Learned Behaviour
Between myself, friends and family as higher education alumni, it is unanimously agreed ‘Individuality’ is discouraged in education. We are scorned for thinking with our own minds or revealing the feelings of our heart. We are quite often made to feel unworthy to feature our personality prominently in our own work. Instead we are forcefully told to be unoriginal and replicate the same choices those before us made. Submit or else! We are told how to think and to rank the experiences of others over our own. Is it then a wonder that graduates often find themselves unemployed after their studies? We have the originality in us corrected. It is replaced with encyclopaedic information. So much so, that employers struggle to see where the actual candidates own achievements lie.
Don’t get me wrong, academic referencing is a skill, but so is being able to source information from the web. However, that being said, I would have more appreciation for a musician who could freestyle a song for me on the spot, over one who could only recite a classic. I hope you can see where I was going with that analogy. It seems the academic world is still one which encourages the same approach over and over again. In my personal experience with academic texts, I have found them at times unnecessarily padded. I often think cheekily to myself, “I should get an A purely based on the effort that goes into comprehending this verbose text.”
The Alternative
There has been the odd assignment which actually asks for your candid commentary on a subject and is it a wonder that those assignments tend to be the ones that most students excel in? I think parts of the University experience rely far too much on books and not enough on practicality. Higher education should give you a platform to showcase your personality alongside your intellect. How else are you meant to stand out in the job market?
You simply can’t go into an interview for a photography job saying, “I’ve never used a camera”. BUT hey, “I have read the entire University library on its history”. In fact you wouldn’t even make it to being interviewed your CV would be used in a bonfire.
Written Wednesday Advice 3: Watch The Subtle Differences
Education can be fixed if the powers that be would just listen to reason. Stop trying to make us all read the same books and produce the same kind of work. Instead allow us to truly report on our thoughts on the subject alongside the academic texts that we come across.
Now I could be mistaken, but my solemn belief is that ANYONE can read a book and take a few quotations from it. That is not creativity. They say a mind is a terrible thing to waste. If the University experience continues to unfold this way, then it is at the expense of Creative Minds. As always I defer to your esteemed opinions on the subject feel free to comment.
About Jay Mullings
Multiple Award-winning Screenwriter, Author, Blogger, Film Director and Founder of Written Mirror Ltd. Jay is an ambitious but humble creative who wants to connect with audiences all over the world. Born in London but raised in Jamaica, Jay carries his experiences of both cultures and lends it to his work with his unique but authoritative voice which, he admits not seeing represented enough growing up.
Enquiries…
I can be reached for serious comment and article contributions via email jay@writtenmirror.com if it’s a formal request.
Totally agree man, education and playing to an individual’s strengths just don’t go together. Institutions of education are simply that, an institution. Certainly do not breed creativity or a ‘free mind’
My first comment Thanks Cris and I’m glad you are with me on this.