The Extra Mile

The difference between good and great is the extra mile. Doing things even when it is not requested  because you care. So when people asked why would I spent my time in the academia even without certainty, the answer is because I met people who go the extra mile for me in this institution (although mostly abroad so probably I am looking at the wrong country). One of the sweet things that my supervisor did is reading my blog and came into my office to ask whether I was okay. While the blog is meant to be public, I did not expect him to read it and to react upon it. Of course there is a relation between someone's condition and her/his progress, but usually, one's condition is her/his own responsibility. As an adult, you are expected to figure it out for yourself. So when someone breaks those walls between what should be done or what could be done, it always feels nice.

What makes people want to go for the extra mile? Being a nice person is one answer. Another answer is because you believe that things can go well if you have good intention. While the sarcastic side of me believe in the saying 'the road to hell is paved with good intention', the bright side of me believe that people tendency is to be good. So if there is an opportunity to make everything right, why not go for the extra mile? To make everyone around you happy because you can. 

I still remember in one of our first supervision meeting, my supervisors asked me what I want for my research. My answer was to understand how the world works, why people do things as they do. Both of them laugh and said, it is a never ending quest. Well, not surprisingly, they are right, after I finished my PhD, I have not figured out why things work as it is. 

Not sure where life will brings me but one thing for sure, I want to be passionate about what I am doing and go for the extra mile because I care.