My grandma was a remarkable woman. I always admired her courage to speak her mind. She was one of the most authentic person I have ever known. It was easy to tell when something made her happy and when something made her angry.
She would share her stories with us grandchildren; her stories about growing up, how she met my grandfather and how she survived through valleys of extreme lack.
One of the stories that always found a way into our conversations was why she never went to school.
She would bring the story up whenever she sensed any of us were not appreciative of education. Sometimes she would bring it after we read her a Bible passage.
She told us that when she was young, her parents send her off to stay with another family (which she was related to of course) as it was the norm in those days.
It was expected that when you stay with another family, they treat you as their own and you do likewise. This family however, instead of sending her to school they send her off to herd cattle where she spent her prime time. Because of that grandma could not attend school.
She never learned how to read and write. She said all the family ever gave was a puppy.
Whenever she shared this particular story I could detect a hint of sadness in her voice. The reality that she was denied the opportunity to earn a formal education somehow had a way of breaking her spirit. Education was something which my grandma deeply wished for.
Like many people in this country, I was born with the “education spoon” in my mouth.
It is easy to forget though that they are others out there who do not have access to formal education.
Thankfully I had grandma to remind me of this. Her story touched my life in countless ways.
Here are the three ways my grandmother taught me to approach education
1.With a spirit of gratitude
My grandmother made me appreciate education as a gift given to me to be treasured and not to be trodden upon.
I am grateful that in unexpected ways she shaped the way I view education.
Often when I touch the leaves of a book with that knowing that I can read, I understand fully, the joys my grandma missed and that gives me full appreciation of the blessings in my hands.
I’d encourage those in the journey of education to make the most out of it. Even on the days when you have to throw the blankets off your back and wake up in the early mornings to study, do so with gratitude and remembrance that what you are chasing is something powerful and something precious.
You are chasing something that matters, something that may be a vehicle to a better future and can bring immense benefits which I talked about in my last post.
2.With commitment
Grandma shared her story to drive her grandchildren and to ensure that we showed commitment and brilliance in our learning journey.
I still hold the fire for education in my heart.
Education does not come easy, they are hours of devotion needed, but for you to be the point man or woman you need to be willing to put in the extra work. Be willing to do the things others are not interested in doing.
You need to be willing to set aside time for learning. Low achievement in schools is often linked to lack of commitment. If you a learner approaching learning with commitment is what will set you apart from other learners.
3.With vulnerability
Grandma learnt a lot of things by letting us her grandchildren read for her.
Her pride didn’t stand in the way of her learning. She became a home of so much knowledge because she allowed herself to say “I don’t know how to read.”
Countless life encounters in your journey of learning can sometimes point you to the things you do not know. Sometimes in a manner which can be humiliating.
If you allow yourself to be vulnerable, if you give yourself permission to be say “I don’t know you” you create a conducive environment for your own learning.
A true learner takes off the superhero coat, comes face to face with those “I don’t know moments” and learns even from the humblest places.
Conclusion
How do you approach learning?
Grandma’ story shaped my learning attitude and at a time when some people don’t emphasize on formal education I still refuse to believe otherwise.
I believe that even the education that may not seem to serve us, shapes who we become.
When you come across education opportunities what’s your attitude?