I Believe……
I believe that every
child or young adult has the capacity to learn. And that everyone has a unique
learning style.
I believe that for
every child or young adult that is able to adapt to the straight-laced
analytical style of education we are forced to endure, there are countless ones
that just can’t keep up. Many of these have been labelled as “learning
disabled” (with ADD/ADHD).
I believe that the
over-medication of those “learning disabled” is an epidemic and that it leads
us to believe that we need medication in order to “fit in.”
I
believe that those who can’t keep up aren’t any different at the core than the
others, just that they can’t survive in a black and white style education
system. They need a more colorful way of learning, or a style of learning that
allows them to figure out their strength.
I
believe that a student’s different style of learning needs to stop being
demonized as “learning disabled,” and start being praised for their out-of-the-box,
different thinking. With how fluid today’s global economy is, straight-laced
thinking will only get you so far, the “weirdos”, will be the ones to broaden
the playing field for companies.
I
believe that there are programs, like my GAP YEAR, that allow these students to
flourish and discover their unique learning style.
I believe that when these students don’t have such
a rigorous schedule or other academic pressures, they have a better chance to
flourish. And every student, whether in high school or college, should be able
to flourish without feeling any stigma of being “learning disabled.”
I
believe that schools, both public and private, should encourage their students
to take time off from the rigors of academia and go explore, volunteer…make a difference
while perhaps even learning and getting credits. All the while not being only
for the rich and lucky.
I
believe in the power of the GAP year to help students go from “learning
disabled” to finding their “learning superpower.”
