Sophia Camplejohn, Grade 11
UWC Pearson
I recently began reading, ‘The Road Less Traveled’, by M. Scott Peck, which entails a psychological journey of love, traditional values, and spiritual growth. My aunt graciously gave it to me as a birthday gift. Despite my surprise at the gift, as my birthday is nearly a month away, I was struck in awe as I grasped at the history and life of this book, that changed my aunt’s life, my mother’s life, and now mine. One concept that has particularly struck me as I read it was the notion of facing one’s problems, dedicatedly, truthfully, and most importantly, willingly. Peck reasons that delayed gratification is key in reaching the untapped potential life has to offer, and that many fail to reach. We are too quick to leap at the opportunity for instant gratification, like our phones, or fast fashion stores. One must accept the first of the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism that 'life is suffering,' for admitting to the difficulties of life, allows us to transcend it.
As I wrote my little notes in the margin, underlining away, I began to reflect on the aspects of my life where I, myself, and other people around me, avoid the issues at hand. To my displeasure, it was harder to find places where people weren’t latched on to the comfort of instant gratification. We have all been there, choosing to watch the newest Netflix series, rather than beginning our essay on Mao Zedong and the Communist Revolution that we have had 2 weeks to work on. We dismiss procrastination, despite the added stress and guilt associated, since (for the most part) we still manage to turn the assignment in or on time, just as if we had spread out our time evenly. However, just because, as Peck puts it, ‘the tendency to avoid challenge is so omnipresent in human beings that it can properly be considered a characteristic of human nature’, does not mean that this behaviour is essential or beneficial or unchangeable.
Pearson College, a United World College located in Victoria, B.C. Canada is no exception. Despite a mission filled with great heft and students who are the so-called next changemakers, I fail to see much action truly taking place. To clarify, when I make this statement, I indeed include myself (a student at Pearson), and not only the students but faculty and all members of this community, for I think it is important for us all to reflect on our mannerisms and the alignment of our word with our actions. We must learn to be genuine with each other, but more importantly, first, we must learn to be honest with ourselves. I fear that too many members of the Pearson community leap to pat ourselves on the back for attending such a wondrous school, or for believing in such a powerful concept, but that is simply not enough. We claim to truly follow the mission of ‘Making education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’, yet we are not united with the mission to the very foundation of our school as our school is set on the Unceded Territory of the Scia 'new people. For clarification, Unceded means that First Nations People never legally signed or agreed to give their lands to the Crown or Canada. By continuing to unrightfully use their territory without even respect toward the lawful owners is a translucent example of avoiding hardships. We need to break this habit of human nature to follow our school’s mission and our values as people. But, most importantly, we must build our relationship with the Scia’new people to acknowledge the brutal history and work toward reconciliation without hesitation. The lack of motivation to connect and learn about methods for a peaceful and sustainable future from First Nations People and culture is a direct assault to the truth of the school’s mission statement.
Not only does the physical use of their land misdirect our mission, but also, the very education system itself, which is so time-consuming that people decide to skip required school extracurriculars to study for an extra hour.. All I have to say is, I have had enough. We should be spending each day delving further into methods of how to be a changemaker, or building genuine relationships with not only the Scia’new people but all of the Saanich Nation of Coast Salish People as well as the new community we have come from all over the world to live in.
However, Pearson UWC is not the only school, nor community to blame. I would argue this extends to every country and potentially every person, due to our almost naturistic behaviour to avoid challenges. My previous health teacher and author of ‘Sex, Teens, and Everything in-between’, constantly and wisely warned my previous classmates and me that ‘what you practise is what you perfect’. The almost necessity of instant gratification that we face is deeply reflected in some of the biggest worldwide problems. Climate change is the quintessential paradigm of instant gratification, though fast-food and fast-fashion satisfies short-term happiness, it depletes long-term sustainability. Let us reflect on Scott M. Peck’s words and let us grow. For, remember that ‘Whenever we seek to avoid the responsibility for our behaviour, we do so by attempting to give the responsibility to someone, their individual or organization or entity’. But this means we then give away our power to that entity. Let us take back our power and be the change-makers we were made to be.’
As I wrote my little notes in the margin, underlining away, I began to reflect on the aspects of my life where I, myself, and other people around me, avoid the issues at hand. To my displeasure, it was harder to find places where people weren’t latched on to the comfort of instant gratification. We have all been there, choosing to watch the newest Netflix series, rather than beginning our essay on Mao Zedong and the Communist Revolution that we have had 2 weeks to work on. We dismiss procrastination, despite the added stress and guilt associated, since (for the most part) we still manage to turn the assignment in or on time, just as if we had spread out our time evenly. However, just because, as Peck puts it, ‘the tendency to avoid challenge is so omnipresent in human beings that it can properly be considered a characteristic of human nature’, does not mean that this behaviour is essential or beneficial or unchangeable.
Pearson College, a United World College located in Victoria, B.C. Canada is no exception. Despite a mission filled with great heft and students who are the so-called next changemakers, I fail to see much action truly taking place. To clarify, when I make this statement, I indeed include myself (a student at Pearson), and not only the students but faculty and all members of this community, for I think it is important for us all to reflect on our mannerisms and the alignment of our word with our actions. We must learn to be genuine with each other, but more importantly, first, we must learn to be honest with ourselves. I fear that too many members of the Pearson community leap to pat ourselves on the back for attending such a wondrous school, or for believing in such a powerful concept, but that is simply not enough. We claim to truly follow the mission of ‘Making education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’, yet we are not united with the mission to the very foundation of our school as our school is set on the Unceded Territory of the Scia 'new people. For clarification, Unceded means that First Nations People never legally signed or agreed to give their lands to the Crown or Canada. By continuing to unrightfully use their territory without even respect toward the lawful owners is a translucent example of avoiding hardships. We need to break this habit of human nature to follow our school’s mission and our values as people. But, most importantly, we must build our relationship with the Scia’new people to acknowledge the brutal history and work toward reconciliation without hesitation. The lack of motivation to connect and learn about methods for a peaceful and sustainable future from First Nations People and culture is a direct assault to the truth of the school’s mission statement.
Not only does the physical use of their land misdirect our mission, but also, the very education system itself, which is so time-consuming that people decide to skip required school extracurriculars to study for an extra hour.. All I have to say is, I have had enough. We should be spending each day delving further into methods of how to be a changemaker, or building genuine relationships with not only the Scia’new people but all of the Saanich Nation of Coast Salish People as well as the new community we have come from all over the world to live in.
However, Pearson UWC is not the only school, nor community to blame. I would argue this extends to every country and potentially every person, due to our almost naturistic behaviour to avoid challenges. My previous health teacher and author of ‘Sex, Teens, and Everything in-between’, constantly and wisely warned my previous classmates and me that ‘what you practise is what you perfect’. The almost necessity of instant gratification that we face is deeply reflected in some of the biggest worldwide problems. Climate change is the quintessential paradigm of instant gratification, though fast-food and fast-fashion satisfies short-term happiness, it depletes long-term sustainability. Let us reflect on Scott M. Peck’s words and let us grow. For, remember that ‘Whenever we seek to avoid the responsibility for our behaviour, we do so by attempting to give the responsibility to someone, their individual or organization or entity’. But this means we then give away our power to that entity. Let us take back our power and be the change-makers we were made to be.’
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