| These are but a fraction of my ever-pursuing questions, thoughts and ideas about the vast gap between learning and being educated, a pause to acknowledge the idea of life rather than chasing it. Predominantly, these are questions I would like you think about and I would absolutely love to know your thoughts about the same. Cheers! |
After having gone through battles in examination halls, memories good and bad at institutions and officially now, a graduate still on a break post-undergraduate studies; it's safe to now indulge in these thoughts that I have been a participating member of in my head all this while. All these years, as I aggressively tried to approach the idea of it, I was only but a passive phase all through it. Had I contemplated more on all of this, would I have been happy or eternally in a state of chaos? (Though, sometimes, chaos is a lot of happiness)
What a safe life we all lead! Kindergarten, 14 years of school, 4-5 years of undergraduate studies and some more on graduate college and so on and so forth.Most of our parents never considered homeschooling as an option. We just settled into a life of grade after grade of education, of math that makes one's head reel and biology classes where the chapter on reproduction was very quickly skimmed through. There lies no immediate goal, no quest in a child to pursue something in life on the broader sense of it. This hit me massively as I just finished my undergraduate studies because that's when people finally started asking me, 'What next?' Even for that, there are definite set of expectations and options that they'd like me to be a part of that they approve of. Apparently, taking a lot of time to decide what one wants to do for the rest of their life sounds foolish to many because there is a comfortable life ahead of everyone if they choose the path of higher education, a job, marriage, babies and a settled life. How unsettling can it get?
If at the end of 22 years of age, I take a commemorative step to reflect on my past; there is nothing there but for a well-scheduled life full of classes, exams and 'extra-curricular activities'. The main aim was to do well in the annual exams so that we can move on to the next grade. No one asked me, 'What do you think about taking a day off from school and do something on your own?' Our earlier generation's probable struggle with receiving a decent education has thrown the coming ones into the shackles of the pin-pointed rat race with no finish line, ever. How different would life be today if we were to appreciate kids and people for who they actually are, their understanding of the world, their short term and long term goals?
What would be the result today if I was asked 'What next?' when I was 8 years old? At 13? At 17? (Assuming the general mode of education is off the table) How different would it have been if I just went to the park one day and slept the day after. While it is true that we would be possibly 'immature' to make the 'right' decisions and not really know what to do, thus 'ruining' our lives; isn't it also equally possible that we would end up discovering more about ourselves in ways we never envisaged we could? Would world peace and contemplative questions ever be accommodated in the current system? Imagine, if we could do wonders after two decades of dealing with authority that knows which direction you have to go by, merely by being pushed to make a decision of our own after say, 3-4 years of being allowed to think for a bit; how would life be if we were allowed to be whatever we are from the very beginning? Life experiences would be a word with immense depth, will it not then?
Being driven to 'settle', forcing our way through a vivid journey along beautiful sights so that we could enjoy our the visions to assimilate, years later just so that we can sit and take it in... strikes a wrong chord in me somewhere. It is not my opinion that the education system that the world is currently subject to is wrong, but I'm merely wondering why another path would be scandalous to anyone who feels good parenting is the perfect high-end English medium schools, tuition and extra music or art lessons that can always, only be a sidetrack? Or is it a concern of the fast-paced society we are in where our credentials lie in degrees earned, money made and the house we buy? Will parents have the time to home-school their children, will children be appreciated for the schooling they give themselves in a community?
For, I sure as hell don't know what I've been chasing all these years. I don't quite know why I studied what I did. I don't know why I'll have to know what to do next when all these years, I was told what to do. Why do I have to 'settle down'? (Boy, do I have a tough time getting that!) Have I been restricted by education and its circles of tight authority or was there much more of a learning there than I am giving it credit now?
Schools without degrees, learning something merely because one loves it and not to enroll in contests to win recognition, putting otherwise exorbitant fees to build a workshop or a place for children to live their lives on their own terms and a life full of travel.. is that too much or too Utopian ask?
I can only hope I have the answers when I become a parent and if I end up where I think I will end up siding with, I can only really hope I have the courage to not put my child in a school at two and a half years of age.. but ride bicycles with her and spell out poetry or whatever the hell she wants, however overwhelmingly beautiful and scary.
