What is the Meaning of a Good, Well-Rounded Education?

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Your high school years would tell you that a good, well-rounded education must include math, science, and art. If you were the sporty teenager, then you could include physical education in the list. (If you're a varsity player, then it must be the sports of your choice.) If you're overweight yet unusual (like Lewis Barnavelt), then you might argue about the moon and the stars. College would be different, though.

You would learn about study-life balance during your first year, if not your first few months in the university. You would figure out that a good, well-rounded education could be achieved if you have proper rest, hang out with your coursemates, if not your best friends in dormitory, whenever you get the chance. (And it happens during the weekend.) You won't survive without WiFi as well. Other students, from other departments, should agree with your view. It might not be the case with B.A. English students, though. Some would cite Jack Kerouac, whose life might have turned out differently if he had a degree in liberal arts. He chose to hunt for big experiences (like Ernest Hemingway), which didn't sit well with friends and strangers. He was a writer, who managed to become a great one after a lifetime of reading, wandering, and writing. Kerouac's case isn't for everyone, but something can be learned from his unconventional life.

You expect your first few months to be a trial-and-error period, which is the same with the others. You should be able to establish a routine afterward, which should help you manage the coursework well. There are other things, which should keep your sanity (during your few years in the university). Many teenagers have their quirks, as well as rituals, which also keep them on the balance. And you must love it for what it is. Let's expound on it.

Learning the Ways of the World

Your day would be incomplete without music. Your visit to the museum should have taught you that life would be dull without the arts. Some students would disagree with it, but it shouldn't surprised you at all. (They are leaning towards math and science.) They may (or may not) admit that they listen to Bach, if not revel on rock music on certain nights. This is one way of self expression, which has nothing to do with study-life balance. If the coursework is starting to overwhelm you, then let music restore your confidence. If boredom is making you restless and frustrated, then listen to your favorite tunes. It should calm you down.

You must keep a book by your side. If you're studying literature, then you might snicker at this statement. You have too many paperbacks on your table, and you haven't read half of it. You still keep on coming back on Cressida Cowell's children's books, though. This is your form of escapism, which is not bad at all. (You might have to consult your tutor if you're spending more time oh the series than you're allowed to.) Distractions are essential in paper writing, but you must learn to deal with limited time.

You must not be a stuck-up teenager. You'll specialized in your chosen field of study, yet there are certain topics that you can converse with other students (from other departments). And there are times when one, if not you, might be perceived as a snob. If you know the subject too well, then you can't help it at times. Then again, self-depreciation would keep you on good terms with many students. (You might need them if the demands of the coursework is isolating you.) Good-natured banter would be fine especially in popular culture. (You don't have to like "Captain Marvel", but your lack of interest in comics would be another thing.) Keep in mind that this doesn't apply to selected works. (Your tutor may appreciate your emphatic view on some of Hemingway's short stories, which deal with death. Other students won't see the same way. Your coursemates may prefer another genre.) If you can't go along with them, then try to be a good listener. You don’t have to be a stuck-up student like Tarby Corrigan. (If you haven’t read "The House with a Clock in Its Walls", then you may find its celluloid version on streaming.)

Your Lessons Don’t End Here

Education is a lifelong thing, yet you won’t realize it. Yet. As you try to adjust to your new life as a (young) professional, you would find out that the essentials of a work-life balance is different from what you learned during your college days. You don’t want to get ahead, though. It’s important to enjoy the moment, if not learn one important thing. There’s no need for solitude. It’s all in your mind, so you can resolve to meet the requirements, beat the deadlines, and have time for other things.

It may be easier said than done, but practice should make it easier for you. If you have doubts, then read Kerouac’s “Alone on a Mountaintop”. You don’t have to scale the slopes of Desolation Peak and spend a month of two in the summit (like Kerouac did), but you could imagine the stars and the surrounding mountains. It can be likened to your room, full of thoughts.

 

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