Adults all have rights. An adult often does not realize some of the rights that they have. I was unaware until I came to Colchester Adult Learning Association [CALA] that I had the right to learn. I believe that I am having a good experience as an adult learner. I have a passion for information and learning new things. That’s one of the reasons that I came to CALA.
I think that people should understand that education is one of the most powerful tools in this world.
Education is like a standing army inside your head. Each part of knowledge is a way to influence people and a way of passing knowledge onto other people.
When we pass on our knowledge and our students become very good themselves then we know that we are a good teacher. People get too caught up in their knowledge that they often forget their past. In the past not everybody could learn. I would like to pass on knowledge about the bagpipes. To teach other peoples the pipes. If a teacher sees a student who is happy in class then a teacher can have a good feeling.
In the Western world we take education for granted. We should not have this view. People in Africa and Asia want to educated but cannot afford to be educated. This is terrible. It seems that Africa can be educated if a government decides to educate. The governments spend too much time purchasing their AK- 47s and do not bother to educate their populations.
I like to show people new ways of learning or different ways of thinking about a subject or a fresh way to learn something new. Too many people do not try to look at the good things in life. I know that myself. I am often negative. But I just do what I can and I try to take life one day at a time. If somebody asked me how I would live then I would say day by day. I do not want to be a loser when it comes to my education. I want to work hard and be a winner. If I can learn the value of human life, then so can everybody else. Never give up on your education. Always fight to the end.
I know that Winston Churchill is my idol. Churchill did not do well in school because he was dyslexic and he was depressed. Churchill still became a famous leader, he never gave up. He kept working hard. One of Churchill’s secretaries Marian Holmes said that he use to stay up until 3 to 4 am in the morning reading and writing documents. At the time Churchill was already 65 years old, but he did not let old age stop him from working hard. Churchill once said that, “If I snap at you it’s not because I am thinking of you, it’s because I am thinking of the work”. Churchill is the way all of us should lead our lives. Hard working and diligent right up to the end of our lives. Never give in. I had to work hard at writing this essay.
Writing is one of my favorite activities. It is a way to record my thoughts. Then I can look back at my thinking. I would encourage everybody to write a journal.
I taught myself how to read when I was 3 years old. I started on National Geographic. A parent should read to their child every night before bed. It’s a very healthy activity for a parent and child. Children should always read. People who can read should.
Never ever forget these words of wisdom. Keep reading. Never be afraid to voice an opinion. Take your time to educate your mind. But don’t wait too long because life is short.
I am trying to have an unconquerable spirit where my education is concerned. We all must embark on the lifelong journey of learning. It’s never too late and we are never too old to learn .I think that my horizons have broadened since I came to CALA.I feel proud of adult learners and the fact that they are willing to go back to school long after they had finished public school. I believe that if adult learners educate themselves they can inspire other adults. The more adults we have in school the better.
People don’t realize that even after we are retired from our jobs we are still learning new things. I would encourage adult learners to educate themselves about other cultures as much as possible. Knowledge is the key to life. Start learning.