A professor's reply to youthful confusion

This is taken from the blog of a Chinese professor,Yu-Chi Ho who is now with Qing Hua University but previously was with Harvard University in reply to questions by reader asking 'how come others have the passion and curiosity and I don't? how to tell if I'm suit for scientific research?' I find it inspiring and so would like to share with you all: '


Youthful confusion, and loss of faith and incentives.  
(http://www.sciencenet.cn/m/user_content.aspx?id=365836)

This is very typical of questions I receive from students in China since I return yearly for the past two decades. In fact, I myself have occasionally experienced such moods during my lifetime. I promised the student that I’ll write a longer blog article to answer him/her. Here is my answer below.

1. First, you are far from unique and don’t think you are the only one with such problem and mood. Self doubt is common among young people.

2. In fact you might say that it is good that you have these feelings. Because this means you are “self aware” which is often the first step towards growth and improvement.

3. But you should not dwell on these feelings and wallow in self pity.   You need to get up and do something (the American joke is that while you can be on the right track but you will sooner or later be run over by a train if you just sit there). For one thing, I have written in the past about my own “five year plan”. It is one piece of advice I have given many youth in the past. You should have the incentive to search for this article and read it (I could give you the URL address but that will make things too easy for you).

4. You should seek advice from people who know you. For example, a diligent advisor, your parents, and your best friend. Remember,  “No man is an island.” And 三人同行必有我师. Good advice can come from anywhere..

5. Research is hard.  There is no magic pill for success. Long periods of getting nowhere, frustration, and doubt are balanced and cleansed by one eureka moment.   I had only four major ideas in my life and feel very satisfied and luckier than most.  

6. Be adventurous. It is better to have loved and lost than never loved at all.  No one can guarantee your success in life. But remember it is the process not the final result that is the rewarding part.

7.  I always say it is best to endure and accept “NOs” while you are young. You can learn from mistakes and they are not so costly relatively speaking.

8. Your greatest asset is TIME. How old person like me envy your youth.

9. Finally there is this rather well known legend. An earnest young man wants to know the meaning of life and to attain success in life. He searched far and wide and was told that a wise guru living alone on a high peak in the Himalaya mountains can give him the answer. Thus he started on this trek. After many days of dangerous and exhausting climb during which he suffered incredible hardships and nearly died, he finally arrived at the door of this guru. He barely had the strength left to ask the important question. The guru answered, “This too shall pass” and shut the door in his face.

 Good luck and enjoy your journey of life!