In a
closed classroom, there sat roughly fifteen students circled around a
mammoth-sized conference table. Nearly
all of them were in their mid-twenties. Hands
folded neatly in a studious and almost prayer-like pose. Eager eyes.
Shining smiles. Cutthroat and
competitive attitudes simmering deep inside only to bubble over when the
time came in this ‘rat race’ world we lived in.
Wide open minds to be fed with factual knowledge by
teachers—approximately two teachers who were just as excited to share their
wealth of knowledge in this mandatory training program. I was one out of these students in title, but
not feeling it by any means in role fulfillment. For one thing, I was feeling quite confined,
claustrophobic, and caged in this small room with strangers. Many do not believe me when I confess that I
am shy and even quite awkward in and with a big group of strangers, all
dependent, of course, on who is in the group and what led us to our
encounter. The overstimulation is too
much for the observation quality that is naturally ignited me me with so many
(too many) in one room. A group or power
in numbers, completely takes the upper hand and over the sincerity of a
person. I am much better in and prefer individual
encounters that are a true gift to me to get to know a person in his/her real
essence. Thankfully,
the teachers were probably aware of someone like me when they proposed the next
activity; Each of us to announce and
share three interesting qualities about ourselves. “Ooohs…” and “Aahhhs…” and raised eyebrows
were most of the responses to the qualities.
However, there were the select few that received an enthusiastic round
of applause. The
receivers of the round of applause were the climbers up the “success” ladder
with obtaining yet another degree to add to their Bachelors Degree that just
was not enough and did not cut it in this competitive, corporate, and high
strung society. Masters
in Healthcare Policy. Masters of Public
Health. Masters in Communication. I’ve been wondering if there was or ever could
be a Masters Degree in Life. Was there a degree I could get to master
myself and life? In the classroom with all these students, I was
the student that contemplated deeply if these degrees made them any more smarter,
wiser, and capable to handle this life that did not come with any set of instructions,
maps and compasses of directions, or clear-cut answers to the questions that we
had and would continually have as we aged that could not and would not be
answered in a classroom setting at a drop of a wish and
dime? They knew how to read the books,
study until the crack of dawn, guzzle down caffeine to stay awake for yet
another project or paper, and listen to the lectures, but did they know about
LIFE? Yes, LIFE that required budgeting finances, making split-second or
long-term decisions, compromising versus standing up to values and principles, communicating
with people and adjusting to their personalities, giving to and respecting
others, handling pressure and stress with grace rather than giving up or
grunting, and that the easy way was not always the best way to taste the
sweetness of victory that only came with the hard ways. So
many ‘masters’ in degrees and the names and numbers of advanced degrees keep on
increasing, but did these degrees develop and even achieve anything more and
even to ‘master’ life? Did those who clapped their hands in a round of applause
even know why they were clapping?
Because, unlike the others who clapped for the climbers and receives who
beamed with pride, I was the one who cringed with a dull and lackluster touch,
rather than clap, of my hands. We
believe and perceive that more degrees get us the better job, more money, and
bring out the better us, but what is really ‘better’ and is that truly found in
classes and lectures? I am all for
education and the classroom setting (especially if you knew since you were a
tiny tyke what you wanted to be when you grew up), but not to the point of
hindering on life-experiencing. If you obtained an advanced degree(s), did it
bring what you expected or even more in life that you foresaw? With more degrees, were your intended goals
met and even closer to ‘mastering’ life?
Being a ‘student’ again has made me realize just
how much I am NOT a student who is able to sit idle in the classroom to listen
to lectures. Rather, I am a student of
life to experience everything hands-on.
I am the kind of student of life to live it and do it. Actually, when I look back on my life, I question
if I went to college because I had to and because that is what we do rather
than because I really wanted to go to college. Some of the smartest and wisest people I have
ever met are high-school educated who have maneuvered through life because they
had to survive rather than masters or doctorates, but there is also vice
versa. It is all how we get through and
learn from life. Another
round of applause. The clap of hands in
the small classroom with nearly fifteen students echoes in my ears. I am only one student who is getting through
and trying to listen and learn from life as my greatest teacher. My ‘role’ as a
student will forever evolve, progress, and change because of what life will
teach me at different stages and ages. We are all students of life to learn,
observe, develop, decide, and live with consequences from the choices we made
and that life laid out for us. No round
of applause. No one needs to put their
hands together to clap for me, as I feel that am in a humble position to learn as
the student and will never be the master of life when life is the greatest
teacher of all. So, what kind of 'student' are you? What is
your education of degrees versus education of life? Keep smilin’ until we meet again, Mary
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