Contemplative Sunday

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught." — Oscar Wilde

Okay, so I promised that I would do a "Sunday quote"and this is me keeping my promise (if only to MYSELF). I thought that I would start it off with my personal inspiration--Walt Whitman. Yes, I do realize that the quote above is, in fact, Oscar Wilde. While I was searching for the perfect Whitman quote to start off my weekly routine, I found this one and my brain screamed "A-ha!" I just finished another semester of school and I am amazed that, despite the heavily contemplative and philosophical nature of my English major/History minor degree, the things that I really remember and actually value are the conclusions I came to all by myself. Don't get me wrong, I have had some purely brilliant professors with ideas that are made of pure gold! All I am saying is that I'm MORE brilliant. Kidding. My mind pales in comparison to the smarties I have been exposed to these last three years. However, the things I feel the most connected to and remember most vividly are the connections I made with literature OUTSIDE the classroom. Granted, the reading was often assigned--but make no mistake, the reaction to it was all me! As far as my History education goes, I have had some wonderful professors and gained a wealth of knowledge sitting in the classroom, but I am fairly certain that my brainy-ness comes from somewhere else. Saturday mornings with a cup of coffee, my dad, and the History channel are the history lesson I remember best, and they are certainly the most dear to me. This leads me to another point: My dad. The man is a genius; I bow to his ever-expanding intellect. I know he wasn't TAUGHT all his infinite knowledge in a classroom, so where could he possibly have learned everything he knows (which is, literally, everything)? The only answer I could come up with is (are you ready?): HE JUST PICKED IT UP. That's right. It is simple but true. He is a naturally curious human being (guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree with me, huh?) and when he has an interest he dives in head first. It is an admirable quality and one that often gets us in trouble (with mom and often ourselves). I value my education; as a future educator, I have dedicated my life to the "classroom eduaction". But I know where I am going (intellectually) and I don't think it necessarily involves a classroom. Our real education is about the connections we make--it can be through the twists and turns that our lives take, our relationships with other people, or the curiosities that consume us. I hope my curiosities take me far and away and make me smarter than an astro-phyisicist!

PS: Shout out to my TWO followers!! Malyssa and Brooke...love you guys!