Learning, just for the sake of learning (yeah, that's right... for fun).

It came to my mind many times in life. But until now, I've never been able to put it into words.

Throughout my life, I never cared about school. I hated it. My teacher's favorite thing to say about me was; "I know she's very bright, but... she doesn't show the initiative."

And I didn't. School work pissed me off. Just like all the teachers, and the students... pretty much everything set me off throughout my childhood. I was a furious child.

Now, the more I think about what "direction" I want to take in life, the more conflicted and troubled I become. And, it seems like every time I want to judge a certain situation, or educate my siblings and cousins about something, I don't always know everything behind it. I can't make educated choices if I don't know everything about whatever the choice involves.

It could be anything... something philosophical, something technical, something spiritual, something related to health, something related to morality, something regarding science, or conspiracies, or the Illuminati, or politics... and when I get into any deep profound thought, no matter what subject it is about, I find myself stunted.

Because I want more information about the subject before I want to make any decisions about the way I feel about it.

Has any one else ever felt this way?

Like you simply can't know enough, no matter what?

Sometimes nowadays I even contemplate looking up how to do certain types of math and trying to wrap my mind around it, just so I know it... an inch more of knowledge. I wanna understand the human mind, and what makes people tick... that's my favorite subject. People, and the way they work together.

I just want to KNOW everything! And I have no clue why!

I didn't feel this way at ALL as a kid... I felt the opposite. Like I didn't care about anything.

I have some strange pull towards all "mad scientist-type" characters in movies and books and so on. I adore them! I love their passion, how spastic they are... and how dedicated they are to knowing and understanding everything there is to comprehend!

Doc Brown, from Back to the Future. The Doctor, from Doctor Who.

I'd kill to be that way. I feel this longing to learn growing rapidly... like I'm blossoming from a broken and apathetic child into a fresh young adult, ready to absorb the world over again.

The more I dig into science and psychology, the more I feel like this song;



More people should take the time to learn new things, and experience new things... instead of wasting your time on this planet hiding from them.

I'm just a kid, but I'm on my way. Now, I'll be getting back to my online psychology class, but before I go, I'm going to be a serious dork, and present to you a quote from my favorite movie trilogy;

"Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one."

-- Doctor Emmett Brown

We don't have forever. You only have one chance to learn and experience everything... so go out and do it!

I was the same way as you when I was younger.

It wasn't until my mid 20s when I realized that I wanted to learn, to know, to stretch, and to grow.

I went back to college, and just absorbed it like a sponge.

Wanting to learn is a good start, but be aware that, the more you learn, the more you become aware of just how little you actually know.

You'll be learning your whole life. Don't ever let a day go by without learning at least one new thing.

Good luck on your journey!

You are a seeker of the truth. So am I sis. I have a thirst for knowledge, that and my sense of curiousity mixed together equals I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING! Btw, there is no cure for people like us, and there shouldn't be

reply to post by FissionSurplus

Wanting to learn is a good start, but be aware that, the more you learn, the more you become aware of just how little you actually know.

This is what makes me INSANE!

I DO realize it! All the time! And it gets to me so much that I begin to research whatever random little subjects that happen to be festering in my head...

I researched how your body reacts when in starvation mode last week. Why? I have no idea, really. It just seemed like something I should know.

I also googled "different parts of the brain and their functions" that day.

I'm getting weird. I'm even thiking about what I would want to learn in college...

I never considered going to college before. I hate school.

Now I feel like I actually WANT to...

You are a seeker of the truth. So am I sis. I have a thirst for knowledge, that and my sense of curiousity mixed together equals I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING! Btw, there is no cure for people like us, and there shouldn't be

Right on.

I am an absolute information junkie. I am seriously addicted.

I read about anything and everything, as much as I can.

The way I see it, knowledge is power, and, the most important step in my quest to 'deny ignorance'.

It started for me when I was diagnosed with an autoimmune form of arthritis. Being absolutely terrified, I read up on it. Medical journals, patient stories, treatments, prognosis, etc. It was only after gaining considerable knowledge on the subject that my fear began to subside; it was no longer a mysterious monster that had invaded my body.

The facts took away the unknown.

When we get motivated to learn, we find that we want our learning, and ultimately our knowledge, to have integrity. Or more plainly put, to be interconnected.

It sounds like this is what is frustrating you. When you get to a hole in your knowledge (where the integrity isn't there) it can be disheartening. Then you have to go back and figure out where the disconnect is. That can be tough too.

Suffice to say, this is completely normal. Remember that there are two ways that people learn: through observation, and through trial and error. Trial and error can be frustrating - false starts, restarts, etc. But hang in there! You're not alone. And nothing worth doing is ever easy.

