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| Egypt uprising in 2011 (Image source) |
Even if something is supposed to exist, it would not live very long unless it can also survive against all odds of its existence. For example, when a new government is officially installed after it has won a general election, it would not remain in power for very long unless this new government has also worked out ways of appeasing the opposition parties and their supporters. Otherwise, it would be toppled by the opposing forces soon enough.
Another example would be a biological system, like the human body. It is amazing how the human body is naturally formed by complex multiplication and differentiation process of a single cell - a zygote. It is even more astonishing that it could survive at all! This is not only about our need for oxygen. In order to survive, we must also protect ourselves against external threats (toxic materials, deadly infections, extreme weather) and our inherent instability (genetic abnormalities, degenerative diseases, cancer, etc.).
Survival is more about maintaining improbability, than just natural occurrence. So for me to survive my medical course, I must not only focus on working hard to pass all my exam. What's more important is to address the challenges that may disrupt this progress. And these challenges come from two dimensions:
(1) externally, such as misleading exam questions and unfair examiners;
(2) internally, (an inherent instability) such as forgetfulness and misapprehensions.
Passing my exam will not just happen naturally from hard work. I would also have to be equipped in facing those challenges highlighted above - by being careful in reading questions, try to stimulate interest from the examiners, do revision to solidify my knowledge and verify the learned facts.
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Once we have realized that in order to survive, we are constantly struggling against all odds, then we will have a greater appreciation of even the smallest achievement in our daily lives.
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