Small United Nations of ITTP

ITTP stands for IT Technology Programme (extra T was a mistake though), and it's supposed to be an accelerated higher studies programme to know everything and anything about IT. So we are a bunch of jack of all trades and master of none. (Doing both IT Engineering and Management stuffs). 

But the most exciting thing about this programme is the diversity of culture, religious and academic backgrounds from all over the world. Currently about 35 countries (Costa Rica, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Tunisia, Algeria,  Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria,  Bulgaria, Moldovo, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Syria, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Afganistan, Bangladesh, Laos, Indonesia, Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan,)

It's truly and accelerated learning in terms of everthing. We often gather around and talk about our political, governence, cultural and religious traditions. sometimes the debate gets pretty much agitated especially when it comes to sensitive topics. Nevetheless, having to be united as a family in a foreign land our discussions are much less political and effective than the giant UN..so we think.

Most often we form our own opinions about many other countries, people and their faith on the basis of what we read and what we hear. 

For instance, my first question when I met my Afghan freind was why they blew up the Buddha Statues...his reply was ...why would the true citizens of our country destroy our own National Asset. Then ofcourse most of the time we discuss about Taliban, it's origin and it's purpose and how it has transformed now!

The pool of knowledge we can acquire here is tremendous and ofcourse not to forget having to maintian certain level of GPAs among the hardest working individuals of Korea!

  

Re-inventing myself

It often bothered me asking myself what I really wanted? Feels so dilusional trying to crtitically disect what is in me that I can sharpen it to the best of greater cause.

It's a shame it took me these many years trying to figure out ..not knowing what it is that I need to figure out. Next  8 months are gonna be a marathon race for me with regular schedules but I also have this incredible task of re-inventing my goals, priorities and figuring out how to go about it.

goal 1. Have to figure out how I can possibly tap into the critical, farsighted, argumentative and intelligent friend circles. Organize a think-tank for a greater cause.

 2.  Broaden my own sphere of knowledge and possibly try to specialize

3. forget the past and live meaningfully eachday. 

4. Get involved and start making small impacts beginning with immediate family, neighbour and friends! 

5. Spread the value of being responsible and create harmony. 

6. Thinking to counsel and advise young minds about the values of creativity, leadership, opportunities and being courageous enough to dream big. 

These are resolutions of my new life

The Tipping Point: Malcolm Gladwell

The Tipping Point: How little things make a big difference

According to the authour there are three powerful forces in creating change: the power of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context. He believes that social epidemics are caused by the "influence of the few" powerful personalities called Connectors, Mavens and Salespeople. Instead of asking volunteers and our organizations for more of the same, we can make our call for change and action both memorable and irresistible for stakeholders.
A very simple easy to read book illustrtaed with things happening around you which we generally never care to see it with critical eye.

Yes there are few of us who have a miraculous social power...the connectors as the author put it. Tipping Points are reaffirmation of the potential for change and the power of intelligent action.Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With a slightest push-in just the right place-it can be tipped.

Should have read when my mind was just opening up to ideas!

Life's second chances

How many of us are lucky enough to get second chances to live? Definitely not many times. I wasn't lucky in Love to get such a second chance (despite all efforts). But it was the greatest second chance and a force of miracle that I got this greatest gift of being alive even after a fatal fall. I am back to th normal schedule of life after exactly 15days in hospital and it feels like I am wiser by 30years now. On the edge of life and death the thoughts that ran in my head tremendously amazed me. Nothing mattered that moment..everything became so neutral, I just wanted to forgive and ask for forgiveness from everyone that I knowingly or unknowingly wronged or felt wronged. I was told we can experience the true nature of our mind on three occassions and I realized it's just filled with goodness basically.
When my friends or foes (which my fabricated mind perceived) visited me with all smiles and kindness I felt embarassed to have even reacted rudely the times they were rude with me.

Saying goes..it wasn't my time to be gone but it surely did made me realise nothing else matters
All those grudges and ill feelings for being betrayed, all the jealousy and desire to be praised, the feeling of arrogance to be better, more favoured , every concept of "I" boiled down to nothing.
At the near end or end ....even the concept of being good or bad didn't hold.

It's as if like I have taken a new birth and possibly my conduct with the outside world would be much less of I & Myself. It was such an ignorance to be having to win arguments, the jealousy and desire to be better than the other and all the mundane thoughts and aspirations..

I am glad I fell...I am glad the lord of Death denied my entry into his realm and most of all I am glad I have such wonderful people around me.

Response to IT stalls not Attractive...........

The truth is there is no awareness and the platform created for our youngminds to get interested in.

IT is one subject unless you are introduced to amicably...our people will not be curious enough to explore...especially when the gadgets are out of reach for us. Maybe it's hightime we approach the OLPC (One Laptop per Child) initiative.

Missing out the chances in early life is a heavy price to pay.

Words: that destroys

What makes me wonder is why we gossip about everybody and everything at a slightest provocation?  Personally I hate it and feel as much guilt as a biggest crime that could have been comitted on occassion I get involved in talks about people (even though the discussion maybe important).  

Human beings by nature loves to  gossip and spread rumour  ( a pleasure so rare, i guess), and the internet seems to be the greatest gift from above for these so called gossip mongers. The forums are flooded with such topics and staggering hits just proves that everyone loves it! If only topics of global interest are treated with equal importance!

Perhaps the writers donot realise how much damage words can cause"tongue has no bone but it can break many"..words are words whether spoken or written. There are cases of lives being lost , in Korea some celebreties have resorted to suicide due to such rumours not to mention how it stains a person's credibility (especially in this fame concious world).

It's surprising to know such concepts of pleasure for humans! Can't we be just compassionate with our time and intellect? 

Leadership

William Arthur Ward said, "The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires".

Like wise, great leaders inspire you. The kind of leaders that really inspires me are the ones who live by example. Sometimes you find those people who inspires you in most unlikely places! 

.......to be continued

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/patrick_awuah_on_educating_leaders.html