START ME

My Dear Students,

A mother Mandarin duck leaps out of a hole in a tree, spreads her wings, and floats gently to the ground where she proceeds to chirp coaxingly up at the tree.

A fuzzy little head appears at the hole and the next thing you know, Junior flings himself out too. In an act of faith genetically programmed into the duckling’s DNA, he jumps. He can’t fly, but nature has taken care of that too—a layer of dry leaves waits on the ground for him, deposited there by the same tree that sheltered the duck family through winter. It’s a tough landing, uncomfortable—but not fatal.

I think the young adult human is guided by this same instinctual legacy, to leave the safety of home and venture out. Somehow we know that we can’t reach our full potential if we just stay within our narrow experience and understanding of the world. We need to stretch our wings, even before we know how to use them, even if our initial foray brings some pain.

So, my dear students, go out there and get uncomfortable.

Jump out of the nest and land on your behind or your head or your feet—it doesn’t really matter. Answer that Call to Adventure, whatever sound it makes for you. Challenge yourself to do things you don’t think you can do. Don’t ask for too much help. Live on the smallest amount of money you can. Sign up for a project to help people who have even less. Meet all kinds of people. See the world. Get a job doing something you’d never choose as your career. Take a dance class if you’re a math major. Take an engineering class if you’re a history major. Fail at lots of things. Listen to people who disagree with you. Get your heart broken. Learn to speak another language. Cook a four-course dinner for your roommates. Climb a mountain. Travel.

Whatever you do, reflect on every experience you have. Keep asking: Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?

As I write this, two astronauts are out in space repairing the Hubble telescope. For almost 20 years, this instrument has sent us photos of our planet, our solar system, our galaxy, our universe. We’ve seen how stars are born and how they explode in supernovas.

These pictures are beautiful and fascinating, but, more importantly, they have helped shape our understanding of who we are. They have given us perspective, something you only get when you look at something from a distance, when you leave your accustomed way of thinking. The more perspective you gain, the wiser you become.

Aristotle said that the true nature of anything is the highest it can become. Finding our highest potential might then be our most basic instinct; accelerated by our ability to reflect and learn. If you live the examined life, you will become more fully human. You will make a more meaningful contribution and you will be happier.

All the best to you in your learning journey through life!

Amy Beare

source: GMS blog