Over the last few weeks, Fangirls, I’ve been thinking a whole lot about school and our education system in general. The educational system and I didn’t always get along, and it resulted in me not wanting to pursue any education beyond high school. As the years are starting to pass by though, I think about going back, and I see how necessary higher education is becoming in the workplace. However, I’m just left wondering where there’s a place for a person like myself in today’s classroom.
Normal types of education just don’t seem to work well for me. In high school, I just felt like I wasn’t on the same track as other people. It also doesn’t help that I’m stubborn. There was a lot that I just didn’t want to be learning, I didn’t see the need for it, and I was stubborn in letting go of that. I couldn’t just shut up and learn it. I let my mind wander to other things instead. I focused on what I wanted to focus on, but there just isn’t a place for a lot of that in school. I wanted to interact more with my education, cater it to me, or at least learn what they want me to learn, but in a way that I can actually absorb it.
I’m a very visual learner and thinker. Everyone has their own type of learning. Schools today only teach you something one way. For some, it might be perfect, but the others are left behind. That’s no way to do things. I wanted to be given a chance, and I felt like that wasn’t happening. I couldn’t get on board with how things were being done, I so easily fell behind, and because of that I was labeled as being a lazy student. The system thinks that if homework isn’t being completed, that’s the student’s fault for not managing their time or bothering to attend to it. They don’t bother to ask if they can handle it, if it’s something that they understand. Doing worksheet after worksheet, working through tons of homework just doesn’t work for some. In fact, it’s frightening, overwhelming, to the point where they just don’t do it. That’s how I felt.
I felt intimidated by school and homework, so I ended up just kind of ignoring it. Surely, there is some blame on my part too, I could have spoken up, gotten more help. But it’s intimidating. It’s scary to admit that you don’t understand something, or that you just can’t follow along with how this is being taught. So, after clawing my way out of high school, the last thing I wanted to do was continue that climb. I still enrolled in a local community college, because it was what I was suppose to do. I barely when to class, and dropped out a few weeks into the semester. Since then, I’ve just worked full time.
Now, a time comes where I’m thinking about new jobs and things like that, and school seems to be at the forefront of all that. For every job application, comes a requirement for at least an associates degree, usually more. And for jobs that I wouldn’t even think you would need a degree for. It’s a bit terrifying, actually.
I want to be more educated, and I want to work hard so that I can get a better job. However, the education system just doesn’t feel like an open door to me. I see all the possibility and opportunity, but I just don’t know how to get to it. I need the education system to open up a bit, and find ways to help out folks like myself and others who face all sorts of challenges, so that we can have just as many opportunities as the next person. Give me a school I can really cater to my life, my learning styles, and my interests. I believe that that day isn’t far, but the waiting game isn’t a fun one. I hope that soon enough a broader spectrum of education will come to us.
Do you feel me on this, Fangirls? I’m certain that you intelligent cuties have some things to say about education, and we’d love to hear them. Let it all out here in the comments, or on our Facebook or Twitter!
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