Open your eyes wide by Brian

Open your eyes wide by Brian - May 2014 Scholarship Essay

The best piece of educational advice received? That is like asking, which is the best brick in the foundation of your house. Along the way I have amassed a collection of good advice. It has come from books that I have read, teachers, friends and family and there have been many influences that have shaped my educational attitudes, not to mention my own indomitable drive to learn. Despite the range of the advice, I think that there is one piece that stands out.

Learn in breadth as well as in depth.

I’m not sure where this advice came from, I have probably heard it many time and in many forms but the most important part is that, to be well educated you must look in many places. It is the unfortunate case that many people decide exactly what it is that they want and go straight for it. While I can commend them on their dedication and focus, it seems to me that this specialization comes at the cost of perspective.

For those who wish to live a creative life, it is great to have a diversity of experiences and knowledge to draw from, to create new forms that relate to a variety of people. For those who wish for a technical career, it is good to be able to relate to how other people think and to have an understanding of different fields of interest. For those who want to help others, it is good to know the range of circumstances in the world, to be aware of the events of history and to have knowledge of technical capabilities so that when you are presented with problems that you cannot solve, you know who can help you.

I think that this advice is good for everyone. It is so easy to get into the bubble of our own thoughts and experiences, to learn to expect what we know to be common to be common to others and to find ourselves lacking when we reach outside of our comfort zone. I think it is particularly good advice for myself because I tend to be a jack-of-all-skills, interested in all that the world has to offer and in pursuit of a well-rounded understanding of our increasing complex and interconnected world. So I would repeat to anyone in need of advice, learn in breadth as well as in depth, because there is time to become specialized later, now is the time to expand your horizons.