1. How is this talk relevant to you?
2. Do you tihnk hard work is more important than "being smart" when considering the possibility for excellence in math and science? What about other AoKs?
3. Is pursuing a degree in arts and social sciences better/worse than a STEM degree? Why or why not?
4. Do you disagree with any of the points made by Hrabrowsky in his talk? Elaborate on your disagreements.
5. Do you agree with Arisotle, that "excellence is never an accident? Is excellence always choice and never chance? Why or why not?
6. For those of you considering a degree in math and science, why are you doing it? Do you have a passion or natural talent for the subject? Is it strictly a monetary motive? Is one motivation "better" than another? Explain all aspects of your answer.
As I am writing this post, I am also filling out my application for the pre-med program at UF, that's why this talk was relevant for me. It basically was about how hard work is the key to success in college, especially for math and science related fields. While I do think there is some skill one must have to excel in these subjects, I do believe that everyone can still gain success just by working very diligently. Furthermore, regarding other AoK's, I think the same concept goes. For example, an artist who has skill might make good pieces, but an artist who spends a lot of time and effort on a piece will have just an amazing(if not better) piece. Furthermore, I do not think it is fair to compare art degrees with STEM degrees because we have different uses for them. Furthermore, what is the meaning of better/worse in this question. For example, is it talking about something objective like income or something more subjective like interest? I think that both are equally great, and it is really up to the person answering the question to choose a side (I like both ;D).
ReplyDelete1. This talk is relevant to me because I am a student and my academic career is subject to many of the limitations of the cut-and-dried educational system Hrabrowsky described.
ReplyDelete2. There seems to be some merit to hard work in the math and sciences, but the truly gifted math/science do not need to work hard to understand. Regardless of the amount of work a student puts in, they cannot approach the level of competency possessed by someone specially gifted in a certain area---rather, they must find their own strengths and develop those.
3. Pursuing a arts degree is as good as any other, provided it is a person’s true passion. However, many times students are led into thinking they can’t succeed in math/science majors and thus study the arts as a “safe” option.
4. I don’t outright disagree with any of Hrabrowsky’s points, but I think that his emphasis on completely reinventing classes is a bit overblown. I think that better teacher pay, and thus better teachers, can fix the problem.
5. Excellence is always a choice. Even the most gifted must choose to use their talents to their full potential.
6. I’m undoubtedly headed towards a degree in physics or engineering. My main motivation is my passion for science, but I am certainly accepting of the proposition of not having to worry about financial strain. Even so, motivation of passion or talent is far more important and often leads to greater success, including financial success.
This talk is relevant to me since the math and sciences are my favorite subject, and my parents are also pushing me toward a math and science related major. As I ponder about what I want to major in college, this talk inspires me. I believe that hard work is more important than “being smart,” since some people think they are smart and slack off, eventually failing in the long run. As long as you try your best, progress will show. No progress happens if a person who is “smart” does not act on it and work hard. Regarding other Aoks, I think this applies to history also, but not so much in art. A person who is skilled and talented in art is going to have an easier time coming up with inspiration and creating artwork compared so someone who has no talent in art (from personal experience). I believe that pursing a degree in arts or social sciences should not be compared to a STEM degree, since both are equally valid decisions, as long as the person pursing it is happy, I believe it does not matter. I am considering a math/science degree, because those have always been my favorite and best subjects. It is also partly a monetary motive, since those types of jobs are in relatively high demand at this time. I think every motive is equally valid, as long as the person is content with the degree/job, then it does not matter in the long run, since it is their own life.
ReplyDelete1. This talk is relevant to me since I am pursuing an Animal Biology/Zoology major in college. The importance of being passionate and having a sense of community with the other students will help me get through the next 3-4 years in college.
ReplyDelete2. Being a hard worker is more important than being smart in any AOK, including Math and Science. What is the use of being smart if you are not applying that intelligence onto your work. Work has to be done in order for excellence to be achieved.
