I wrote this after attending the GCI World In-person event held by well-known Matsuo-Iwasawa Lab from University of Tokio. the lab community is huge, consisting of 400+ studennts, and cooperating with a number of industry company in Japan. In that seminar, they not only share about the skills that AI-era students need but also broaden my perspective the connection between industry and academic.
For the past few years in university, I was lost in finding myself in the foreseeing future. I just don’t know what to do, keep going on the courses in school or finding practical projects. Therefore I joined the research group and keep on learning new things. After that, I was questioned about which direction I pursue, research or industry. Those tracks have different approach and skills to learn, causing me much more confusion. After the seminar, my decision is doing both of them. Why not ? =))
Regarding the reason, I think pursuing both will fit me the most (at the time of writing). I want to get higher education, able to do research. However, I am not the kind of person who gonna be all in, willing to stay up late, destroy my health to achieve the publications. As I observed, those who succeeded (have publications, to be recognized as research assistants) tend to trade offs their health. I don’t wanna say its a bad thing, everything is trying their best in life. One more thing is that I can see myself make use of my communication skills better in industry, and I can afford to make a living by myself then.
Thanks for Dr. Aki sharing on “Research daytime vs “Research nighttime”, it just opens my mind and hands me the key to unlock a path that I was scared to follow. That is why dont just do both of the 2 directions? I can do both of them and make use all of my strengths while the journey might be much harder. Communication, open mind are some of the important topics that other industry panelists meantioned while reasoning and critical thinking are the advice from Professor Dũng, who called himself an “oldschool” but admit that we should smartly utilize AI technology for self studying, improve performance, “You Control them, don’t let them control you”.
The internship program course is closer than ever. I wonder if this event just randomly appears and answers my question =)) haha. It was such a relief to decide that I will just do both. I will go down for internship position or research program, without thinking much because I gonna aim for those 2 birds with all of my best.