Not Just Second High School education

What is an education?

 

Seems like such a simple question. I travel for Maranatha, and when I speak to students about school I ask them this question. Most answers revolve around ‘learning’, ‘learning new things’, ‘gaining skills for a job’. Most of the answers are right, but most of the students don’t grasp what it takes to do those things.

 

When you are in high school, the word education makes you think of your high school. When you are in college, obviously it makes you think of your college. Most people think that education means classes, homework, and grades. In reality, an education is so much more than that. Education involves everything that you put yourself in to push yourself, learn, and gain practical experience.

 

Most people think that education means classes, homework, and grades. In reality, an education is so much more than that.

 

In high school, most people are involved in something outside of classes. For a lot of students its sports. For others, it’s music or drama. Some students work outside of school and some don’t. Everyone’s out-of-class experience is different, but what most people don’t realize is that that experience is part of their education.

 

What sport you played, what choir you sang in, what drama production you were involved in, even what job you had, these all affect how you view life. To isolate yourself from other opportunities outside of the classroom can be a gap in your education and learning. The opposite is also true, though. To ignore the classroom setting for the extra-curricular is also creating a gap in your education and learning. Balance is key.

 

Why is this idea important? This is important for when you are thinking about college. What are you going to be involved in outside of class? What CAN you be involved in out of class?

 

College should not be just a second high school. Stretch yourself. Get involved in other things that will prepare you to move on from college. This is why people take internships, part-time jobs, do clinical hours for their degree. Frankly, if you think just going to classes will fully prepare you for the future, you might have a rude awakening coming your way. This doesn’t mean you can’t focus on your classes, but find ways to learn outside of a textbook and you’ll be happy you did.

 

College should not be just a second high school.