My lesson on Research and Ethics

I’m back to school! My first day of school is at ACTS College started on 4 January 2016 after almost 30 years of working life. Study is never my choice because of a bad experience I’ve had in 1973 when I was primary one. I have a phobia of getting back to school again. Nevertheless, I did it, not because I wanted to but because of pure submission to the calling of my God; the healer of my soul and saviour of my life.

Hmm, under the recommendation of the Student Counsel, I enrolled into this class that touches on a subject called “Research and Ethics”. I’m surrounded with classmates from all walks of life and of different age group. Yes, I am so blessed to have very nice and friendly classmates as my peers. My heart settled a little during self-intro session. Then, we are put into groups. I was placed in a group of 8, labelled “A” for group discussion and projects. With this grouping, my heart was more assured as they were a group of really sincere and helpful teammates.

Our lecturer always fills our class with humour while trying to bring across his points to us, this made it easier adjusting to school. In this class, we get two lecturers and by only paying one fee, seems like you got a good deal. Buy one get one free. Hahaha... In my second day of school, came a young looking man saying that he will be leading us through the lessons and we are to address him by the name Bro David. His style is different from the first lecturer and he teaches the class with a punch. So with the two amazing lecturers, I never get a chance to doze off no matter how tired I am.

Well, let me share on what I have learned in the class. Firstly, I will start with the part on research. I’m given a topic about ABORTION to draft an outline on the “Title”, “Problem”, “Thesis Statement” and “Approach” followed with the “References and Major Sources”. It was to be submitted on the second day of school. Though it was an easy and simple instruction to everyone, but my mind has been dormant for nearly 30 years, what can come out of it is extremely limited. My husband comforted me with a word of prayer the night before I sleep. The next morning, a “Title” that I felt is close to the heart of everyone, came into my mind. When I’m back to class, I was told about “incomplete statement” and “3 main point” method. So it added to my knowledge. Secondly, the topic on Ethical issue forms a major part of this lesson. A lot of theory though, but along the way, our lecturer got every student to ask and share our experiences. What impacted me most is on the topic of “Poverty”. We were posted a question on whether we feel guilty that we are not doing something practical to help. My answer was “I can only feel heart ache and sadness over it because I’m too small and weak to do anything thing about it.” The lecturer asked once more, “Do you feel guilty?” This question haunted me. Yes indeed, who on earth would need my so called “pity, heart ache and sadness”. Will it do any help to relieve the problem? You guys know the answer. I’ll start to pray over it and surrender this “heavy heart” to my Saviour, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. In it I added “My five loaves and two fish, I give thanks, You lead and I submit.”

To conclude, I’ve added if not all but most of what have been taught in the class to my knowledge. It is just pure knowledge and awareness to ethical issues. Now, I will start to ponder on how to apply this valuable knowledge to become a practical skill. I must first achieve how not to hurt others while learning how to help them with a touch of “LOVE” and “SENSITIVITY”.

Thank you Rev Casey and Bro David for spending your precious time to enrich us with what I call as priceless intangible assets.