A matter of decision

I spent the whole of last week discussing examination questions and answers with my students. After a whole tiring session of explaining and exploring the "whys" to the errors made by students, i threw a surprise question to my students:"What do you think of accounting? Is it interesting? Boring? Relevant or going to be relevant to the life out there? Is it merely a study of techniques and formats ?....."

I received different types of response, but there is this response that i particularly appreciate and find it meaningful: Miss, it is boring and tiring, and i have no interest or whatsoever!
"What do you mean?" was my immediate response.
"Don't know la, just that whenever i am in the class, i feel tired."

Hmm....this is the best response i have ever received....don't get me wrong, i am not saying that i derive great pleasure in seeing my students suffer in agony, not at all. It's just that, such is the "reality" that is prevalent among so many of us, whether it is our study, work, family or any other areas of our life.

Honestly, i am absolutely clueless as to what i can say in response to that student of mine. But surprisingly, something actually came out of my mouth, not in defense of myself, but in great sincerity and conviction. This was what i told that student of mine:

"I appreciate your comment. It is honest and truthful. But such is life. In life we will face all sorts of situations which we may not be particularly comfortable in, or made to do things which we are not particularly "passionate" in or good at. The issue not about how we can avoid or get out of that, but more of how we must learn to handle such situation. Often times, situations surrounding us would never change to the way we would like it to be, but we must learn to handle it positively, and not let our "emotion" or "feeling" dictate our reaction or response. It boils down to your DECISION. Yes, it is a matter of decision, a decision made to face the situations, and to benefit from it.

In this case, what should you do? Whine and cry over the fact that you are tired and bored and not interested in the subject? Instead of letting your "feeling" control you and your "perception" of what accounting is kill your every bit of interest, why don't you take a step back, and begin to consider the things that you can learn out of this entire experience? It's not just "accounting" that we are learning here, but your thinking, analytical, communication and social skills that you can get out of this. It's a matter of decision of wanting to see this work, not about your feeling or emotion, but a conscious decision on your part."

Decision, decision, decision. That is what living your life requires, isn't it? A decision to love someone (yes, love is a decision, not just a feeling) knowing very well that there could be time when your sweetheart may momentarily act like a beast, a decision to climb the highest mountain knowing very well that there could be moments when you would wish that you are in the comfort of your bed, a decision to quit smoking knowing very well that there would be days when you may cringe and roll on the floor in pain, decision to respect someone knowing very well that he / she may get on your nerve soon....it is your decision that will enable you to pull through hard times when every bit of your "feeling and emotion" is screaming out in protest and agony. It is your decision that will bring you to the light at the end of the tunnel, not your feeling or emotion or ego or dreams or the lack of it.

I have made a decision to explore ways in teaching accounting more effectively. May God give me the strength to stand by that decision no matter what the situation is.