Tsinghua students, in the eyes of all China people, are favored by heaven, a group of the smartest and most talented students. Every one is one in a million. There are millions of college entrance examination students in China every year. How many people can be admitted to Peking University Tsinghua?
Professor Ge Fei of Tsinghua University said at the opening ceremony of freshmen: "Most students in Tsinghua go to the United States for further study, and they can easily enter the top 20%, but it is difficult to enter the top 5%."
Of course I can understand what he means. I hope that freshmen in Tsinghua will not think that they have reached the peak of their lives by being admitted to famous universities in Tsinghua or the United States, and that they will get an enviable high-paying job after graduation, and lose the motivation to continue their academic exploration and technological innovation. As students in Tsinghua, we should set higher goals and pursue more grand life themes.
However, I have some questions about this passage of Ge Fei and want to discuss it:
1. What is the top 5% and what is the criterion for judging it?
Ge Fei said that as students from Tsinghua, students who should also enter the top universities in Europe and America should rank in the top 5% and work hard for it. Every student in Tsinghua is a favored child with superior intelligence. They entered China's highest institution of higher learning from Yuelongmen, the carp of China's college entrance examination, and the wooden bridge. Judging from the examination and talent selection standards of China's college entrance examination, they are already one-tenth of the candidates in that year.
Ge Fei said that it is difficult for students in Tsinghua to enter the top 5% of American elite schools, probably because they have lost the motivation to move forward, thinking that after they reach the top 20% of American elite schools, there will be lucrative jobs waiting for them. Now that the goal of life has been achieved, they only need to keep their position in their studies, so there is no need to continue their efforts, and they must become 1.
However, what are the criteria for becoming the top 5% of American universities? Did you get a professional salary several times higher than the previous 20% after graduation? Is there a degree ladder to enter the upper class in America? Or do you have a stable position in a fund company on Wall Street? If this is the standard and judgment, I would like to ask, the motivation of this life is only the difference between annual salary 1 10,000 and annual salary 1 10,000, both of which are the motivation of money or power. What's the difference in essence?
In other words, Gefei's so-called motivation is to go beyond the general secular pursuit, do scientific research, invent and create for a better life of mankind and a better future of the earth, and win various research awards at the highest level of mankind and become top 1.
However, I want to ask, is it more advanced and worth pursuing to be in the top 5% and surpass the general secular pursuit than to pursue a stable job and a happy family? Maybe this is what you want, not what I want.
Second, Maslow's life needs seven levels of theory.
Maslow's seven levels of human needs have long been deeply rooted in people's hearts, from the lowest level of human needs to meeting the needs of survival, food and clothing, security and so on. , to the highest level of self-realization value demand. As students in Tsinghua, they are all extremely clever and excellent. For them, it is the same for everyone. Self-realization value is what they must pursue. They don't need to be told to enter the top 5% after being admitted to Tsinghua University or even a famous American school, just like primary school students are instilled with a competitive atmosphere by teachers.
Russell said that jagged polymorphism is the source of happiness. Not to mention that everyone is vying for this 5% ranking, and in the end only 5% people can get what they want. Everyone has his own advantages and characteristics. On the road of pursuing self-worth, each individual is unique and can find his own position in different fields.
Japan has a god of management, a god of rice, and a master of finishing. In the United States, there are Silicon Valley, rock climbers who climb vertical cliffs independently, and Elvis Presley musicians who drive a trend of the times. It doesn't mean that students from Tsinghua will continue to be in the top 5% after entering famous American universities, but they should find their own dreams and realize their self-worth, which is the greatest happiness of people.
Third, pursue your own interests and let those so-called evaluation criteria go to hell.
The most terrible thing about people is that when you may become a person with the right to speak, you begin to tell others what to do, thinking that you are giving guidance to the younger generation. Students of Tsinghua Peking University are born with resolution and good logic. When they enter the highest institution in China, I believe what they want to hear most is that this institution will give you the freest air, the best tutor, the most advanced technology and the most keen insight. But the last thing I want to hear is that I told you from the first lesson that when you go to Harvard and Stanford in the future, you should set more ambitious goals and be more motivated to become the top 5%.
Please, I've been in Tsinghua for ten years, and I think I know what I'm looking for.
Well, I can't get into Tsinghua, but I'm worried about the fate of students in Tsinghua, that is, me.