My question is about how we value 'what we do' and why it's synonymous with who we are? Many people have argued based on this premise and the big screen regularly portray such a struggle for identity. Meanwhile, we continue to buy-in to the cultural norm that says you are what you do. We spend many years and a small fortune becoming qualified to fulfill a certain role in the workforce, to serve the prevailing system that demands good citizens and 'qualified' graduates.
I'm fairly well educated, apparently. I certainly did my time, and got the qualifications. I even found my way into a role that I love performing. However, I realise that I'm also a slave to the system. 'What I do' is governed primarily by by employer. Of course, I have more freedom than most to let my passions drive certain aspects of my work, both on education and research fronts.
It got me thinking about how parents/grandparents etc. revel in the accomplishments of their children. Academic/professional accolades are applauded and form the basis of much small-talk among friends. I am genuinely happy that I make (a very limited number of!) people pleased through what I 'do' and whatever I have achieved....but I just want to put it out there that other more important measures of success do exist. These are the measures by which I would like my own children to be assessed, if they must be assessed.
We must step back from all the superficial accreditation, achievements and measures of esteem, and recognize the things that people do that have real impact on a human level. Doing a job that 'makes you happy' is a pretty shallow goal. How about doing a job that makes others happy...now that has value. Gaining a degree to boost your cv and get a better job, is that really the best we can do? How much better to seek out every source of knowledge to be better able to pour into our relationships, navigate life issues with wisdom and raise a voice against the systemic problems that cause gross inequality in our world.
So in the years to come, when you ask me what my kids do (and maybe what I do- since I'm not a lost cause), I hope I can answer, 'They pursue their dreams, they seek out opportunities for learning, they cultivate wisdom, they defend the weak, they befriend the marginalized and they speak the truth. They are changing the world.'