This Is one of the reasons I come to ATS; to learn. or at least get the temperature of my fellow watchers and see what the shills are pushing.

I've always said school teaches you how to teach yourself. Unfortunately our materialistic era has created a pit of laziness that spreads like a disease.

Recently I found an amazing tool for learning and I can't get enough.
Here is the site if anything check out the attached TED video on the main page www.khanacademy.org...

And for the link skeptics
This link is essentially your whole high school and even some college education on a site for free

I took a clip to give you an idea

I was the same. Was not that interested in school etc...Then 4 years ago i made friends with a russian couple who's son started school at the same time as mine. Then they introduced me to there friends etc. So i thought to myself. I cant expect them to speak English all the time. So i learned russian! And it was hard at first, Using my brain n all lol. But now lm learning how to write it. I wont rest untill im as good as putin!

Originally posted by TheDoctor46
I was the same. Was not that interested in school etc...Then 4 years ago i made friends with a russian couple who's son started school at the same time as mine. Then they introduced me to there friends etc. So i thought to myself. I cant expect them to speak English all the time. So i learned russian! And it was hard at first, Using my brain n all lol. But now lm learning how to write it. I wont rest untill im as good as putin!

Поздравления. Я надеюсь, что Вы учитесь очень в будущее.

Congratulations. I hope you learn in future? Or something along those lines without cheating

Make every experience a learning experience. No matter what your doing, their is a infinite amount of knowledge to be learned from one singular experience. Constantly ask questions, Who what when where why, not only that but ask them from different perspectives out side your own. Its good that your looking up little tid bits, once you have enough you can start connecting them to draw out a clearer perspective.

I was told similar things when I was in Govt brain wash camp. I realized to late that their is information to be learned at Govt controlled schools. Its all about the perspective you view it from You dont have to look at it threw there's, just understand (you all ready do) the schools system is made to mold you into a worker with a groups perspective. I started to notice this in the 4th grade when I was taking a state English test, allot of the questions wear opinionated questions about story's. If you did not hold the opinion they want you to you fail. It seemed as if the test are testing personality as well as knowledge. On your next state test be careful you want to allude them.

In high school we wear required to take a class witch was supposed to prepare you for the "real world". It "tough" us how to act during job interviews, political options ect... In this class we wear given a number of personality test witch would categorize what type of person we are. Allot of the work in the class was based off opinions. I ended up taking the class 3 times because I failed it the first 2 times. It was not a hard class, very simple and easy. I had 3 different teachers each time I took it, I found it very odd that all 3 teachers said they had worked for the Govt before they wear teaching. I suspect that they wear gathering information for our files. It sounds crazy but its not to far fetched. Think about it. Govt. funded schools, why wouldn't they have some sort of intelligence gathering. My particular school was given extra funded by bill gates, the same man that publicly stated that he thinks the population needs to be controlled by vaccines. My counselor told me that bill gates made a deal with the school. In my high school we had 4 divisions. Arts and humanity, computer, business and some other one.
You chose witch one you wanted to be apart of, all 4 years you will have classes with the kids that chose the same grouping. You cannot chose classes out side of that group. You could not take a buisness class if your in arts and humanity's. (what a waist). As long as the school fallowed these guidelines bill gates would provide extra funding and tech for the school. I wonder if their was more to it then just that. In some way I cant help but fell I was a test subject. I know this post is a little off topic but I just wanted to share my experience with you because you are in high school. I saw and was told this information but at the time I was not really listening. I wish I had because I could have made some changes to the school.

Originally posted by TheDoctor46
Congratulations. I hope you learn in future? Or something along those lines without cheating

Ya. Congratulations. I hope, you learn much in the future.

I used to speak, read and write in Russian fluently. I forgot much after I came here to the states and didn't use the language.

That is great you have that urge to learn everything!
Take advantage of it and use it.
Think of school as a foundation on which to build on.
Laying a foundation on a house is hard,tedious work.
But without it,you can't have a house.
Once that house is built,you can enjoy families and friends,you can can rest your head at night dreaming about what more you can do.

But,you need that foundation,you need to roughen up those hands abit as if carrying those concrete blocks,one by one,book by book.

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX


Usually kids hit that stage around 12 or 13 years old in normal development. I don't know how old you are, by the looks of your avatar, maybe 40 or so in California?

It's not too late to go back to school as long as you graduated from High School with at least a decent background. It's a shame you didn't take advantage of it back when it was free. It sounds like the teachers you mentioned tried to help you by saying you had the potential but you didn't accept the help they were trying to give you

You're very far behind at this point and you'll have to swallow a lot of pride. I looked through some of your posts and see that you have very rudimentary skills that need to be further developed, probably some remedial classes will be in order before you'll be able to move into the actual college level classes. It will cost a great deal since you waited and financial aid will be difficult to get since you didn't go immediately out of high school. If you didn't graduate, it only compounds the difficulty.

