Not a day goes by that I don’t see trememdous talent, imagination and displays of great potential. I can’t help but think about the countless millions that never really discover their forte in life simply because they have never been exposed to it in such a manner as to experience it firsthand.
Has the United States as a nation or even the world in general for that matter invested enough into the resources that might do a better job of exposing young people to things that might one day become a carreer for them?
I can see where the logistics of such programs could be complicated but surly not insurmountable. My belief is that how someone is exposed to something plays a key part in how they will feel about that particular thing in the future.
Here in the US they’re cutting music out of a lot schools, a big mistake I think. I’ve read here on the Board that music appreciation can help young minds more easily grasp math, for one thing. And singing, learning about the different instruments, performing on stage instills confidence, familiarity, and curiosity about self-expression. Art classes are a plus. Shop should be available to all. Field trips expose students to areas of life they might never have been aware of otherwise. The sooner people explore the possibilities, the quicker they are to relate them to themselves. I think everyone alive has special talents to share if they can find the medium through which to express them. People “sculpt” when they believe they can create.
I’d love it if there was some kind of psychological/neurological/genetic test that would identify with high accuracy a children’s specific strengths and potential talents. A couple may not be able to imagine their little girl has the potential to be an amazing computer whiz, especially if she doesn’t fulfill any of the stereotypes. But if test results indicated that she fit the constitutional profile of a computer geek, maybe they could be persuaded to swap the ballet lessons (which she doesn’t like anyway) with a computer class.
This would save a lot of time and money. But it would almost certainly foster tiger parenting, since it’s one thing to suspect your kid is a genius. It’s another thing to have “proof” of it.
If they have to print it, its because they have to repeat it constantly.
If they have to repeat it constantly, its because their policies contradict this on a Daily Basis,
“No, we really do believe this. See? Its on 1000 of my free business cards! Now, go down the hall & see Ms. Brundage about your package…”
Frankly I dont think its possible to totally explore all career options. I think most people will still go for careers they have become familiar with from their family.
As citizens we can be an asset or a liability, if we are and asset why do you consider having a beneficial relationship with one of your own citizens to be exploitive. Do housewives and children explt the husband? I like to think we are all in the same club.
We are not all in the same club. I don’t particularly care whether society considers me to be an asset or a liability, except to the extent that they punish or reward me for their, er, opinion.
Exposure to a lot of different things during formative years is awesome as it let’s young people explore and find their way. Mandating programs to do so… well you mention the how and the how you expose them is hard to control centrally.
I think we also miss some key points in assuming maximizing personal discovery early maximizes societal benefit:
What I am best in may not be where I can contribute most. I may contribute more in my secondary or tertiary skillset if the societal need there is greater.
What I am best suited for and what I find the most personally rewarding are not necessarily the same thing. (Although effort being part of the success equation means I am likely to contribute more where I am most motivated if less skilled.)
We grow and change but decisions get made about supposedly the rest of our life in our teenage years. I’m significantly different now than I was at 16.
One a different note, I’m not concerned about kids maximizing their contribution to society. As a goal I think maximizing their personal meaning and outcomes, as long as they aren’t a drain on society as a whole, is more important. It’s their lives. The control the finite resource that is their time on Earth. That’s still aided by being exposed to varied experiences. The goal is different.
I think you did a better job of stating what I was trying to get at. We change all the time. For the past 25 years I have worked with homeless, addicts, alcoholics etc. on a volunteer basis. The biggest thing that seems to jump out at me is the lack of identity and sense of value thse people seem to place on themselves.
I personally have changed directions a few times in my life just based on something I was exposed to that hit me the right way. I find my general sense of well being and performance seem to operate on a higher level when I am happy and feel like a viable contributor to whatever it is I am doing at the time. It goes back to identity and being satisfied with who we are. lack of exposure seems to be one of the stumbling blocks in the way of people just finding their way in life.
