I keep it no secret that I’m a Loyola Cub, USC Trojan, and now a Columbia Business School student (I think we’re the lions). I’ve been so grateful for the opportunities they’ve opened up for me and the amount of frustrating, mind-melting, hard-working nights they’ve given me. Call me strange, but there’s something so gratifying about knowing you’re the only one up and working in your house, apartment, block. And then to go in to the classroom and put it all out there on paper, the freedom that comes after….
Sure you might think it strange. But I attempted to capture the emotion and majesty of a student when I compared studying to an athlete’s training in a prior post here.
I love learning and I’ve been given great schools to learn at. But with the Gratitude is Present Project, I began to learn and explore things for myself. To access the vast pool of knowledge that the internet generates. I stayed up late, found ways to discover new things, and seemingly for the first time, really enjoyed learning which propelled me to read and summarize the 100+ books that make the basis for my MBA+ Wednesday posts. And here back in school, after a few years in the working world, both corporate and startup, I am far more interested and motivated to learn.
But that asks the question then: What is school for?
Seth Godin poses this question to an audience at TedX here in Brooklyn. And beyond just asking the question, he takes it one step further and offers a few suggestions to improve the system. You may not agree with the prognosis or suggestions, but my own experience speaks to his cited frustrations and proposed solutions.
It actually reminds me of another video that I came across while working on the Gratitude is Present Project. The sentiment is shared and there’s some subtle nuances that Suli Breaks adds.
It’s interesting to consider, and there are many EdTech companies, politicians, teachers, parents, investors, and administrators working tirelessly to make education the most effective tool for empowering the next generation.
But sometimes, it’s good to take a step back and just ask, What is school for?