When the student is ready, the teacher appears-- Buddhist ProverbI consider myself a life-long learner. I TRULY enjoy the process of learning about new ideas, concepts, recipes, languages, cultures, and ways of being. As a person with a portfolio career, who has worked/continues to work in different arenas, I have learned the power of informal and formal education.
My father often says, that he received his degrees from U.C.L.A > The University of the Corner of Lenox Avenue in Harlem. A great deal of his education came from growing up in Harlem. The "lesson plans" were not always structured, planned, or even safe, but they were life lessons taught by people, situations, and life experiences. They were lessons that have shaped my father, and in turn me and my sisters. The important early childhood message of valuing informal education is one for which I am very grateful.
I have been fortunate to experience a very good "formal education." I also have been able to be a participant in wonderful professional development sessions that have spanned topics areas including coaching, "difficult conversations," educational reform, human trafficking, project management, the art of Zen cooking, among others. I attend film festivals, university lectures, and discussion groups. These structured programs and workshops have truly enriched my personal and professional life.
And yet, I am a firm believer in the teachers and teaching situations that present themselves to us on a daily basis as we life or mobile lives on planes, trains, in coffee shops, in the nail salons, and on the "corners" of streets around the world.
The skill for many of us, involves being open to hearing "life lessons" from people who may look and sound different, and as my father says "may not have a lot of letters after their name."
We can go many places with this conversation. We can focus on organizational structures that may only value certain voices; we can acknowledge that many of us have been taught to value specific social capital; we might even be able to venture into the area of multi-tasking, where we are often texting, tweeting, updating our status, or talking on our mobile phones - -keeping ourselves busy, and not available to connect with people. Or, we can focus on gratitude, and being grateful for the opportunity to meet so many different people who in their different lives bring richness to our learning and day-to-day living.
It has happened more than once, that I have been going about my day, and have come in contact with someone who has helped me see something differently, shared their story with me, or simply showed a sense of warmth and sincerity that can be a treasure in our fast paced world.
I once titled a piece that I wrote "the Sheroes and Heroes Among Us." I think many of us have heard of stories from people that are our neighbors, colleagues, etc. that are powerful. Sometimes, the stories are not BIG, or even about heroism. Sometimes, the stories are very simple, and the learning just as important.
Some recent stories and teachers for me:
- Engaging in conversations and learning from the taxi driver in Washington, D.C. who has been driving in a city for over 30 years, who has experienced the issues of gentrification, race relations, and the changing of political parties as an insider;
- Learning about the current substance abuse counseling work of the car service driver that worked in the fire department in downtown Manhattan on September 11th;
- Hearing the fascinating story of the woman in the nail salon that came to the U.S. for a better life, and took the dangerous journey familiar to many immigrants;
It can mean reflecting on the life of the young soldier on the plane, who was heading back to base, after coming home to bury a friend.
Their stories, sense of humor, and commitment to what they do, are part of my ongoing learning.
Questions to ponder:
- How do you value our informal education?
- Where are your "corners" of learning in the world?
- Do we value some voices over others?
Photo Credit: Jeff
