Journey Around the World: Public Policy Seminar

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Public Policy Seminar

Lecture Theater full of people with 300 capacity, monotonous voice going on and on about boring stuff like Policy making, Government structure and Singapore's economy, the clock ticking away slowly cruelly with every passing minute and the impatient wait to leave when the clock strikes 5pm was all that I had in mind before attending this Seminar.

Amazing, it was the total opposite with SMU's posh seminar room(with good view and a walk out open-air platform. now i know why they pay more for Uni fees!) as an interactive and comfortable setting, good food with lunch and 2 tea breaks and most importantly, ENGAGING and informative speakers. I was totally interested. Din expect that. There were so much interesting questions that we only ended at 6pm but it was not dreadful at all. Kinda looking forward to tomorrow's session, not forgetting the good food!

I got to hear so many stories about politics and the Government, as if getting to know Singapore for the first time. It was very real and entertaining, listening to stories like reading a book=)

Some realizations:

-Education helps to equalize opprtunities.
-Dont trust anything that is thrown to you. Think. Enquire. Be critical.
-Seeing things from different paradime may lead to value gap.
-Dont get caught in the hectic "study culture". Enjoy. Education should be a stepping stone for future endaevours. Basic education is needed for crital thinking and to further pursue what we want to achieve in life.
-Teaching is not only about teaching a subject but a person.

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