3. Pursuing an arts/social science degree is neither better nor worse than getting a STEM degree. The careers associated with an STEM degree are usually higher paying than an arts/SS degree, but what matters is the priority of the individual. For the student wants to focus on financial success, than they should get a STEM degree. However, in most cases it should be about getting a degree that they are passionate in, it will help lead a happier life than if they a degree because of external motivations (salaries, parents, etc.).
4. I did not disagree with any points, but it would have been better if he focus more on the Pillars of success than the success stories and personal stories.
5. Excellence is a choice, people have to put the work to put themselves in place to get the opportunities that lead to success.
6. I am pursuing a degree in Animal Biology as it is a life-long dream of mine to work with animals. I have not considered a career outside of it. Consequently, it is better for the motivation to be from passion or natural talent since it is innate and natural. It will be a stronger motivation to help get through the difficult times than monetary motivations.
1. This talk is relevant to me because I am someone interested in pursuing biology as my major in college. I want to be able to succeed in college to set me up for a successful career in medicine.
ReplyDelete2. I think to be successful in math and sciences you need to have a balance of hard work and "being smart." Obviously you need to put in the effort to study and write papers, but a major aspect of these subjects is understanding the concepts involved. Without understanding, someone can work as hard as he/she wants and still not be successful. As far as other AOKs, reason is the major area that provides the understanding needed to comprehend difficult concepts I math and science. Reason limits possible bias and provides a means to provide objective views of these subjects which can be very vital.
3. I personally think a degree in arts/social sciences is worse than a STEM degree. A degree in math or science offers so many more opportunities in the job world because companies are much more willing to take people who have a stem degree than a art/social science degree.
4. I don't disagree with any specific points, but I do not like the fact that Freeman does not offer enough specific solutions to his problems. A lot of his argument is very idealistic, but I do not think most of it can be realistically implemented.
5. Excellence is always choice because it takes hard work and time. It is not just handed to someone on a platter no matter what the case may be. I believe that if someone truly strives for excellence, then that person will achieve it
6. I am pursuing a degree in biology because ever since I was a boy I have always wanted to be a doctor. That is my dream and I believe that a degree in science will help me achieve that. I will admit that as I have grown older and I convinced myself more and more that it is the best career because it pays well. However, I do have a passion for biology and anatomy which is why my motivation to become a doctor is mostly due to that love for the subject.
1. I think this talk is relative to me (as well as my classmates) because we are all students approaching a point in our lives where our focus is closing in on the future. With so many choices, we are concerned with making the right ones. I think it’s necessary to understand ourselves before making any choices pertaining to the future. You have to know what you want, and you have to know what it takes. Heading towards a specific career takes a passion that we should realize as soon as possible. If you know what you want and why you want it, then you should be capable of reaching your expectations. However, you need to realize the intensity and difficulty of the workload ahead. You should be discouraged if you’re not succeeded at what you want. Instead, it is necessary to restructure your thought and exploit the education system’s resources. You need to be able to see your efforts as a collaboration, an engagement- a result of understanding and choice.
ReplyDelete2. Hard work builds a solid foundation that one can build upon. I don’t think that truly hard workers will ever fail. However, being smart- being able to understand difficult concepts with little difficulty will always be an advantage. Regardless, anyone can reach this “advantage” with enough time and effort. Real hard work can only result from a sense of passion and motivation. Ideally, it should never fail you. Additionally, I think that because math and science are process based, they tend to entail a sense of hard work more noticeably than other areas such as art or history. Math and science can overtly list a set of standards. Math and science, like other areas, require more than hard work though. Everything requires drive. Without drive, you are only partially achieving what you want. Many students probably step into math and science because they believe it is only a process based route requiring only hard work.
3. It depends on what you are inclined towards. You will always do better in an area that excites and motivates you. I don’t think that one degree is more difficult to attain than the other. In every field, there are people who are good at what they do because they love what they do.
4. I disagree with Hrabowski’s emphasis on the structure of the education system as a source of motivation for students. Motivation is something that individuals have to find themselves. Resources can only help solidify any motivation. I think this makes the requirements for success slightly more complex than the 4 pillars mentioned. However, he did mention the need to be self-aware near the end.
