Have you allowed your schooling to interfere with your education?

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Mark Twain famously said, "I never let my schooling interfere with my education."

 

Yet most of us haven't had the courage to ensure that our schooling doesn’t stifle our education, curiosity, or passion for learning.

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Where did that hunger go?

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As children, we all had a natural hunger for knowledge. Where did it go?

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Sadly, in the name of "education," our schooling—whether from parents, teachers, or society—has often force-fed us facts, sidelining our innate interests and curiosity. This rigid approach to learning frequently ignores the rich, real-world experiences that naturally spark our desire to explore and understand.

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Approval from others trumps curiosity, adventure, and experimentation

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When put our primary focus on grades and approval from others (and avoiding disapproval), that precious passion for learning is often so deeply suppressed that many of us forget what it was like to be driven by that insatiable curiosity for learning and experimentation.

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Fortunately for me, when I was in school, my mother never required me to do my homework (I mostly didn't). And, if I brought home a "C" on my report card, it was no big deal.

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Rekindling our passion for learning

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Those who maintain a lifelong love of learning are often the ones who have chosen the courage to carve their own path—beyond the limitations of formal education. They follow their passions and curiosity, shaping their own learning journey.

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So, how much do you learn every day? Do you have a deep, personal passion for discovering the things that matter to you? Does your curiosity push you to keep exploring? How could you embrace courage and creativity to make learning a joyful, continuous part of your life?

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"My idea of education is to unsettle the minds of the young and inflame their intellects."

—Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899-1977, American educator)

 

"Most people are mirrors, reflecting the moods and emotions of the times; few are windows,

bringing light to bear on the dark corners where troubles fester.

The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows." 

—Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986, American journalist, author)

 

"When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, always new questions,

then it is time to die."

—Lillian Smith (1897-1966, American novelist, educator)