Back to school. photo courtesy of Lovebird Ladybird
Today is back to school day for kids (and parents) across South Florida.
It’s been a morning of frenetic activity, excitement, and even a few tears, as kids embrace the challenges that a new school year brings.
My son is entering his senior year of high school, so this is our last “back to school” moment. I saw him drive off to school this morning and, being the sentimentalist that I am, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of emotion.
Watching our kids grow up so quickly is oh-so bittersweet.
But thinking back, if there’s a single virtue that I hope I’ve instilled in my son, it is this:
That learning is not something that you only do at school, or during the school year, learning is a lifelong labor of love. And it becomes even more important when your school years are long past.
Just look around.
The world is changing quickly and dramatically.
Daniel Pink reminds us that we’ve moved beyond the information age and into the conceptual age.
This favors the learners.
We need people who not only have the sensibility of artists, but who can think rigorously, like engineers.
We need people with lots of ideas but who also have the required skills to bring those ideas to life in the real world.
The people who will flourish in this new century are those who stay curious and committed to learning.
Good fortune will favor those who venture out beyond their comfort zone in search of new skills, new tools and new mediums through which to express a greater share of their God-given talents.
So as our children head back to school, it is a perfect time to ask:
What are you doing to invest in your continuing education?
What skills do you need to strengthen?
What new hardware of software tools do you need to learn?
What projects are you working on that push you beyond your comfort zone so that you’ll have to adapt and learn?
Today is not only about the kids.
It’s back to school for all of us.
I loved this article! In fact, this summer I have been reflected about the ways I have taught to my girl that with my 9-year old princess, about being curious about things and we, as parents, help her to find out her skills and vocation. It is a hard task, but it will be wonderful to see when she finds that treasure out! what a prize don’t you think?
Absolutely JC! I agree with you that probably the greatest joy for a parent is to see their children find their passions and work on their own to develop their strengths. That’s when you know that they have found “their own way”. I hope you and your family are having an awesome Back To School Day!