~Hemu
After having gone through battles in examination halls, memories good and bad at institutions and officially now, a graduate still on a break post-undergraduate studies; it's safe to now indulge in these thoughts that I have been a participating member of in my head all this while. All these years, as I aggressively tried to approach the idea of it, I was only but a passive phase all through it. Had I contemplated more on all of this, would I have been happy or eternally in a state of chaos? (Though, sometimes, chaos is a lot of happiness)
What a safe life we all lead! Kindergarten, 14 years of school, 4-5 years of undergraduate studies and some more on graduate college and so on and so forth.Most of our parents never considered homeschooling as an option. We just settled into a life of grade after grade of education, of math that makes one's head reel and biology classes where the chapter on reproduction was very quickly skimmed through. There lies no immediate goal, no quest in a child to pursue something in life on the broader sense of it. This hit me massively as I just finished my undergraduate studies because that's when people finally started asking me, 'What next?' Even for that, there are definite set of expectations and options that they'd like me to be a part of that they approve of. Apparently, taking a lot of time to decide what one wants to do for the rest of their life sounds foolish to many because there is a comfortable life ahead of everyone if they choose the path of higher education, a job, marriage, babies and a settled life. How unsettling can it get?
If at the end of 22 years of age, I take a commemorative step to reflect on my past; there is nothing there but for a well-scheduled life full of classes, exams and 'extra-curricular activities'. The main aim was to do well in the annual exams so that we can move on to the next grade. No one asked me, 'What do you think about taking a day off from school and do something on your own?' Our earlier generation's probable struggle with receiving a decent education has thrown the coming ones into the shackles of the pin-pointed rat race with no finish line, ever. How different would life be today if we were to appreciate kids and people for who they actually are, their understanding of the world, their short term and long term goals?
What would be the result today if I was asked 'What next?' when I was 8 years old? At 13? At 17? (Assuming the general mode of education is off the table) How different would it have been if I just went to the park one day and slept the day after. While it is true that we would be possibly 'immature' to make the 'right' decisions and not really know what to do, thus 'ruining' our lives; isn't it also equally possible that we would end up discovering more about ourselves in ways we never envisaged we could? Would world peace and contemplative questions ever be accommodated in the current system? Imagine, if we could do wonders after two decades of dealing with authority that knows which direction you have to go by, merely by being pushed to make a decision of our own after say, 3-4 years of being allowed to think for a bit; how would life be if we were allowed to be whatever we are from the very beginning? Life experiences would be a word with immense depth, will it not then?
Being driven to 'settle', forcing our way through a vivid journey along beautiful sights so that we could enjoy our the visions to assimilate, years later just so that we can sit and take it in... strikes a wrong chord in me somewhere. It is not my opinion that the education system that the world is currently subject to is wrong, but I'm merely wondering why another path would be scandalous to anyone who feels good parenting is the perfect high-end English medium schools, tuition and extra music or art lessons that can always, only be a sidetrack? Or is it a concern of the fast-paced society we are in where our credentials lie in degrees earned, money made and the house we buy? Will parents have the time to home-school their children, will children be appreciated for the schooling they give themselves in a community?
For, I sure as hell don't know what I've been chasing all these years. I don't quite know why I studied what I did. I don't know why I'll have to know what to do next when all these years, I was told what to do. Why do I have to 'settle down'? (Boy, do I have a tough time getting that!) Have I been restricted by education and its circles of tight authority or was there much more of a learning there than I am giving it credit now?
Schools without degrees, learning something merely because one loves it and not to enroll in contests to win recognition, putting otherwise exorbitant fees to build a workshop or a place for children to live their lives on their own terms and a life full of travel.. is that too much or too Utopian ask?
I can only hope I have the answers when I become a parent and if I end up where I think I will end up siding with, I can only really hope I have the courage to not put my child in a school at two and a half years of age.. but ride bicycles with her and spell out poetry or whatever the hell she wants, however overwhelmingly beautiful and scary.
