorbing the knowledge is
not wise. Sometimes I am just too “busy” in reading the required books or
mastering some techniques in my field to think what I am doing now is valuable
or not. As I have mentioned, first, I am a computer major and I have to master
some skills in dealing with computers’ crashing down or some other problems.
Now I don’t think it is enough. But accumulating experiences is necessary.
Considering the knowledge on the text books, I think we must reach the level of
understanding them and simply remembering them is not recommended.
Second, we should aim to learn to think, especially critical and analytical
thinking skills, which are called the cornerstone of successful education and
mind. To think about the whole structure of our special field and form a whole
idea and then fill it with some details. When reading others’ books, recognize
what is right and what is not that reasonable. Learn to think about questions
from multiple attitudes, angels and perspective.
Third, we must make ourselves unique. This is quite important when you are given
an interview. To achieve this goal, find quickly what is your favorite and in
which area you can make success. Be confident in yourself especially when you
are at interview. At that time you have to show your advantages in a short time
so show that what is you and show them something that they can not gain from
your marks. Tell them what you do that makes you unique. Name out the things
that you have done, and what you gain through them (maybe it can be called life
skill) instead of the concrete detail or knowledge. Support your ideas with
facts. Why do you think that position is fit for you.
Fourthly, slow down to think about what you are doing. I am studying in a
university specialize in science and technology. We have little time reading
literature or philosophy or learn something about liberal arts. Now I think this
is really benefiting. Sometimes we need to slow down to reflect on the things we
have done. We should make sure that we are still having a right guideline. From
this point of view, I am quite grateful to my writing teacher, Alice, who is an
American. She taught me so much not only the writing skills but the skills of
learning.
Hope that we can have good discussion on this topic.
