School Survival


Has school destroyed your creativity and self-confidence? I'm working on a book called Recovering From School, to help you heal the damage caused. Join the Patreon or Newsletter to be notified about updates. Paid Patreon members will get early draft previews, as well as a free digital copy when it's done.


School Survival > Commentary >

Why I wish I never did well in school

I found this here: Why I wish I never did well in school by Marie McKinney-Oates

I have always kicked butt in school. Without even trying. This was not weird in my world. Everyone I hung out with were School Butt Kickers as well. We were like a biker gang. With pocket protectors.

I kicked butt because on the first day of kindergarten someone told me that if I could do well here, if I could slay this dragon we call “formal education”, my reward would be success and happiness for all the days of my life. Someone told me that doing well in school meant making good grades. “Do what the teacher says, live up to their standards, DON’T COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES,” They said.

I listened. I made A’s. I pleased the teachers. I followed directions. I stood where they told me to stand and wrote what they told me to write. I played the game with the best of them.

I kicked butt. Just like someone told me to do.

The problem is that someone kind of lied. Because happiness and success don’t come from learning the rules and playing by them. Untold riches of the heart come when you learn to follow your passion, not when you learn to follow directions. What I want from life requires that I be risky and courageous. Success requires spunk. School stole my spunk.

That’s right. I have no spunk, and I’d like to blame it on school. I spend way too much time desperately wanting someone, ANYONE to tell me what to do. And instead of following my gut, that creative, life giving, God breathed part of me, I’d really love to just follow directions.

I’d like my spunk back.

by Marie McKinney-Oates

Thoughts?

Where to next? Pick one!

Posted in: Commentary on July 1, 2009 @ 10:47 PM

Tags: ,


If you like what we're doing here, you can become a Patron and sign up for our newsletter!