Reflective Journal 2

Reflective Journal 2: Reflect on the progress in American and Chinese societies. (Hints: You can explore the notion of progress, which society/elements you deem to be more progressive)

There are many ways to look at how much a certain country has progress. In my opinion, progress is when there is improvement in some aspect in a country which affects the standard of living of the population. It may come in the forms of political progress and economical progress. In this post, I would be discussing about the progress of American and Chinese societies through their participation in politics and also through education in both societies.

Firstly, I would be talking about political apathy in both societies. In America, people are getting much more engaged with politics, especially the youths who are taking the hardest impact. I feel that this is due to the failures of the current government to rid the nation of problems such as debts, which are haunting them now. I feel that Americans want change. The youths in particular are concerned of their future. They are afraid that they would go unemployed and that this would lead to them suffering for much of their lives. That is why they are taking an interest in politics. They are taking a interest in their lives. They want to have a person who can help change and solve the current situation they are in now, which is haunting them now. Personally, I would take an interest in politics as it concerns my future, which is the case of these Americans currently. However, in China, people are much more disengaged with politics and in particular are the youths in China. Through the interactions I had with Chinese students during my time in BSC, I realized that they do not talk much about politics. Instead, the normal discussion topic would be studies and also sports. They do not really care about the economic development of the nation. I realized that they do not really take an interest in the politics of the country. I feel that this is due to the economic progress China has. I feel that with a better economic situation in China, the people do not feel that there is a need to change anything currently. They are contented with what they are having now. They are enjoying life and benefitting from the economic success and progress of China. However, I feel that being disengaged with politics would result in the stagnation of the progress of the nation. They would be the leaders of the future and would take the reins of the country sooner or later. If they do not understand the politics in their country, I feel that they would not make a rather huge impact on the nation.

Secondly, I would be discussing about the education in both societies. In America, they are trying to change the education system. I feel that this is because they are failing to produce sufficient graduates in sciences and engineering. Math scores throughout America rank well below China. They want to change their education such that they are able to reproduce the same results the Chinese education system has produced. They want to replicate the diligence that China students have. They want to shift towards a more strict, disciplined teaching environment that math and science. I feel that with this, there would be progress in America. By looking at the education system of others, they are trying to improve. I feel that by striking a balance between the flexibility in their current system and the strict system in China, America could produce much more graduates. America could produce graduates with much more quality. And America could benefit from the change in education in the near future as these youths are the ones who would be the leaders of America in the near future. Meanwhile in China, they are not making much change to their current system. I think that they do not see the need to change the education system as the current system is producing good results. However, I feel that this would be a problem for China in the near future. In my opinion, if they continue to have this strict and rigid system, the students produce would be rigid and not flexible too. This would not be a good thing if the students want to travel abroad. I feel that these rigidness in their system, whereby there is emphasis on memorization, would prove costly as the students would not have an easy time to think of original and creative ideas. I feel that this would in turn stagnate the progress of China as the youths, who are the potential leaders of the country, would not be able to come up with new ways and ideas to help improve the country. Hence, stagnating the progress of China.

In conclusion, I feel that America is the more progressive of the two societies. The current situation they are in resulted in them wanting to change, which I feel would benefit the country in the near future, hence, giving them progress. Whereas I feel that progress in China would just stagnate.