5. I think the statement proves to be fairly true just because excellence is such a work in progress that one cannot possibly work hard by accident. Luck will always be involved in the long run, but one has to willingly work towards something to achieve anything close to excellence.
6. At this point, I’m not truly sure what field to pursue in the future. Math or science might be possibilities because (to me) they are more interesting than other courses. I enjoy learning the subjects, but I don’t have a strong sense of passion for either of them. This might be due to a lack of self-awareness, exploration, or motivation. Extrinsic motivation will always be at play when it comes to education and careers. Regardless of the source, motivation is motivation. If strong enough, it can take you to a certain point. However if you are working solely for something that has yet to come, then motivation might eventually be exhausted. When you work for intrinsic motivation, you get paid on a daily basis. Intrinsic motivation is a hard inclination to build, but it easy to satisfy. Extrinsic motivation is just the opposite. The problem with being extrinsically motivated is that you might become too dependent on something that is only a possibility.
1. This talk is relevant to me because I will be going off to college (hopefully) soon and am planning to get a major in math or science. Not exactly sure though, especially after watching this.
ReplyDelete2. I think "being smart" helps a lot, but it is not everything. To be an excellent student, one must be smart, hard working and motivated. I think being motivated is the most important factor in a good student. Personally, I feel the effects of being unmotivated for school everyday. I procrastinate a lot more, work less, and get by. However, when I am really motivated for something, it's the exact opposite.
3. I don't really know. But I say do whatever you want to do. Even if the degree is "worse", you'll be happy with what you're doing so, whatever.
4. Hrabrowsky made great points and I do not necessarily disagree with any of them. However, I do feel that he didn't really emphasize his points enough. Instead of coming out with an understanding of his message, I learned that some person got a MDPHD somewhere.
5. I believe that excellence is choice and somewhat chance. Some people are naturally inclined in some things and have a natural gift for a specific area. However, if they do not use that gift to their advantage, excellence cannot be reached due to their choice. Although, one has to realized their potential and work hard to achieve excellence, even with a natural inclination.
6. Like everyone else in the IB program at Stanton, I thought of going into medicine or engineering. However, after further evaluation, I realized how much I disliked school work and can't imagine being in a Stanton environment ever again. As of right now, I'm not completely sure what i'll major in. But to answer the question about motivation, I believe that a passion for your subject is better motivation than just monetary. I'm a firm believer of doing what you love, and if you're in it for the money, then maybe it's time to rethink. I believe we should work to live, not live to work, so if you do what you love, it's not necessarily considered working. To add on, would it be better to be treated by a doctor that truly cared about your well-being? or a doctor that just wants your money?
1. At this time I'm torn between procrastinating through following my passions or studying (futilely). As an undecided major I really have not found an answer to this question, but I find more satisfaction in endeavors I actually enjoy: there is that fire I feel which drives me to a higher purpose. The sense of accomplishment in doing something I hate is often great as well however; I feel that I have been able to garner some willpower and up my chances of survival in the world.
ReplyDelete2. Hard work is definitely the most important factor in achieving your maximum potential in anything. But when we discuss academics, book smarts are, many times, a huge edge, no matter what success stories we hear. This goes towards achieving a degree and the working world, as long as we do not lean towards extremes of laziness or genius. Hard work can only take you so far, but often your reach is farther than you think you can reach.
3. The degree doesn't matter. What matters is your performance in your courses overall. That's why grad schools don't care about what you major in; undergrad is a time for exploration. And PH.Ds and M.D.s are just titles, because nowadays practical knowledge is valued much less.
4. I disagree that titles make the person. He never really addresses the definition of success. It appears to be rather close-minded.
5. Chance matters. Mental issues can pose a problem. Usually speakers tend to use extraordinary examples which are rarities in real life. That certainly does not mean if someone in the same situation with the same intelligence tried the same thing that they would succeed; you must consider the EXACT environmental conditions. Excellence can be an accident, provided that the individual has the perfect experiences to inspire them and isn't completely lazy.
1) This talk is relevant to me because I plan on pursuing a Neuroscience degree in college. The concept of passion as a driving factor of academic success is important especially in college because your trying to see how you are to start incorporating your passions into your future.
