Experiments in the Art of Mastering None
I don’t know how many people practice autodidacticism, or self-education, or even if the notion of acting as one’s own teacher has widespread appeal. I do know that for some of us, though, it comes quite naturally and seems to be born of the need to satisfy a never-ending curiosity. Self-teaching is akin to breathing … Continue reading On Being Your Own Teacher
I have a difficult time conceiving of my creative and intellectual abilities, or anyone else’s, in terms of distinct aptitudes. I think, instead, that our skills and proclivities are constantly evolving, unfolding, and overlapping in such an untidy fashion that, to define ourselves by a series of clear-cut abilities (and inabilities) can not be only … Continue reading In the Middle
Several years ago, when I was applying for graduate school admissions, I visited a former English professor asking for a letter of recommendation. We had a nice meeting, and during our chat, he made a remark about his students that was puzzling enough, to me, to have made an indelible impression: “All of the English … Continue reading On Choosing Your Mentors
It is true that the majority of wisdom is gleaned from experience. It is also true that experience is the bitterest of all teachers. But, for those of us who can’t shake the urge to continually experiment with new ideas—to take them out into the world and “test them out” or “try them on for … Continue reading For the Experimenter in All of Us
With regard to athletics, swimming is my first love, although I never wanted to just be a swimmer. It was an affinity for cycling, which developed over the course of the last several years, that made me consider fusing my passion for swimming with other activities. That would create a whole separate challenge and a brand new way to test … Continue reading What Triathlon Taught Me about Creativity, Learning, & Achievement