If you have worked anywhere at all it makes it more difficult to get financial aid as well, only the people who abuse the system, the lazy welfare group, can get their college paid for without scholarships of any kind only through financial aid (grants not loans). I don't know your situation but certainly hope you aren't one of the people who have abused the system, even though it will make things more difficult. I just have no respect for people like that.

Just be prepared for a lot of remedial (basic level) classes to get you to the point of being ready for college which means an additional year to complete a degree. If you didn't graduate high school or even just barely graduated, you can add two years to the total to get caught up before taking college level classes.

reply to post by PurpleVortex


Speaking it is not to bad. Its writing it what i find hard, And reading. But it will come in time

reply to post by L8RT8RZ

Usually kids hit that stage around 12 or 13 years old in normal development. I don't know how old you are, by the looks of your avatar, maybe 40 or so in California?

Actually, 19 years old. In Tennessee.

As I said, it only hit me like a ton of bricks recently, but I've felt this way all my life. Usually when I was younger, though, there was some emotional bs going on. Family fighting, a nasty divorce, physical fighting between me and my cousins, and the students at school... I was very blinded as a kid, because I was always so angry. It wasn't my "development" that halted me. It was my anger.

Just be prepared for a lot of remedial (basic level) classes to get you to the point of being ready for college which means an additional year to complete a degree. If you didn't graduate high school or even just barely graduated, you can add two years to the total to get caught up before taking college level classes.

Last year was my "year off" from high school. My fiance and I moved in with some room mates, and I gave up on school completely... but after some hardship... and peculiar room mates... I decided I needed to finish school before I wouldn't have the chance again. So, here I am, doing my last couple of online classes. I'm very close to graduating now.

It really isn't "school" knowledge I'm craving. It's ALL knowledge.

I got the strangest urge to buy a toy from walmart last night. It was a transparent skull, which you can take apart, and assemble all the different parts of the human brain within the skull. It's also very creepy. I'm a very visual learner, so... breaking down how everything is built from the neck up fascinates me.

I suppose I want to be a "generalist." Someone who knows a little about a lot of things.

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX


Only 19? Then you're still a kid

Definitely finish up high school! All knowledge is "school knowledge", it just depends on which school you learn it in

They really should work out a system to let kids have the option of leaving school after 10th grade, spend a year in the real world, then return for the rest of their education (not all students, just the ones who choose to). It would make a BIG difference in their attitude and dedication to learning.

Originally posted by L8RT8RZ
reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX

 

Only 19? Then you're still a kid

Definitely finish up high school! All knowledge is "school knowledge", it just depends on which school you learn it in

They really should work out a system to let kids have the option of leaving school after 10th grade, spend a year in the real world, then return for the rest of their education (not all students, just the ones who choose to). It would make a BIG difference in their attitude and dedication to learning.

They have a program like that, that's how I was able to return to school.

It's called an IEP program... hahahahah.

A class for crazy kids, basically. I got put in an IEP program because of my anger "issues" in middle school.

reply to post by XxNightAngelusxX

They have a program like that, that's how I was able to return to school. It's called an IEP program... hahahahah. A class for crazy kids, basically. I got put in an IEP program because of my anger "issues" in middle school.

My wife writes up IEP's,she is an exceptional child specialists.
The majority of the time,it is no fault of the child,because of the environment inwhich they were raised.

You seem to be doing pretty good.

Originally posted by XxNightAngelusxX


They have a program like that, that's how I was able to return to school.

It's called an IEP program... hahahahah.

A class for crazy kids, basically. I got put in an IEP program because of my anger "issues" in middle school.

Actually, it wouldn't be called and IEP program, the IEP is an Individualized Educational Plan, it's part of the Special Education Program. It may be called Alternative Program or Special Education Program, the IEP is just the paperwork that goes with those programs.

Continue to take advantage of the opportunity they are giving you. Once you're beyond school age, those opportunities don't present themselves so readily. After the age of 21, you can't be involved in public education any longer, so you'll need to finish before then. Even the FMD students (Functional Mental Disability, usually the kids you see in the wheelchairs unable to communicate on a basic level) have to leave school at the end of the year in which they turn 21.

Even the alternative programs won't accept you after that age. They aren't required by law to accept you after you're 18 but most districts try to have programs set up for people up to 21 so it will count in their graduation rate for federal funding. After that point, your only option is a GED.

If you plan to possibly go to vocational school or a community college later on, you'll be required to take the ACT. There's a minimum score you must get for acceptance, then another limit you must reach to avoid developmental classes that would completely take up your first year.