Inspire, Not Require

As part of acquring a Thomas Jefferson Education for myself and my children, I am immersing myself in the classics. But it is not enough to simply read. To truly understand, I must first take notes and journal on the things that stand out to me, and second organize some of those thoughts into cohesion.

You might think it odd that someone almost a decade out of school (and not currently enrolled in any educational program) is choosing to write papers similar to those assigned by teachers dreaded. But I have found the process quite educational in itself. When I simply reading and noting phrases, comments, and events that stood out to me, I absorbed more. I took the time to stop and ponder various events in the books I was reading. How much more did it help, then, to organize those thoughts, to determine a theme, to compare and contrast! And because I could literally choose my topic and format - not to mention what I was actually studying - I had a greater interest and pull towards what I wrote than I did years ago when I received a grade.

And so, I invite you to journey with me through the land of self-discovery. Read and rate if you wish, but more importantly, take the time to ponder what my self-learning inspires in yourself.