Hey Steemit friends :) I was thinking about what to do as my first post when I remembered this piece I wrote a few years ago about leaving school, and my thoughts at the time about how it set you up for the "real world". I found the contrast between what you think about school whilst you're in the system compared to once you're out particularly interesting, so I hope you enjoy this little inside perspective.
The Last Day of the Rest of my Life
You never truly understand how sheltered you are disembark from the life in which you have become so accustomed too. The well-oiled rhythm of our school existence, is suddenly vaporised, and you’re left without the security of teachers, rules and boundaries which governed the previously confined universe – it is only then you realise how naïve you were.
For me, as for many, it was a mixture of joyful emotions – exhilaration, elation, and ecstasy – yet there was also a more sombre message of how your life will never be so straightforward again. That is not to say that school had not been tough; in the day in age where technology has advanced, so has the social aura – popularity, insecurity and physicality dominate. It can be hard to find yourself, and try and navigate to establish some bearing on where you sit in this unfortunate hierarchy (which does exist, despite what others may say). The nerd and popular tiers have become embellished with sub-groups, forming a highly intricate and complex social system, which is partly the reason some people do not ever find their place; and even once you do, there is often conflict.
Yet, by no means is it all bad, there are the moments of personal achievement and self-gratification, a secured time-slot with friends which you will find hard to emulate ever again in your life, and above all, a decisive and regulated system to ensure well-being. It is a system, which as much as you despise, you will miss dearly – even anti-conformists, can agree at that much.
Competitiveness is where the real issue lies. Students fall victim to the world which tries to objectify who they are, which is were dislike from students occurs; as they try to standardise the worth of individuals on how well they can regurgitate information, learn facts – leaving those talents which cannot be discerned by any number behind a filter of irrelevance. It is here that you find students suffering from issues of self-worth, and no matter how much you tell someone stories of success beyond a life of school, they will not be able to relate, as even life after the final days is tainted by that elusive final grade. Except what can you do? There is an undercurrent constantly pushing for better and brighter minds to emerge and lead the innovation and advancement of society. Schools pushing brandings of the men/women they aim to develop – men and women who are instilled with solid moral and ethical ideologies, yet impractical world skills, as they are shaped by idealistic ideas of who/what they should be. It is okay to an academic – someone who is constantly on the search for knowledge, who strives for the ‘elite occupations’ – yet it is equally as okay to be an artist, a master of self-expression.
That is the final lesson of class, and it is important one at that. Students, whether they are in their last year, second last year, or even their first year, should aim to be the best of who they are. That doesn’t mean dismissing the lessons of school as fascist in an attempt to escape from your commitments – that means being who you want to be, enjoying your life, and striving for your best; cause despite how much darkness surrounds you, as Michael Leunig said: “darkness is full of possibility”.
Enjoy it while it lasts.