FEATURE ARTICLE
A Letter to Patrick
By: C.K. Leung
A Filipino-Chinese
friend in the US showed me a letter from his 75-year old
father urging him to pursue MBA. I was so touched by the
old man's challenging spirit that I asked for his son's
permission to reprint it after altering his identity and
editing some personal details. For the many "Patricks"
among our readers, I am redirecting this message.
Dear Patrick,
I am sending some materials
for you to consider in seeking a Master in Business Administration
(MBA). Preferably, for diversification purposes go for
a general MBA or a major in some specialty other than
Information Technology (IT) (as you are well into IT already),
it is an insurance against any future downsizing in your
company and against your job turning obsolete.
We all know that as
technology progresses, less technicians and programmers
are needed. Take computer networking for example. Now
they have simplified it to plugging adapter cards into
the computer’s port and interconnect it through
the house’s telephone outlets at a fraction of its
previous cost. Future operating systems, starting with
Windows XP, will be self-diagnostic or diagnosed online
by logging on to a website. In short, more sophisticated
programs will reduce the need for, if not eliminate, technician’s
interference. All these happen because of rapidly reducing
cost of hardwares, memories, and storage devices. Side
by side, the quantum leap in processor’s speed,
logics, and technology will reduce “human intervention”
to a minimum.
The future need for
technicians, of course, will be greatly reduced and human
resources will be shifted to:
1. Physics-based design
for more powerful processor chips, computers, and other
hardwares
2. Theoretical research-related
design for super self-debugging operating system and less
user’s dependent softwares
3. Highly-trained,
multi-disciplined management team to tap consumers’
needs, to market the product, to communicate (i.e. act
as an interface between the users and designers), and
to coordinate the scientists with the economic reality
of business.
Some experts mentioned
that it's the best time to pursue your graduate degree
while others are discouraged by the lay-offs, poor job
market, and companies seeking bankruptcy protection under
Chapter 11. Only the brave survives!
Don't forget the realities
of life. Being a non-WASP (White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant),
for the same job you will have to show a better qualification.
Again, in life, many things are not fair and will never
be fair. Not all the anti-discrimination laws can assure
you of a truly equal opportunity. This is the hard fact
of life. But this is also the Damocles’ sword forcing
the Chinese, Japanese, and the other neses to strive harder
for the highest education possible.
I quote an article:
Weighing the value of an MBA -- is it worth the money?
In today's competitive environment you probably only have
between 30 and 45 to earn the big bucks. After that, if
things keep going in the direction they have been, you'll
be phased out for a younger graduate. It will be presumed
that younger graduates will be more up on what's happening
then than you will be after 15 years on the job. A lousy
assumption, but a crude reality. You'll be over the hill
at 45.
Consider more than
the money when making your decision. Going back to graduate
school can restart your engine. It's hard work, but a
different kind of work than the daily grind of the job.
Besides, it could be fun.
Why do I have to spend
long hours researching, studying, and writing letters
and my memoirs? Simply because I want to leave a legacy
to my children, grandchildren and friends that there is
no limit to our determination, provided we put our hearts
into the task. We have to continuously meet challenges
and age is never a constraint to learn new things.
Remember, never underestimate
your God-given talents.
With love,
Dad
Published in Tsinoy.com.
Republished with permission from the author.
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