Can the Timeless Principles Work at School?
This is one in a series of essays that was originally conceived as a book for print publication. If you enjoy it and would like to read more from the collection, you can find a sort of Table of Contents here.
Interestingly, the Timeless Principles have no age-restrictions or “recommended minimum age” for appropriate application. Anyone can begin practicing them at any time and see the benefits.
So, in short, yes. The Timeless Principles can certainly work at school.
The trouble is, schools are not always very conducive environments for applying self-improvement principles.
Why?
Because everyone at school wants to be the same.
The Challenge of Conformity
Kids in school automatically gravitate to other kids who share common interests, values and abilities. They naturally form groups and cliques. They just-as-naturally exclude anyone and everyone who “doesn’t belong.”
So what happens if you show ambition in your studies? You’re a geek.
What if you decide to simplify by not joining the football team? You’re not cool.
And if you’re trying to remain peaceful and mild? You’re a wuss.
Conformity can be a very dangerous thing. Just ask anyone who’s ever had to face down an angry mob. It’s especially insidious in a school setting, though, because all the people involved are invariably inexperienced and scared.
A few naturally-born leaders (or bullies) manage to squelch their fear and ignore their inexperience just enough to command respect or fear from others, then the rest of the herd follows along into whatever the leader decides is right.
Unfortunately, at that age, leaders are rarely more intelligent or more morally sound than those they lead. As a matter of fact, that statement applies to 90% of leaders straight through adulthood. But the difference is, when you’re a kid, you don’t realize it.
Even those kids who struggle hard to “be different” only do it to the extent that is acceptable among their own group of like-minded mavericks.
To prove the point, think back to your High School. Remember the skaters? The goths? The punks? The Emos?
Was there ever just ONE of them? Nope. There was always a little clique of kids working hard on being different by being the same.
So, applying the Principles in school will be difficult, no doubt about it.
But not impossible.
How to Do It
First, realize that doing what’s right shouldn’t make you different from most of your classmates. No matter what “the leaders” do or say, inevitably most human beings are generally good people who appreciate when someone else is good, kind, patient, forgiving and treats them the way they want to be treated.
But, understand that if you make a consistent effort to improve yourself, you will likely stand out as different. So count the cost and make sure you’re ready to face some adversity, at least at first.
Set realistic but ambitious goals and work hard to reach them.
Enlist the help of your family and close friends by asking them to hold you accountable to your goals: if you screw up and say something unkind, they can bring it to your attention.
Finally, don’t be afraid to be a “leader”! If you’re doing the right thing, you’ll only be helping your classmates by setting the example and the pace for them to follow.
It’s OK to be different. But, in this case, it wouldn’t be too bad to be part of the “in-crowd” for the right reasons!
WORDS TO REMEMBER:
“The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.” — Rollo May
This is one in a series of essays that was originally conceived as a book for print publication. If you enjoy it and would like to read more from the collection, you can find a sort of Table of Contents here.
