STEPHANIE LEE
Staying Ahead of the Bell Curve
This essay shows how Dr. Atul Gawande never believes learning is completed. Gawande’s insight to his professional involvement in medicine and personal interest in self-improvement exemplify the omnipresent learning society in which we live. Here, I highlight the importance of determination and ceaseless desire to do better through samples of Gawande’s work and writing. In particular, Gawande argues for more regular coaching standards at all levels of professionalism—an idea that I have taken very closely to heart in my own professional endeavors.
This assignment was especially personal as I was seven months pregnant and was asked to research a topic of particular interest to me by way of a “do-it-yourself” online education scheme. After reading through Anya Kamenetz’s DIY U and trolling through numerous Internet resources, I completed a guide to learning about pregnancy, childbirth, human anatomy, and child development. I felt that throughout my formal education, much of the natural science of human biology was either glossed over or never addressed, and therefore left me unknowing about my own natural human experiences. Having found online university lectures and courses has filled that void for me immensely.
Since this assignment, I have never looked at swordfish the same way. Nor have I found more excuses that I do now to make references to the happenings of a swordboat captain. Linda Greenlaw’s raw writing of her experiences as a swordboat captain depict how essential it is to work in teams and learn from others in a 360-degree fashion. Her liberal education served as a platform for as much variability as Greenlaw could have anticipated. In the open sea, Greenlaw demonstrates how work, no matter the industry, means solving problems. As a former corporate writer, it was very interesting for me to learn how adult learning spaces are dissimilar in several ways and similar in several other ways.
This essay was challenging for me to write because it required me to admit to the difficulties of self-directed learning and begrudgingly identify the obstacles of autodidact aspirations. Through Noah Adams’ account of learning the piano in his adult life in, Piano Lessons, I became more aware of my own troubles studying Japanese language, a personal learning pursuit of my recent adult life. More than the generic expression, “trials and tribulations,” this reflection opened my eyes to the particular challenges of learning in adult life as well as the particular strengths of being an adult learning something new.
Learning is gradual and continual. One of my strengths showcased here is my ability to identify new learning methods and avenues and adapt them to specific needs. By way of technology, research, and reflection, I can understand better myself as an adult learner and help other adults engage in active learning as well.
Adult Learning Spaces
GRADUATE WORK SHOWCASE
Lessons from an Autodidact
Absolute Involvement
View appendices here.