Make Something Of Yourselves First!

Its funny what globalization and absorbing from other cultures has started meaning to us:

The norm in western academia is that one refers to professors as "Dr. So and So..." or "Prof. So and So..." all the way till one becomes a colleague oneself. This means at least till one completes his/her PhD, and sometimes even while going through one's post-doctoral research fellowship. The reason is simple: While you are still in training, it has to be acknowledged in the way you address those training you. It is only when one earns the title of "Dr." and becomes a faculty member oneself, formalities are dropped and people start addressing each other just with their names.

But just look at the funk Indian students are getting into 😅! Even undergraduates who aren't even ready to earn their own bread yet are starting to have the temerity to address their professors using their first names 😅!

Cut the crap 😅! Make something of yourselves first before considering yourselves to be equals 😅!

PS: Of course, in other matters, such as regularly coming to class, doing one's assignments and projects oneself, doing 20 hours per week of teaching/research assistantship before claiming one's stipend, putting in 40 hour weeks honestly before collecting one's paycheck, in all such matters (which really matter and which is why the west is ahead in absolutely everything by at least a few decades) - well, here we firmly decide to not globalize, not absorb from other cultures, and "stay Indian" 😊!