ReplyDelete2) I think that if you work hard the "smarts" will come. If something isn't understood than by taking the extra step and going to tutoring and studying hard excellence can come. However emotions play a role in that if you are passionate for it than the drive for success in those areas might not be there.
3) I think that a degree in arts or social science is as just as good as a stem degree. I feel like the with our degrees come some of the qualifications to take us where we want to go in life. As long as it is the degree the person wants and they can see themselves being successful in their endeavors with the said degree. Then who am I to judge?
4) I think his focus was a little off in that he never fully addressed the four pillars of success. In fact I feel like it was more on how to reform the school system.
5) I think excellence is a choice. People set a goal in what they consider to be excellent and they work towards it. As Andrew mentioned hard work and time are all invested.
6) I am pursuing a degree in Neuroscience because I enjoy its applications. The processes behind artificial intelligence have always intrigued me and neuroscience is a growing field so I look forward to the multiple things I can explore from cognitive, behavioral, molecular and so on. As it pertains to money I want to become a patent attorney so the money isn't a driving factor however it does support my willingness.
1. This talk is relevant to me because it resonates my core philosophy regarding academic proficiency. At Stanton, I am surrounded by people calling each other smart, or saying “Wow, I didn’t know ____ was smart!” when someone simply does well on a test. To be honest, it annoys me because I look around and can honestly say with conviction that every person in IB is “smart.” I look around and see 150 people who are very capable and definitely destined for great things, whether they head towards STEM or not. All in all, this talk is relevant to me because I agree that being ‘smart’ (I still question what that even means) is only the first step in a long tread uphill.
ReplyDelete2. I definitely agree that hard work is more important than being smart. There are people that claim they “breeze by” in school without even trying, I largely contend that many of these people simply try harder when no one is looking and then claim that they “don’t try” to raise their self esteem. The people that say they “breeze by” are usually just people who are better able to balance work and fun, meaning that they get things done more efficiently and in less time. Being smart is the “first foundation” as the TED talk says. Hard work is deciding that learning is important and taking on that long journey towards education.
3. While pursuing a degree in arts and social sciences is not inherently better or worse than a STEM degree, it is not for me. One of the biggest reasons that I am choosing a job in STEM is the financial security, and personally I don’t see anything wrong with that. It’s important to like your job, but at 18 I cannot possibly see how you’re supposed to determine whether a job is “for you” or not. To me, going into a field for the pay and security is completely respectable because you do the same work whether you like the job or not. Besides that, though, being a Biologist or going into the Medical Research field sounds more interesting, which compounds my decision to go in STEM. However, people should go into whatever field they want to, as I do believe that personal fulfillment is necessary for a satisfying life. I just challenge the modern claim that a satisfying life means abandoning the path of STEM to go into “creative” fields.
4. No, I agree with mostly everything he said. This was probably the first educational presentation about helping minorities that didn’t make me skeptic for any reason. His points were very well balanced and he didn’t seem “preoccupied” with helping minorities, he always seemed very balanced in his scope and I liked seeing that.
5. I agree with Aristotle, I agree that in many cases for someone to be great they have to work at it. A lot of times what may happen is that they do not see it as work, they see it as a hobby. Even great artists spend a lot of their time doodling and practicing, that too is hard work towards becoming a great artist.
6. I explain this above, but I going for a degree in Math/Science because it seems like a field that is cutting edge and on the brink of innovation. It sounds completely self absorbed to say this, but I personally feel like my life would be a waste if I didn’t go into a field where I would be constantly discovering new things and making a difference in the world. It is also monetary, because my family grew up very humble and I definitely didn’t like seeing my parents struggle to make ends meet. Part of their reason for recommending me to go into science is that their field (computer engineering) is not a secure field for jobs and they want me to succeed. I also want to make money so that I can open a motorsport shop and tune cars for a hobby.
1. I agree with Hrabrowsky's claims that our foundational science classes need to be redesigned to interest more students. I am being honest in that I often find myself uninterested and sometimes bored by the material presented in class. The reason for this may just be personal, as I have a preference for the Humanities over scientific biased classes; however, I believe that there is room to improve in the curriculum of science classes. By redesigning classes, more students may become more attracted to the classes and may later on pursue careers in that field.
