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The cab driver

Recently,  I happened to take a cab and got talking to the driver. The driver connected with me because I was fluent in his language. And we got talking.

The driver, for his age, all of 23, has probably attempted more things in life than someone twice his age. He runs a mobile shop and one more thing (which I forget). He has driven trucks, has a heavy vehicle license, a commercial driver licence and a license to drive explosives. He is a head of some actors fan organization. The guy has shifted to Bangalore less than a year ago, learnt the language, knows the roads of the city (the GPS helps) and is such a great communicator - one wonders what he is doing as a cab driver. While he arranges for supplies for his shop, he has invested in a vehicle and drives it to make money while he does it.

Needless to say, the guy will not be a cab driver for long. He will go on to do something else for sure.

Now, the thought I got after hearing him was that the guy is uneducated (by commonly known standards of education). But in terms of worldly knowledge and street smartness, go getting ability - the guy will beat many an educated person by a long long margin.

This is somewhat of a recurring thought - about how education makes us reduce our risk taking abilities as opposed to increasing it.

The more we are educated, the more we won't take risks - in general. And is there a way to make education do that to you - make you more confident in yourself so you can take more risks - like some of our best institutions often do...

Developing thought...
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