Reschool Yourself

Why Reschool?

Reasons for Reschooling

This is an evolving list, with each reason described in a separate post.

1) Cure yourself of Impostor’s Syndrome.

2) Be a content grown-up with no regrets.

3) Start with a clean slate.

4) Give up people-pleasing and perfectionism, for at least 10 good reasons.

How Reschool Yourself Can Help

I hope that by reschooling myself, I can become a happier, more self-sufficient adult and help readers do the same.

Phase 1: Revisiting the Past in the School Classroom

My intention in returning to my classrooms in the fall is not to criticize schools — particularly my own — but rather to explore the question, “Who have I been until now, and how has school shaped me?” At some point in my education, my schooling began to shape me, instead of my shaping it. By tracing my formal education from its beginnings, I hope to understand when and how I began to limit myself and begin to reverse the process. I want to do school over again on my terms so I feel at peace with my education and have no regrets about it. I hope that the blog will inspire readers to reflect on how their own school experiences shaped their identities and patterns.

In addition, I hope to open dialogue with parents and teachers, to ask them to envision an ideal education for themselves and their children. I believe that we often recreate our own educational experience for the next generation, including its flaws, without stopping to consider whether we were satisfied with it. On a broader scale, innovations in education will continue to meet resistance unless adults intentionally reflect on their own schooling and what they would have changed about it.

Phase 2: Creating the Future in the Global Classroom

After processing my educational past, I’ll move forward to explore the question, “Who would I like to become, and how will I shape my continuing education?” I plan to create the education I’ve always wanted, to seek experiences that require more time, money, and courage than I thought I would ever have. These learning opportunities, in the U.S. and abroad, will focus on equipping me to adopt a “do-it-yourself” mentality and become as self-sufficient as possible. More details to come soon.

Overall, I hope to become a happier, more courageous person who is better equipped to help others. I always think about the airline safety instructions to “Secure your oxygen mask before helping others with theirs.” While I feel compelled to help others before myself, I know that I won’t be of much use if I myself can’t breathe. Reschool Yourself is about securing my oxygen mask first — and once I succeed, then I hope to help other grown-ups breathe more easily.

Updated 10.28.08