And Tochi Says… Whose thoughts are YOU thinking?

Several times in the past I have been asked to speak to high school kids and young women about the importance of education and how it can aid the rise above unfortunate socioeconomic circumstances. All those times, I acquiesced and gave the expected talk. Many were suitably ‘impressed’ with my personal story and career achievements; however, I was not.

I frequently wondered if I was representing the truth of life to my youthful audience. Certainly, I knew from personal experience that it took more than any number of college degrees to make a life instead of a living… and that college did not equip anyone for real life beyond 18 and outside of school – the brown-nosing of bosses to keep the job, the office politics that had to be managed, the payraises that might not keep up with inflation, starting a family and life’s emergencies… the frustration of paying both expected and unexpected bills, finding the time to do the things that one loves, finding the time to be with the ones that one loves… dealing with difficult people, difficult neighbors, difficult authorities… then relatives, friends, strangers and organizations asking for (often monetary) donations. No, a college degree couldn’t solve all of that. A colege degree, I find, teaches us how to ’specialize’, instead of generalize. Life doesn’t throw us only specialized problems; it comes at us from every which way!

So I stopped speaking that circuit. While I do believe that going to college can be a rewarding experience, I do think that we must be life generalists in the broad sense. We need to speak more to community involvement, the development of personal morals and how to handle power (in whatever form it manifests). Many of my very highly educated colleagues and friends are still struggling with these basics, even as I write this. This to me is the most important thing: how can I show someone else how to make it through this life, doing the things that one finds personally relevant and helpful to oneself and to others… and having fun while doing it.

The image used in this post is courtesy of the contributors to Creative Commons. I am immensely grateful.