Learning is a Lifestyle and an Attitude
Everything I learned, I learned from my grandma. It’s quite safe to assume either you learn everything from school or not everything you need to know about life, you learn in school. Both theories are very true. That is why learning does not come from one place or two. It may be from a prominent person in your life.
For me, my grandma was a great educational and life teacher. I learned by observation, by listening, by asking. She had every answer in the book of life. Her life. Which was very inspiring for me. I may never be as great or accomplished as her, but one of the most important things I learned from her is that you should always consider yourself successful on your own terms. Never compare yourself with anybody because not everyone is dealing with the exact same thing in the exact same time and in the exact same way. Exactly.
She grew up in the 1920’s and everything was not as easy like it is now. There was no advanced technology, no computers, no cell phones. That was over a century ago. Imagine that. She was one of seven siblings, in an era where girls were trained to be a good homemaker, and school was not a necessity if you were born a female. One amazing story was that she wanted to finish college so bad, she begged her older brothers - who were sent to school because they were boys and will be the family providers in the future - to convince their father to let her go to high school after graduation from elementary. The condition her father let her continue school was if the education was free. Because the tuition fees were reserved for the boys’ education. My grandma, who was one of the smartest in her family, finished high school and got her Education degree all through scholarship. I am so proud of that. I can only imagine the challenges of her days in school - remember, she lived through WW2.
She married my grandpa when the war ended. Had 3 sons and soon a granddaughter- me! To this day, I can’t believe how fortunate I am to have a grandma like her. She became an elementary teacher and was a school principal by the time I was 4 years old. She would take me to school and let me play in her office. Not long enough, I asked to join a class. She let me sit in at one of the kindergarten classes. According to my mom, my grandma thought the teacher was just doing her a favour when she included me in the kindergarten graduation with honours. My teacher apparently said I was able to catch up with the lessons and she is recommending me for first grade. I think that made my grandma love me even more.
It was such a sad time for me to grow up when she went to the United States when my uncle - who was a Naval officer - asked her to live with him and his family. My grandma saw this as an opportunity to continue her education. She did not waste any time and enrolled herself into night classes to get her Master’s Degree. During which they had to move to Guam because my uncle was stationed there. She transferred schools and before she got her Master’s certificate, she was hired as a Guidance Counsellor at Guam Elementary School. I remember being so excited for her and cheering her on during one of our scheduled family phone calls. (Yes - we didn’t have that luxury of calling people on a whim or FaceTime back in the day. We only had those dial-up phones and a landline.)
This was my inspiration to do well in school. Honours and all. Got my Bachelor’s degree and got 3 years of law school. (Love and Motherhood came knocking) I realize I am so much like my grandma. I am that person who wants to learn something new every day. It’s a no-brainer for me to enrol in online classes. As well as pursue to further my education. I have taken steps in the right direction. Wish me luck!
What is that one online class you want to take? Don’t wait. We have the technology and opportunity to keep learning. What are you waiting for?