ReplyDelete2. Yes I do believe that hard work is more essential than just being smart in educating oneself in the field of science. There is so much too know in that field that students must be committed toward devoting time and effort to learn all the information that the field holds. "Being smart" may allow a student to learn quicker, but he or she must put in the effort to learn. Hard work outweighs just being smart in many other AOKs that require much knowledge to be learned, but it may be less significant in the arts where some artists just have the talent and others do not.
3. It is difficult to assess the value of one field over the other. I do not believe that it is necessarily better or worse to pursue one course over the other. I feel that each individual person should pursue whatever degree they are passionate about as long as it is relatively reasonable and sustainable. We do need doctors and engineers, but jobs in the social sciences and humanities are important as well.
4. While I believe that it will definitely be beneficial, I do not fully agree that our efforts in promoting the interest in science should be focused solely on underprivileged minorities. We should take a wide-scope attempt towards promoting interests in all students, not just a small percentage of students.
5. I think it can definitely be said that excellence is a result of a choice to work hard. To obtain true excellence, a person must choose to sacrifice their time to work hard to achieve his or her goals. As Thomas Edison put it, ""Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration."
6. I am not looking into the field of science or math, but I am maybe interested in pursuing a career in business or law. I am intrigued by the possibility of having a career where I can interact with many people throughout my work.
1. This talk is relevant to me because I am planning on pursuing a career in the STEM related fields because those are my strong areas and I am really interested in those subjects.
ReplyDelete2. I think hard work is more important because in life, one will need to do hard work in order to keep his or her job and to keep up the relations with the senior employees. In other AoKs, it is the same outcome as being smart does not imply doing well in school.
3. I think it is worse than a STEM degree because our world is centered around technology and the arts/social science people are genuinely gifted at either the arts or social sciences.
4. I agree with all of his points because in order to like something, you need to have repeated exposure to it. I agree with his point about weed out classes that leave many wanting to change their degree.
5. Yes, excellence is always choice because one has the choice to be the best or the worst. They make the decision themselves and some choose to be the best and end up in the top of their classes, whereas some choose to be the worst and end up in jobs they do not enjoy or like.
6. I am planning on pursuing a career in the STEM related fields because those are my strong areas and I am really interested in those subjects. It is both parental and monetary as software engineers get a lot of money and both of my parents are software engineers.
1. This talk is relevant to me because I plan on studying biochemistry in college. I have always loved science, and my passion for science has persisted since I was young.
ReplyDelete2. Hard work, in any AoK, is more important than “being smart”. Being able to apply the knowledge you have, and use it is important. If you have the knowledge, you need to apply yourself in order to achieve your goals in a particular field; just having the knowledge is not enough.
3. I do not think that an arts and social science degree is better or worse than a STEM degree. When pursuing a degree, the only thing that matters is that the person is passionate about whatever they are studying.
4. I agreed with all the points he made. His focus during the talk drifted away from his main point, but I liked the message he was trying to get across.
5. I feel that excellence is a choice, because by working toward what you love makes your goals possible and achievable. By choosing to challenge yourself and work hard, you are working toward excellence.
6. Ever since I was little I have always loved science. Science is an incredible way of making sense out of the world around us, and making progress within it. In general concepts in science are easy for me to understand, and being passionate about the subject area usually makes it easier to research topics that I do not comprehend right away. I think being passionate about the subject area is a better motive than having a monetary incentive. Money maybe be great, but if you do not love your area of study how can you be happy knowing you did not attempt pursuing your passions.
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ReplyDelete1. This talk is relevant to me because I will soon be entering college which is the primary aim of this discussion. As I enter college, I will be faced with the challenges of all the classes and will struggle with some of the classes.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion without hard work there is no “being smart” and vice versa because if one is smart but doesn’t do hard work, then “being smart” has no substance. Also one must be smart to know and understand the work that they are doing. This is pretty much applicable to the other AoKs for the people that want to actually take action and bring change.
