We feel elated and fulfilled when we achieved an objective but the process of getting things done can sometimes be very difficult and often requires motivation from people around us. On a few occasions when we find ourselves in a structured environment, we are left with no choice but to do as instructed. We have different organized settings that most of us belong to or visit regularly. Common examples are learning institutions, religious gatherings, and others. I am sure a few of us understand where I am going. The point is, sometimes it takes more than self-motivation and pep talk to achieve an objective.
Most humans do not want to be controlled; we naturally question anything we are told or thought. This means that sometimes, humans need to be guided through a structured process to achieve a set objective. If you ask me, I will say humans work better and get self-realization when they operate in a structured environment. A classic example is compulsory blogging. Funny how the faculty achieved her aim. It was not negotiable, is either you write, or you lose assessment marks. Aside from those that love to write and have been in the business of writing, some had no clue about how to start. One thing was clear, we needed to give it all it required. From the first week, then the next, and now the last week. I find it exciting to see how creative people were. My appetite for research topics increased and I took interest in various discussions. Research is important and most times we need something to stimulate our thought process.
The situation here is, though most people felt it was not a convenient task to write three times a week considering our heavy work schedule, however, the faculty was set to achieve certain objectives irrespective of how the students perceived it. Did she succeed? I will say yes, she did. She achieved her objective by making students learn compulsorily. One thing I observed with this style of learning is that it opens an unknown part of humans, making possible things you would ordinarily believe it is difficult to learn or do – the impact of learning is often not felt immediately. Many of us did not just write, most times we made a deliberate effort to come up with good topics and clear writing. We researched not just topics but also the proper use of punctuation. As the quote goes “Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect” – Vince Lombardi. We are better writers than how we started. The knowledge is passed, and we are left to decide how best to utilize the knowledge gained. My first application of the lesson learned on writing well is “just write”. Put down your thought first, then other guides to writing well will follow.
Some believe that compulsive learning is better than learning by compulsion. How does one become a compulsive learner if not compelled to start? What do you believe?
