youth is wasted on the dumb

one thing i can't get over is how ridiculous and un-engaged i was in school. like, all of school. i'm not saying i didn't enjoy it or get anything from it. but, largely, i believe i was educated in the wrong phase of my life. i sort of believe everyone is educated in the wrong phase of their life. 

i was just flipping through my old, battered AP Stylebook, which i purchased circa August 1996 when i was finally a full-fledged journalism major. i still use it now because i can never remember the rules about numerals and even though i'm far from writing for a newspaper, i still like to follow AP style. 

just now, on my way to the numerals page, i started reading about libel—there's a whole libel guide in the back of the book—and i found it so fascinating. i know i was taught all about that back in Journalism 1: Ethics & Principles. i just didn't retain a damn thing. in my defense, i had a real douche bag of a professor (no, he seriously was—he had two or three favorites and the rest of us he considered seat fillers) and it's hard to learn well when you're worried about being berated in front of the class or saying something "stupid." but, i was 20 years old back then. if anyone tried to belittle or mock me now, i'd give it right back. 

my point is, i was too meek and distracted and overwhelmed back then to really absorb much in the classroom. same with high school—i cared about drama club and AP English and who gave a frig about the Treaty of Versailles. i find this incredibly sad now, but there was no way to convince my 15-year old self that there was anything more important than when the Barnum cast list would be posted. 

sometimes i want to go back for my masters not because i need one, but simply so i can do it right this time—i know i'd be an awesome student now. i still would procrastinate on projects and papers, of course, but i would sit at that desk with rapt attention. i would revel in the acquiring of knowledge instead of counting the minutes 'til class is over. 

i have a feeling i'm not alone in this—not at all—which makes me wonder if there's a better way to do things. obviously there are certain things young people need to learn to function in life—how to read, how to write, color, shapes, manners. but perhaps high school and college should come after some real life experience—a little part-time job, a little community service. with that kind of stuff on their resumes, i think subjects like American History, Biology, Sociology—even Journalism 1: Ethics and Principles—would feel much more relevant and interesting to people under the age of 30.

provided, of course, that Professor Knowlton is not the one doing the teaching...

mb