For you, what is the value of a degree? Where is the value of a degree? When is the reward or success of a
degree? What do you think?
So, what IS the value of a degree? Does it guarantee an educated person? Does it ensure meaningful employment? Any employment? What about success? or happiness? A lot of students (and others!) hyper-focus on the completion of the
degree. If we feel we “have to”
complete the degree so we can get on with their lives, we work from the standpoint that education
is something we must “get through.” How does that affect the quality of our education? The quality of learning?
So, when is the
reward of education? When does education happen? What if education happens every time we
learn? What is the difference between a
degree and education?
So, how could it be helpful to shift the focus from degree
to education? How could this shift in
perspective make the practice of education far more purposeful and
passionate?
What would be the benefit of
students who practiced passionately? What if students were focused on enjoying the
experience? What if students could truly engage in the process of making it
meaningful or truly beneficial to their success? What if students purposefully moved to absorb
the knowledge of now into the foundation of what they already know and could
project forward with that perspective a possible future?
When we hold the focus of success in education as completing
a degree, the reward is far away, success seems intangible, and motivation is
in short supply. So, what happens when
we shift our focus to see education as a growth process? If education were not a final destination,
but a daily process, what would that mean?
How might that perspective change our engagement in learning? How could we celebrate success every day in
that model? What sorts of things might
we celebrate? What if we could celebrate
each small step in education? What if we
noticed these moments and connected them to other moments? How does forming
connections between each day, each month, each year enable us to more clearly
see our successes?
What is the benefit of tracking our successes? If we are tracking our successes, how does
that not only empower us to grow, but also recognize our own growth
potential? How could noticing each
growth opportunity within the larger context of our potential, tap
motivation? What if our education was
truly connected to our experiences? How
would that make it more meaningful? What
if we could learn from our experiences?
5/19/08
So what was the best thing that happened to you today?
For me, I got a flat tire. Yes. that's right. I am celebrating a flat tire.
I am grateful because, even through it went flat on 270 in the middle lane after hitting road debris, I am safe. I pulled over successfully and had my cell phone so I could call for roadside assistance.
I am grateful because a state worker stopped and made sure I was ok.
I am grateful because I got my email read while waiting for the assistance to show up. Even though my spare tire was also flat and so the first truck they sent out couldn't help me and we called a tow truck that took 45 minutes to show up, it was great because I had my wireless and got work done.
I am grateful because even though I missed a college fair I was going to in Newark, I got to spend time while my tire was being replaced updating a brochure I'm making on workshops and presentations for college-bound students.
So, it's possible to have a great day no matter what happens if we choose to see the benefits of what happens.
