The Idol Syndrome

I am having a difficulty convincing students that things that they are doing now would actually benefit them in a way they don't see. I mean, it is not something that's tangible - how do you see "confidence", "experience", "values"...?

Not that I want to be remembered or ask for any returns, but when Mrs Nah and I were talking about how students forget about their lecturers immediately after they graduate, or that they update their SIP supervisors about their latest "adventure" but not their lecturers, we felt that our students don't really value their experience here in school. Mrs Nah said that in view of their future, it would be of course more logical for them to maintain good relationship with their supervisors. But we both felt a sense of lose.

It all boils down to motivation.

I have students who constantly ask for SEAL points whenever I ask them to do certain "CCAs". Granted. They deserve it. But I guess some where in our educational system we miss the key part - that motivation should come from within and not outside. Along the way, we forget that we need to tell the students that whatever they do, they must find the "reasons within", ie the intrinsic motivations, and not some external motivations that bring about materialistics gain - such as fame, career, money.

We somehow forget to educate our young people that with instrinsic motivations, whatever you achieve would eventually lead you to those tangible and intangible gain - not just tangible and temporary gain that you get through working on something because of extrinsic motivation.

With intrinsic motivation, you can find passion - and passion is the most important ingredient to "burn" your life (in a positive sense).

After all, goodness comes from within.