Twelve Years Hidden Behind a Textbook

James Truslow Adams once stated, “There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.” Through the, rudimentary years and the rigorous high school courses, I have learned nothing valuable in life directly from reading a textbook; I have also learned nothing specific from listening to the multitude of words that have been thrown at me by the many teachers who have followed the classic path of education. My real lessons have not been taught by learning the material given by the teacher, rather I learned through all my experiences while being involved in school. It is these experiences that shape who I am today. These are events that I will always remember. After twelve successful years of schooling, I have found personal responsibility, gained a great sense of time, and learned the importance of having fun in an educational environment. The countless hours of time spent stabbing my paper with the sharp point of a pencil figuring out “plug in and grunt” formulas, filling out repetitive worksheets and reviewing study guides has given me a great sense of responsibility. Responsibility comes when I make sure I understand what I have been taught in class and I jot down the homework assignments so I don’t forget them. This personal responsibility is not gained through a lecture or by taking notes, it’s attained by experience through success and failure for example, by receiving the prestigious “A” or the big fat “F.” Should I stay or should I go? The question I most often asked myself when I have a backpack full of assignments to complete and at the same time my buddies are asking me to hang out. I used to drop everything, and then hang out with them until night fall, not thinking about the blank assignments left untouched in my backpack. Now, dealing with school and friends all these years, has helped to better my time management. It has given me the ability to use my time wisely, keeping a tight schedule to balance work, school, and friends. Through all the twelve years of schooling there has been one thing I have known from day one, and that is simply to have fun. Part of being a kid is to have fun and gain experiences while doing it. This is still present today; it’s just underneath all the piles of notebooks and paper. Being involved in extracurricular activities has helped me to enjoy education. Practicing with my teammates for hours after school has led to a greater, more fun high school experience. Also, in the classroom setting, I have learned to combat the pressure to be the perfect student with laughter. After all what is life if you cant enjoy it? The experiences I gain through schooling will build a foundation for the rest of my life. Having great responsibility will help me to endure the long journey of further education. The concept of time will lead me to becoming a well functioning and organized adult. Finally, the know-how to have fun will let me enjoy life no matter what obstacles I will need to overcome.