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| Image source: Google pictures: Courtesy Indian Health Service/U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
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| Image Source: Google pictures :photo by Stephan Jouhoff) |
~Hemu
I think, elders and colleagues ask us to "settle down" in life because they think it's an easier approach for survival. But if one is ready to face the rough seas, they should by all means board the ship on a journey to the unknown place. And face the difficulties that follow. And not repent for their decision later on. I think these things depend on an individual and cannot be generalized.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Hi! Nice to know your opinion about this. Did you mean the individual as a parent or just an individual who's as old as me fighting all these decisions?
DeleteYes, elders ask us to settle down and the like. I can understand it as a person in my twenties who'll have to battle till the end for mere survival. But I'm talking about the kids. Free thinking and decision making are traits that begin very early in childhood, don't you think? What I'm wondering is if we as adults need to change and give our kids the option to think and act on their instincts and learn, study for the joy of it?
I don't think doing things for the "joy of it" is the best. If it was that, many kids would only want to become a cricketer or a movie hero/heroine. If your kid insists on such a career, would you allow it, and if you do, what do you think will be his/her chance of making a decent career out of it?
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
My premise in itself lies in the word 'career' and 'settling down'. Yes, it may sound idealistic and Utopian, but what are driving ourselves and our kids towards at the end of the day? After all has passed, kids remember the happy times with their family and not the financial aspect of it. Agreed, professional life is extremely important.. I wish to see a difference in the way that in itself is approached and achieved.
DeleteOn a personal note, I'd any day prefer a job that gives me more satisfaction and joy when compared to a higher pay and a miserable life.
Financial prosperity is a way to bring happiness, or at least security. That's why people choose relatively safe jobs, even if they are mundane and difficult.
ReplyDeleteWhat if your chosen creative career doesn't pay you (even) your living expenses for an extended period of time? Doesn't that automatically lead to (at least a bit of) suffering?
What I am saying is, instead of focusing on "satisfaction and joy", why not focus on the "value" that we create for others through our career? It can be mundane or creative, doesn't matter. We make others' lives better and they pay us for it. If we are focused only on our "satisfaction and joy" we are talking about a hobby, not a career.
Just my opinion. Of course, I could be wrong and there maybe some people who are happy throughout their careers - although I haven't seen any, even if they say they are!
Destination Infinity
Money does play an important role in life, I concur. But I don't believe in making others' lives better when our own is miserable. I feel that when we do something from a place of misery, the output isn't the shining sensation of joy either. Financial prosperity as you said is mere security. Not to be over-stated or understated in any way. I'm merely wondering how this world would function if one was allowed to make their own choices, question and discover. If we do reach that world, I think money won't matter. I'm wondering about that world, not quite about the money here.
DeleteTo a large extent, I think it depends on which part of the world you live in. In India, with more than a billion other people vying for a limited set of resources and opportunities, the word 'survival' almost equates to 'money'. It is in childhood that one is completely uninhibited and fearless - the perfect time to find one's calling, or at least, discover one's innate skills/talents/abilities - whatever you may choose to call them. Today, every child born in India has their life charted - to some extent, at least - by his/her parents. The hopes and aspirations parents have when they decide to 'plan' the lives of their children are based on their own life and the sum of their experiences thus far. When a parent's life has been defined completely by the need to complete school, get a higher education (if they could afford it), get a job, marry a girl and reproduce, they are incapable of looking beyond this way of life. Their world view is itself skewed to such an extent that they fear every other way of life there is - particularly the 'alternative' ones that encourage things like 'doing what makes you happy' or 'trying new things' or learning for its own sake. In a part of the world where this view of life is accepted and people are comfortable letting their children discover their passions at an early age, unafraid of how their lives are going to turn out (none of the "who will marry you if you don't have a job?" type questions), I am sure children will grow up to be much more versatile, confident and in general, happy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I was talking about India, for most parts of it because it's here that there are way too much expectation of a child. Even children who apply for Kindergarten have to appear for interviews. I'm not sure I see it as a healthy sign. It is just heart-wrenching to see kids being subject to this.
Delete