This was the writing prompt given by my English teacher, as she gave us complete liberty to however we decided to interpret the topic, and express it in our own way. I found this prompt particularly thought provoking, and even though I didn't originally have a very clear opinion on this matter, I found that writing about it helped me to reflect back on my own life and experiences.
This piece of writing hasn't been revised or edited a lot yet, it's still in the rudimentary stages of development, but I still hope you enjoy!
Most people prefer to be well-versed in one specific area, and have a great deal of skill in that one particular field. In fact, many people look down on jacks-of-all-trades, seeing them as being mediocre at different subjects. In Mandarin, the phrase to describe a jack of all trades is "三分钟热度”。What does this mean? It directly translates to “three minute attention span” or someone who can’t stay dedicated. When translated into English, this might sound harsh and disrespectful, and yes, even though sustained efforts at making progress could have more lasting results, being a jack of all trades could be a benefit too.
First of all, being specialised in one field can lead to a depth of knowledge, but how do you know what you want to specialize in? Wouldn’t it be a waste of time, to spend so much time and effort on a subject only to later realise that you didn’t like it at all? Jack-of-all trades have encountered diverse experiences, which leads them to have a well-rounded knowledge. Specialising in one field means that you have a very narrow area of expertise, which might not be easily applied in everyday life. It’s important to have a wider range of knowledge, which could come in handy later, if you do want to pick one to specialize in.
Another point to note is that a jack-of-all trades would have encountered a plethora of different experiences, and would have a wider range of knowledge. Although their knowledge lacks depth, it makes up for that in breadth, as their talents extend over many different fields. This makes them better equipped to deal with a variety of situations, compared to someone who has a more specialized field of knowledge. For example, one of my friends has a large range of interests, taking part in hip hop, climbing, cross country and volleyball lessons. Even though she isn’t particularly exceptional at any of the four activities, her skill set enables her to get better at different aspects of fitness, with hand-eye coordination from volleyball, flexibility and agility from hip hop, stamina from cross country, and muscle endurance from climbing. This means that she’s a lot fitter overall compared to some of my other sporty classmates, and enables her to partake in a large range of activities.
Lastly, a jack-of-all trades would have a different attitude towards learning in general. Think about it, it takes a great deal of courage to start something new, completely from scratch, with no prior knowledge whatsoever. Jack-of-all-trades have a mindset that enables them to take risks, and pursue their interests, without a fear of failure. By trying whatever hobby piqued their interest, they’re a lot more open minded, and would adopt a growth-mindset. This makes jack-of-all-trades pleasant to interact with, as this sense of fearlessness means that they would be much more open, and also have more faith in themselves. They would also be more interesting to talk with, as they have experienced many different things, and have fascinating stories to tell. Although drive, persistence and dedication can get you far, it’s important to appreciate people who have full confidence in themselves, and aren’t afraid to dive headlong into new experiences.
Both of these approaches to learning have their benefits and downsides, but it’s important to remember that it isn’t black and white, and you could be a mix of the two! By learning with both depth and breadth, it ensures that we become well rounded as individuals. What do you think?