Things learnt in University

Searching for job these days, having doubt with my ability in taking up those post I want to apply, I kept asking myself these days what did I actually learnt during the 3 yrs of U-life ?? Do I just wasted my 3 yrs time, wasted tax payers' money, wasted my teachers' and parents' effort, support and encouragment and gain nothing in return ??

Can't really tell what I learnt concretely. But I do feel that I've changed. I did got sth in these 3 yrs of Social Work training. Maybe it is my way of thinking, which is the term I could think of right now.

Last night I was chatting with my junior through icq concerning proposal writing. She is going to organize a group and would like me to comment on her proposal before she hands that in to her supervisor. Although I was not sure whether I could really give her any useful ideas, I did discuss the proposal with her right away. It is through this I realized I've changed and grow.

When I think, I used to concentrate on one aspect or using one perspective in seeing things. Sometimes I think in an ideal way which ignore the existing constrains. Now it is not the case anymore, I realized. At least I started to think more practically.

It is hard to expalin though. Well... ya .... like for example what I would concern when drafting a proposal or planning a group are :

1. clients --> their real needs, ability, background, characteristics, personality
2. Time constrains --> which will be related to the size of program, i.e. consider the amount of things that could be done in such a period of time
3. Aim of the program --> what actually you would like to achieve and design accordingly
4. Expectations --> your expectation may be different from your supervisor or your boss or the agency or even clients. it is therefore needed to make sure all these expectations and try making a balance (what I learnt from my 2nd placement)
5. Budget --> you have enough money to do what you want to ??
6. Resources --> community resources, human resources, funding etc. they are essential in making your group possible
7. Preparations --> pre-group interview needed ?? advertising ?? booking of venue ?? set ups ?? permission of some kinds ?? etc.

Well these are all that I could think of at this moment .... of course there should be more that one have to consider. All I would like to say is that in the past I may only think of the content of the group, how to make it seems more attractive ~~ haha ~~ now with the experience accumulated, I do know there's a lot more one need to consider.

Although I still think in a naive way sometimes and could not think as fast as many of my friends do, I do believe I've achieved certain kind of improvement ~~ hehe~~