All About Learning

Didactic, pedagogy, study, observation... these are some words that we use to describe teaching and learning, which are in reality two sides of the same coin. You see, learning is not just about memorization - it is also about applying the concepts and ideas we learn to our lives, attaching meaning and significance to the knowledge and skills we gain through the learning process. Learning sometimes happens as a result of another person teaching the learner, but it can also happen when the learner teaches someone else information that has recently been acquired. Some people prefer to learn by observing their surroundings, self-directed in their pursuit of knowledge - or skills; there are countless books in the do-it-yourself (DIY) sections of libraries nowadays.

...you can probably tell I've been sequestered in academic seclusion for the past few weeks. But hey, it pays off, eventually. We're down to the final crunch, the last few class sessions before final exams begin this Saturday. I have really enjoyed learning about so many things and interacting with my fellow classmates, discovering new capacities in myself and developing that potential towards my goals.  Currently, I'm reflecting with increasing frequency on my life and who I am becoming. After all, since life is too short to die, I must focus on living, and developing myself to be the best person I can possibly be, to serve others and share in their lives. So much of life is about learning, from the time we are tiny budding cells, to holding our heads up, to taking our first steps, and even until old age when we might have to use a cane to walk. Sure, some of us are self-directed learners, but none of us - none of us - can say we did it all alone. So here's a toast to all the teachers in our lives - parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, foster parents, adoptive parents, mentors, schoolteachers, coaches, directors, best friends, and spouses, even children and the strangers we meet in our day-to-day journeys - here's to all of you. Thank you for deepening our experiences and understandings of ourselves and our surroundings. Thank you for loving us and helping us to learn and grow and live.