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Shall we talk about school? And learning? And career goals? And the very clear trajectory that can be outlined if you are able to follow it? Which you can just follow, somewhat mindlessly, until you get to the end and then find a new trajectory?
And then again. And then again.
Until at some point you run out of trajectories, or maybe you just get bored, or something else comes along (like children). Or, in my case, the common trajectories start to misalign with your values, hopes or capabilities.
I’m aware I am speaking from a particular position here - one of academic ability, in a family that supported and prioritised academic achievement and having my needs met so that I was able to focus on learning. There is a racial/cultural element to that too with the whole South Asian/child of immigrants-in-a-society-that-wants-you-to-prove-you-belong thing but I won’t dive into that, not today at least.
But, from that position, I’d like to talk about alternative ways of learning. When I first started to explore unschooling it felt terrifying. But it turned out to be a revelation, which I’d like to share, if only to de-mystify it to others who might be interested.
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