The Journey is More Important than the Destination?

I grew up with the deep-rooted belief that academic success is of paramount importance. My family, like any other typical Chinese family, believes in the realization of the aims of education. This may include but not confined to good academic results, graduation, a job and a decent salary. The journey of learning helps an individual develop his intellect, character and maturity, prior to reaching the destination.

Education plays an important role in the survival and success of Singapore (yes, this is where I come from. I like to call it my sunny island because we get summer all year round!) as a nation. Formal education institutions often place heavy emphasis on the assessment of student performance following the delivery of a set curriculum, so as to ensure that students are effectively and adequately prepared to keep up with the changing times. To me, the learning journey itself interspersed with boundless learning opportunities. Coupled with constant self-reflection and an open mind, focusing on the learning process appears more effective than focusing on grades and employment, in achieving the holistic development of an individual. 

Some deem the journey as more valuable than the destination. Learning achieved through personal experience comes in handy in real life circumstances. During outdoor camps, overseas attachment programmes and even community involvement programmes, students are placed in new environments. We are likely subjected to unexpected events and such unplanned, yet realistic situation will test and hone our abilities to adapt and react to changes. 

A photo of me and my girl friends in front of the Congress building during an exchange program in 2010 (P.S.  the one on the extreme right is me!!!!)

Also, when assigned group tasks within the school curriculum which require independent learning, students are empowered to learn beyond the syllabus as we engage in decision-making and communication. Furthermore, we have the opportunity to develop and improve upon useful life skills such as time management as well as self-motivation should we be aspired to meet deadlines. 

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them."- Aristotle

It is imperative that students develop the right attitudes and character to face the world of tomorrow. Given the rapid developments in technology and interaction between cultures in today's world, the future is unpredictable. As such, students ought to see beyond the structured curricular and content subjects taught in schools as these may become irrelevant. Instead, resilience and discipline are what prepare us for the future, which are developed through self-exploration and experimentation, are more likely to be of direct relevance to survival in the future.

"Nobody has a clue -- despite all the expertise that's been on parade for the past four days-- what the world will look like in five years' time. And yet we're meant to be educating them for it. So the unpredictability, I think, is extraordinary." - Ken Robinson (yeah, check him out!!)

 This is a really cool animated video adapted from a talk by Sir Ken Robinson called Changing Education Paradigms.    

However, the learning process is but a means to an end and it is with a goal in mind that education becomes meaningful and necessary. Hence, it may also be argued that the destination is never less important than the journey. One indicator of effectiveness of the education system would be the results and achievements of the students. The product of education, be it academic performance, graduation or employment, should not be overlooked. Moreover, the importance of the destination stems from it being a source of direction and motivation for the student. The existence of an end provides students with a goal to work towards.

"Learning is not a product of schooling but a lifelong attempt to acquire it." - Albert Einstein

Here, I would like to propose a notion. Since education is a continual process of gathering knowledge and skills, there should exist no "destination". What do you think?