3. A degree in arts and social sciences is not worse than a STEM degree because there are different ways in which both types of degrees can be used in society. Degrees in social sciences help to inform people about the history and how humans usually respond/act upon different kinds of events. On the other hand a STEM degree provides people with the knowledge of researching and developing new ideas and theories. The question shouldn’t be whether one is better/worse than the other, but whether if one is more/less useful than the other.
4. I did not necessarily disagree with the points made by Hrabowski because most of the points he made in the talk were pretty neutral.
5. I agree that “excellence is never an accident” because people must put an effort into doing well, excellence does not simply happen no matter how talented a person is. Even talented people must put in hard work to do well, which supports the idea that excellence does not simply happen.
6. I am considering a degree in science because of the job security often associated with the degree. Science is applicable to many aspects of our society, which makes a degree in science particularly useful because of its versatility.
1. This talk is relevant to me as I am considering career options as I am heading into my first year of college. STEM majors are becoming increasingly encouraged, and as I’m choosing my major, I have taken this into consideration.
ReplyDelete2. Yes I think hard work is more important. Simply being smart won’t help you at your job when you’re given tasks or projects. You have to complete those efficiently, which requires a good work ethic. Success is not just about IQ, it’s also about EQ.
3. An arts or social science degree is not necessarily worse than a STEM degree, but it certainly won’t pay as much (unless you become famous at your craft of course). What makes it better or worse depends on your personal values, convictions, and desires. Ultimately it comes down to choosing a career that makes you happy, or choosing one that will pay well. Finding a career that does both of those things is a rarity.
4. Completely changing the class structure of math and science courses is big, and he doesn’t directly suggest a way to do it. Simply that it needs to be reinvented. I think vocational courses could also help children decide what they want as a major or career, and maybe they’ll be pushed towards STEM careers. However it isn’t fair that students are ONLY exposed to STEM. Also, such smaller changes like smaller class size, more supplies, and better teacher pay could all also lead to a significant change in the students’ motivation.
5. Excellence is a choice (or at least it should be). A student has to be self-motivated and a hard worker in order to be successful. Getting major help doesn’t allow the student to foster good values, as relying on other things is detrimental to their character and simply unfair (yes I am criticizing affirmative action and No Child Left Behind). One must choose to be excellent.
6. I am considering a business degree, perhaps in actuarial science or accounting. Either way, they’re math careers. I don’t have a passion for math (or at least I’m not nearly as passionate about it as I am for music). I’d like to think I’m good at it, and I know my knowledge will be expanded and refined in college. It is primarily a monetary motive. In today’s society, the “fun” jobs (arts, psychology, etc) pay around or below the national average yearly salary. The way I was raised was to work hard for the most financial success, not simply for greed, but so I can ensure that my children have a great opportunity at success as well. Neither monetary incentive nor passion is a “better” motivation. Again, it depends on what your values are. If you value happiness over money, then go for a job you’re passionate about. If you value money (a comfortable life for you and your family) then there’s no shame in going for the “boring” jobs either.
1. This talk is relevant to me because I've been a student that has been affected by this system of education, and I think that if science classes were made more interesting then I would be able to study them more effectively.
ReplyDelete2. I think that hard work can get you pretty far in math and science related careers, definitely enough to have a successful career, but to really make it to the top of the chain you have to have natural talent in those subjects. While a natural talent for a subject may not determine how successful one will be, it can be a determining factor in the maximum potential one will have in that subject.
3. I think that a STEM degree would be better than an art/social science degree in the sense that a STEM degree would provide many more employment opportunities as well as higher wages. However, if money is not a priority you and you'd rather do what you love, then there is no difference between an art/social science and a STEM degree.
4. I don't straight up disagree with any of the points he made, but I believe that IQ does make more of a difference than he thinks it does, as a "smarter" student could learn and understand something in 15 minutes, but would take another student an hour. Even though the end result is the same, there is still a difference between the two.
5. I believe that excellence is a choice, and as long as you put in the hard work you can achieve your maximum potential and a certain degree of excellence.
