Monday, December 7, 2009

Education

Education. It is something we are fed from the time we are born. We are learning something every second of every day, will it every stop? NOPE.

As I sat in a coffee shop this evening doing my homework, I started to look around and notice that the vast majority of people were learning SOMETHING. Now yes, you might be saying "DUH, of course they were there learning, isn't that what most people are doing in a coffee shop during this time of year as semesters and quarters come to an end?" Yes, I suppose so, but it got me thinking as I listened to the girl who was the barista talk about how she hasn't slept in almost a week. She was barely able to do the dishes, I wondered, "is that what every college student is bound to?" Weeks of no sleep, book after book, assignment after assignment in this ever growing cycle of getting an education. As a society we put so much emphasis on getting an education and what it can do for you, mean even Obama has encouraged that we all add more education to our resume. But I wonder what is it doing to us? Is it benefiting our well being? How many of those college students really retain what they are learning and even a step further than that can apply it in the real world? I have to admit, I am a product of what I address even now. Many nights I sleep only four or five hours, I spend whole days glued to my computer and reading page after page trying to find answers to questions so I can desperately get the work done. But what I considered tonight was actually pursuing education not just through school, but through my own pursuits. I want to be more purposeful in the education I get, not just in choosing the school I attend, or what classes I pick. But learning the things that shape our world and researching events that have produced change. If I spent half as much time reading books, education magazines and listening to AM radio stations as I do keeping up with pop culture I would be on a better educational track. Every choice we make is an opportunity to learn, I want to choose the things that add to my character, my intelligence, and my wisdom in this world. My challenge to you, is to make every choice a learning experience, who knows what you can learn when you are being purposeful about your education, not just involving books.