Education is Wasted on the Young, Grad School is Not

February 8, 2010

It’s amazing how little I know about subjects like history, geography, or art considering that I was forced to sit in a classroom for hours on end under the pretense of learning about those subjects for much of my life. And I know I’m far from alone in feeling that way.

The type of focus and motivation it takes to learn material well often will evade even “good” students until well into college or even graduate school.

Focused on the Wrong Things

Instead, many (or most) of us are trained to pass a test, to gauge our success in school purely by the grades we earn instead of focusing on the education itself.

But when the responsibilities of adult life start to sink in, our opinions and priorities change. We begin to grasp what a powerful thing education can be, what a luxury it is to have the opportunity to pursue it, and what a shame it is that we squandered so much of it.

A Second Chance at School

I think that must be part of the special appeal of graduate school. Beyond the practical reasons for going back to school, there’s an innate appeal to it. Older, wiser, and with a more mature perspective on education, a second chance at school to do it right and make the most of it–it’s exciting.

If you find yourself going back to graduate school, congratulations. Make the most of it this time around. If you’re still on your first trip through the educational system, try your best to appreciate it while you’re there and savor that time like the limited resource that it is.