Starting this past week, we have started reading "Excellent Sheep", I never though I would come to relate to this particular book as much as I did. Not necessarily personally connecting my life to it, but understanding and relating the book to my thoughts on education and the future of the world. It got me thinking where we will end up in the world. As years go by, more and more schools "engrave" a certain vision of success into their students minds: top grades, top student, best athlete, most activities and in the most clubs means the most success.
"The closer the curve gets squeezed to the ceiling, the harder it is to make distinctions and the less incentive students have to do their best." -Excellent Sheep
So, is the best REALLY the best? Or are they a perception of what 'best' is for universities now a days and forever in the past?
Schools nor universities have changed their ways of doing since years ago. Mentalities have changed as well as technology, but if those have changed--and basically the whole community environment has--then why aren't the schools and universities doing anything to change alongside the community and technology? The IA is the modernized education system, it sees the value in feedback, truly learning, and the importance of the education one receives without being centered around numbers (grades). We grow up thinking a certain way, because that is what society is teaching us to do; it is teaching us to work for the grades, and get into a prestigious college so that we can have a better future and a more successful one. But who said you have to follow that way of living to be successful, where does happiness of one's self come into place, does happiness not have a slot in our success?
I believe to be successful you must be happy with who you are and what you are doing, you must follow the path that most pleases you--not to please others--you must work hard for what you want to achieve, and I believe that you don't need to attend a prestigious college to be the most successful person on earth. Success comes form hard work and balance in life, not from hard work, suffering and unhappiness.
So, be happy, be balanced and have a clear mind in order to be successful in life. Now that I have that clear, I can now step into this new project knowing somewhat what leads my life, and now, it's time to go deep into my mind and dig it all out, because now is the time to figure it all out.