The Power of Curiosity
A professor, Mr. Jonathan Malesic, from the University of Texas at Dallas recently published this opinion piece in the New York Times. In it the author highlights the role that students have in their own educational journey, the criticalness of a students’ curiosity to learn. To understand that there are things in the world that we don’t know, and that we may never know, but that the pursuit of knowledge is inherently giving and important to our ways of being human.
As we start a new year, hundreds of thousands of students are now embarking on their final months in high school. While some have already chosen to attend a college via Early Decision, most students are using the coming months to finalize post-high school plans. Some will choose to find a job in what is currently a hot market for employment. Some will choose to attend a two-year school or attend a vo-tech school to gain skills and knowledge directly related to a career. Others are awaiting admission letters and subsequent financial aid packages to determine if they will be going just down the road or across the country (or world).
Regardless of the outcome, curiosity is a life-long skill that will serve them well. A curiosity to learn more about themselves, more about others, and more about the world around them.
“Children do not need to be taught to be curious.”
With more than 4,000 post-secondary institutions in the United States alone, curiosity can be a great tool in finding the right college. While there are many resources and services out there to assist the student and family, ultimately it is an inherent openness and curiosity to learn about new places and experiences that can set a student on the path to finding the right college. It’s not about finding a good college - it’s about finding the right college.
“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.”
Curiosity not only extends to the world around us, but it is inherent to understanding who we are and who we want to become. For any college-curious or college-bound student, I invite you to start thinking about the following prompts…
Do I want a college to provide me with opportunities to interact with people different than me?
Do I want a college to provide me with ways to become an activist or advocate for something I care about?
Do I want a college that will enable me to become more independent?
Do I want a college that will provide me with a path to further explore my religious faith and spirituality?
Do I want a college that will directly prepare me for a certain job or career?
Your answers to the above are a great start in helping you identify the right path for your success in college and beyond.
“Curiosity is your growth point. Always.”
There’s no one way to do college and there’s no one best college. I offer different services and resources to not only find the RIGHT school but also how to be SUCCESSFUL in your college experience and beyond. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for more information. Be Boundless.
