We hear that knowledge is power but how does this affect us in our daily lives? The average human living in the western world spends 13 years in a school environment where we are taught in a certain way. The system follows a strict structure especially with science and maths subjects. That type of teaching never appealed to me because I didn’t feel a connection with the teacher or subject material. It is no surprise to me that English was my favourite subject because it was about how words shape emotions and I felt a freedom with the subject that allowed me to be inquisitive and therefore wanting to learn more.
The beauty of adulthood is that we are free from these curriculums and can learn anything we want. Whatever passions we had in school that were not entertained, we know have avenues to learn about them in adulthood education. I discovered my love for writing while recovering from a broken leg but not all passions have to be followed this way! It is often through life learning instances like this that we find our passion in life. When I broke my leg I was forced to take time off work and university and struggled to pass the time. I decided to do a match analysis for a cricket match and I was surprised how easily I could write a large piece. Being free from the university language allowed me to express my creativity in a different avenue and the words flowed through my fingers.
Learning how to ride a bicycle is one of the most joyful experiences for both a parent and a child. That feeling of taking off on your first ride with the skills you have learned is a rewarding moment. Educating ourselves allows us to have these feelings when we are learning about subjects we care about. Something that is lost in the hustle and bustle of school is the joy we gain from learning.
The older generation of teachers had a disconnect with students which led to many boring afternoons sitting and listening about the periodic table from someone who did not get us. In times like these, I always learned more from my peers. They could talk to me in my own ‘language’ which meant I was able to grasp ideas quicker. The same can be said for adult to adult education where the students are there because they want to be and are being taught by someone who is generally around their age.
I always felt that learning was a concept where you walk into a room and be quiet and listen to the teacher for an hour. I have found now that while that may be one aspect to it in our younger years, adulthood brings out many other avenues for us to learn. Cooking classes, writing classes and yoga classes for example are huge in the adult community. We are learning what we want in a helpful environment and the skills we learn fuel us with extra knowledge and ultimately bring out the joy in learning.
Author
Amay Nagar is a student at Swinburne University studying communications. He is an avid sports follower with his own sports blog and his other hobbies include rewatching tv shows and questioning the norms.
This article was written and produced as part of the CREATE Media Arts Internship Program.
Laneway Learning has partnered with The Mentorship to deliver this exciting new program to support young people aspiring to work within the creative media and arts sectors.