6. I am currently planning on pursuing a degree in business finance. It not only interests me, but it also has a good pay so that I won't have any monetary concerns. If you're more interested in something, it'll be easier for you to understand and you'll be willing to put more effort into it, thus allowing you to be successful.
It is relevant to me because I am a minority in America. This talk inspired me to pursue my dreams without giving up.
ReplyDeleteI do believe hard work is more important. This is because someone can be intelligent but incredibly lazy at the same time. Without motivation, even the most intelligent will amount to nothing.
I can't say one is better than the other because both have their advantagss and disadvantages. People should pursue what they have a natural interest and talent in.
I don't disagree with anything he discussed but I think he should have focused on more minority groups. It was also hard to identify the four pillars.
I agree with Aristotle's statement that "excellence is never an accident." Even if you come across an once in a life time chance, you need to be prepared to even recognize the opportunity and take it.
I am not considering a degree in STEM because math and science do not interest me. I believe an education in the maths and sciences is important, and the education I got up till now is sufficient. I don't think I need to go further.
This talk was relevant to me because I am also a minority in school, and I was considering pursuing a STEM degree. I am considering a degree in math because I like math and there's a wide variety of careers I could go into after. I think picking a degree based on your passions is a good approach, because then you'll be more engaged in what you're learning.
ReplyDeleteHard work is more important because having the skill, but not the drive means you'll never improve but having the drive and even a small amount of skill can improve your ability rapidly.
Neither degree is better than the other, because it all depends on personal preference. If you want to study STEM related fields, then that would be better for you. If you want to study art or social sciences, then that is better.
I think all of his points were valid, but he could have expanded a bit more on some of them. I mostly agreed because of how general his statements were.
I disagree with Aristotle, because although choice does play a factor, there are also things that cannot be controlled. Like in the movie Pursuit of Happyness, even though Will Smith's character worked really hard, bad stuff still happened. Eventually, he pulled himself out of poverty, but it still required some luck. It was a combination of both choice and chance.
1. This talk was relevant to me because I want to pursue a STEM degree since I am really interested in business and economics. I also like the point Hrabrowskly made about children having ownership over choices they made because I was able to to make the decision on my own with limited parental influence.
ReplyDelete2. I definitely think that hard work is more important than "being smart." When talking about intelligence and hard work, I always like to bring out the quote my parents tell me all the time, "Genius is 1% talent and 99% percent hard work."- Albert Einstein. Therefore, I think being smart might be helpful, but it is motivation and efforts that determine the difference.
3. I do not think it is necessarily better or worse because it depends on personal passions. But it is important that when pursuing a degree, the degree that you are pursuing also fits your passion or else limited interest will not drive you far. Since I am interested in econmics, I will want to pursue a STEM degree because I am passionate about it.
4. I definitely agree that choices not chances determine one's destiny because the right choices determine where we are going and how far we go. That is why the degree decision is so important because it determines our level of commitment and motivation in the future.
5. I agree with Aristotle's quote because excellence is mainly based on the choice we make. Choosing a degree we are really interested in and investing hard work into what we like can always lead us to success. Chances may be helpful, but it is efforts and right decision that determines the difference.
6. I want to pursue a degree in economics because it really interests me and I develop such interst in a young age. At the same time, business and economics degree also allow me have to a variety of career paths to choose from and are easier to find jobs. I think that not neccessarily one motivation is better than another because both are important: one determines our motivation and one determines our future. But it will be ideal if the degree you choose fits both your intrinsic and monetary motivation.
1. This talk is relevant to me because i am a minority interested in a STEM degree.
ReplyDelete2. I do think that hard work is more important the “being smart”when approaching from a job perspective, but i also believe that “being smart” can be important when approaching STEM degrees and fields, because there are some things that not everyone can understand in these fields, and hard work might not help when trying to grasp some of these highly abstract concepts in the STEM degrees.
3. I do not think a degree in the Maths and Sciences is better than a degree in the arts and social sciences. I believe that you should pursue the degree that best interest you and fits your talents.
4. I do not disagree with any of the points he made, i do believe he could of spent more time defining, and explaining the four pillars of success though.
