There's a famous admonition today, which states something like, “We should always be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn.” While the latter two could seem not so common to many, the most common undoubtedly is learning. And today, in our lives, we've been able to learn a lot and do a lot, on and in this space of existence.
We ought to be ready to gain new knowledge or learn something, while also being positive about unlearning and relearning. When the matter of learning is mentioned, something that comes to mind is a series of teaching activities taking place. Learning a new skill, a new work, a new attitude, a new character/behaviour, requires in most cases the interest and investment of someone else's time into teaching.
However, can we learn without being taught? Yes, to an extent. This would involve omitting a formal or semiformal process or activity of teaching. One would however be found to have learned such things by a form of informal, and maybe unconventional learning system. Perhaps, a casual observation, a trial and error from what one has seen, and so on.
So, we've learned some things outside the conventional ideal of being categorically taught such things, by someone or some system or platform. From childhood to this age, I've been privileged to be taught a lot. Talk about formal education in the classroom, informal education, and other forms of learning beyond the educational circle. Skills, house chores, values and character are all inclusive in this sense.
Yes, there are some I just happen to learn on my own. Whether really trying or it just came, the case remains the same. I remember how crossing the road was far from what I would be let growing up. Even though something like that could stand as an accolade for me, it was far from me. Crossing the road on my own wasn't part of the conversation. If there was a need to, it would be with assistance from somebody.
Okay, so it remains true that we learned one nursery rhyme about how to cross the road. Funny, how you could discover that it could end as a rhyme, when the reality and the situation present itself. Nevertheless, I did try it out and learnt how to properly cross the road myself, with no aids. It was a kind of busy road. I wouldn't tell of it at home till later on.
Graphics design, video creation/editing, and software operation are skills I took tutelage under some individuals or platforms to learn. One that stood out differently, which I also utilise in this space is the skill of writing. Nobody really taught me how to write. Very much later in my life that I discover this skill in me. I then started writing, exercising it, and as a way to grow, I learned from the works of others and some helpful teachable lessons and tips.
There are things an individual could certainly learn by themselves. Sometimes, they are through conscious efforts, perhaps through subconscious efforts as well. The bottom line is we learn things this way, and that can be very fulfilling, especially when it's something one didn't expect to learn or do.
Images are mine.