Detours and true callings

Our politicians are a lucky bunch. They have their Eureka moments as often as they wish. Most find their true callings multiple times in their careers. So what, if the true calling happens to agree with the popular flavour of that day? Plenty of those who are now the custodians of absolute morality have found their inner truths with dictators, politicians and then again with the dictators who deposed the politicians.

What if we gave the same flexibility to those who are searching their inner souls, where a true calling might make a real difference? Why do we give only one chance to our students? Why is our educational model so suffocating that it stifles creativity? An engineering student, upon reflection, intellectual development or circumstances, may find himself or herself fascinated by history, economics or medicine. Currently, there is no chance to pursue that dream. The student may have chosen engineering because of parental pressure, faulty persuasion by others or any other reason. In many institutions, switching from one sub-discipline in engineering to another is impossible, let alone any chance of switching majors. The educational system makes it impossible — not hard, but impossible — to have a detour driven by creativity, passion or intellectual development.

The problem is not just for students who want to switch their majors, it is even worse for professionals. Going back to school is not an option, unless it happens to be for a higher degree in the same discipline. A doctor would never be able to become an engineer, despite the fact that some of the biggest challenges in modern medicine may require both a fundamental medical understanding and a quantitative approach. We are quick to embrace buzzwords of multi-disciplinary training, but in reality we are only interested in a linear, air-tight system with no room for personal growth or self-reflection.

Those who oppose this ‘opening’ of the system use two arguments. The first one is around our resources. They argue that because we have few universities, allowing students to ‘experiment’ would crash the system. Just because something is always done in a particular way does not make it right, or even efficient. This argument is in support of status quo and is not about enabling students to become creative and productive members of the society. Indeed, there have to be structures, but they have to be flexible so that people can pursue their passions and not be forced to find passion in what they have been asked to pursue.

The second argument, and a stronger one, is about training and background. The supporters of this argument say that not everyone who wants to go into medicine or engineering has the right background or pre-requisites. This is absolutely true. However, this is exactly where we need to think hard. For example, what would it take for a political scientist to take calculus courses so he or she can apply to an engineering college? There are many successful models that enable these transitions. In the US, for example, the community colleges have provided soft but reliable ramps to those who want to come back to higher education, who want to take courses while they are providing for their families or in some cases want to take academic detours. These colleges, time and again, have been proven to provide an excellent training and are a surprisingly great deal for the money spent.

We do not need to replicate the model of a given country, but not having any opportunity is robbing our creative minds from their own creativity.

A calligraphy course for a dropout at Reed seemed anything but rational, but the opportunity changed Steve Jobs. Few would argue about Jobs’ impact on our lives today. Our resources are indeed limited but we have to think whether we want to suffocate with our resources or use them to invest in opportunities for those who think, who want to create and who may shape the future.  If only we allowed for detours and fresh starts for those who do it for creative power, rather than political power, we may empower the real agents of positive change.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th,  2014.

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