5. I agree with Aristotle that “excellence is never an accident” i do believe that one has to try to achieve excellence, through chance can play a part in your capability to achieve excellence.
6. I am considering a degree in the sciences because i have always had an innate curiosity, and i want to never stop learning. I do believe that a strictly monetary motive is not a good way to look at life, and could lead towards a path of regret, while an innate passion for your field of choice is a far better motivation.
This talk is relevant to me because I am planning on pursuing a health science degree in college and want to receive the optimal education rather than the faulty structure that he described in the talk. I think it’s more important to work hard than “being smart” because it builds diligence and perseverance towards attaining a goal. Life doesn’t give you things; you have to work to succeed. If we simply rely on the notion that we already know everything, then how will be strive towards excellence in math and science? This is applied to the other areas of knowledge as well because one must be curious for information to expand their knowledge spectrum.
ReplyDeleteI do not think one degree is better or worse than the other; it is what the individual does with their degree that matters. It’s similar to the argument people make about which martial arts is better; one martial art style is not better than the other, but it depends on the skill of the individual and his extent of knowledge in the specific martial art style. Whatever the degree may be, it should coincide with your passions because this allows you to maximize your potential.
I do not disagree with any of the points made in his talk. However, I believe that he could have elaborated more on the solutions to which we could implement into the educational system, as he merely stated what was wrong with the status quo yet offered no immediate alternatives.
I do agree with Aristotle that excellence is a decision that the individual makes. Just as the guy said in the talk that “choice, not chance, determines your destiny”, it is reality that we must be self-motivated to achieve excellence. If you are determined enough for a goal and invest your energy towards pursuing it, then it will be able to come into fruition.
I want to pursue a health science degree to become a physical therapist. Ever since I picked up triathlon as a sport, I set my mind on continuing it up through adulthood. Instead of a dissociation between my job and my passion, I wanted a way to combine the two together so that I would have something that I enjoyed doing. Physical therapy is a great career that incorporates my triathlon knowledge into rehabilitation and helping people recover. Monetary motives are minimal in such a career because I won’t mind the amount of compensation if I can carry out my passions and enjoy my job. Besides, I think that money will come to you if you don’t anticipate it as much.
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ReplyDelete1. The talk is relevant to me because I intend to major in Computer Science, which is a part of STEM. Hrabrowsky talks about how many students are dropping out of STEM programs. He mentioned that the amount of women in the field of Computer Science has decreased significantly. Demographics like that are very relevant and need to be shown to as many people as possible in order for us to see what we are doing wrong and improve our country's education. I happened read a similar article today on the same subject: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2014/11/too-many-kids-quit-science-because-they-dont-think-theyre-smart/382165/
ReplyDelete2. Hard work is equally important to intelligence when it comes to Math and Science. Those who are “less smart” when it comes to Physics (like me), for example, need to compensate for their lack of “smartness” by studying hard. In the long run, hard work pays off by creating a good work ethic. The same does not apply to history and the arts because there is no trend of students quitting because they don’t think they are smart enough.
3. People should do what they like with their lives. People shouldn’t get STEM jobs simply because they tend to pay better. If someone would like to live with a low income but a job that he likes, let him do so. If someone wants to live with a high income but a job that he hates, let him do so. However, people should know that it is possible to find a job in the myriad of sub-fields of STEM that pays well and is enjoyable.
4. I do not recall any times when I disagreed with Hrabrowsky. I feel like the first step to solving a problem is to acknowledge the existence of said problem.
5. I disagree with Aristotle. I am uncomfortable with using the word “never” to describe something so abstract. Excellence can be achieved from intuition. Mozart wrote his music down as he thought it and never revised. Although most things need to be crafted, honed, shaped to perfection, but not all things.
6. I want to get a degree in STEM both because I enjoy Computer Science and there is the monetary incentive. I have a passion, and a desire to learn more about computer, as well as help society by improving technology. The monetary incentive plays a role in my decision, but I would not chose this field for the money alone. An intrinsic motivation is better than an extrinsic motivation, but a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic is the best of all.