End of School Not Learning

“Most people once they graduate from the School of Hard Knocks, automatically enroll in the University of Adversity.”  - John-Roger and Peter McWilliams

As our teenagers have been fully forcing their wisdom and knowledge upon their parents, we find ourselves reminiscing about the days of old when we mattered in the eyes of those little ones. Their first words. Their first steps. Their first bike ride. Asking for a story or to play. Memories, treasured and loved, as well as a glimmer of the future, give us reason to push through wanting to lock them in their rooms for a few more years.

As little ones, they were dependent upon us as parents. They learned about physical coordination – walking, eating, using the bathroom, playing, being social, talking, manners. We were their life and they were ours.

As they entered pre-school and elementary school, they learned more of academics – reading, writing, art, math, science, music, sports, history, play, social skills and more about people.

As they entered intermediate and high school they continued to learn and were able to pick some of their own interests to learn about. They developed greater friendships, developed more independence, learned the good and bad of peer pressure, and found out that life can be hard and easy at the same time. They hopefully learned about the value of hard work and gained enough confidence in themselves that they can try something hard without worrying about failing. They learned about choices and consequences. They experienced joy and sorrow. They developed good and bad habits. They learned things that are true. They learned that somethings are not true. They have had to learn and re-learn throughout their lives.

They have grown from that tiny bundle to being almost taller than you. Their growth has not only been physical but also in other ways. Growth or progress continues to a certain point in life ending somewhere between age 15 and 20, it seems, unless they take steps to continue to grow and learn.

‘Tis the season of caps and gowns and social media being filled with graduation photos and celebrations. The cap and gown for some signifies being “done.” Some say they are done earlier and others at the end of college. What makes a square hat and a robe the signal that our time for learning is over? “Commencement” signifies a beginning.

I love learning but I will be honest that I didn’t really enjoy school, especially the college years. If I could picture what I could do with the knowledge gained from the effort of learning, I loved it. If there was no vision for the purpose behind the topic, I struggled wanting to learn – it was just school.

​Learning gives us the ability to do. The more we can do, the more we learn. It is through this learning and doing we continue to grow. By becoming really good at what we choose to do and increasing our learning of it brings us joy and satisfaction in life. Regardless of if we have uttered the words “I’m done” or are still learning, may we pick ourselves up from the comfy chair and get out and learn and do more often.