Why Do I Want To Be A Liberal Learner

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I am not a liberal learner, yet. I love knowledge, I love learning, I love sharing information. These are all fine qualities; but, not if the end goal is to be a liberally educated. I still lack social interaction skills; I lose sight of my intrinsic motivations, and I all too often look to try and to connect the dots before some events have yet to happen. In order to be a liberal learner, I need to be both accepting of knowledge on a wide range of topics and from various sources as well as feel compelled to share this knowledge I gain with others in conversation. Based on the writings of several people on liberal learning, I am in the path to being a liberal learner; however, I have a long way to go. I have always adored being in the process …show more content…

I have a major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress. These chemical and cognitive dissections put me at a lower place at the start of my college experience compared to my peers. Other people were able to get food from a knowledge and social buffet, while I am still trying to find a plate. The way that I experience depression include racing thoughts of worry. This constant worrying and desire to gain control of everything in my life could make me a poster child for a Type A personality. I always want to micro-organize everything I am going through, be it school work, socialization, or being placed in a position of leadership. Also, when I do something embarrassing or in the slightest way, my mind becomes fogged with feelings of shame and despair over and over throughout the day at random, usually inconvenient, times. This cycle further makes me want to have control and make everything right so I will not be adding the pile of misery I have when something goes wrong. This violates what makes a liberal learner. Steve Jobs mentions in a Stanford commencement speech, “Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards,” (Jobs p. 112-113). I am too concerned about connecting the dots of my life’s future that is gets in the way of growing as a person and as an educated

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