Two Mini Stories on Learning
This is story 8 of my 5,000-story project.
Story A:
I sat in a Chinese history and literature class for five years in secondary school. I recited poems, dictated answers, and memorized emperors’ names.
15 years later:
I have forgotten 98% of my studies. What’s left of it has little bearing on my life today.
Story B: In my last year of secondary school, I spent three months preparing for a speech contest. I wrote a speech and practiced it many times. My coach took me to rehearse in a busy public plaza. It was awkward, but I did it.
15 years later: I am still using what I learned about writing, speaking, and handling pressure from that experience.
Time spent on an effort is not created equal.
Active learning that involves creativity, craftsmanship, and discomfort is far more valuable in the long term.
This type of learning does not only inform. It transforms.
Were those five years of Chinese classes a waste of time? Not entirely, either. Without it, I couldn’t have written this story.
