NOT A ‘TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL’ BLOG

My little brother's textbook had a picture of a violin labeled "guitar." I chuckled and thought, "Thank goodness I'm done with that." I finished secondary school last year, but haven't gone back since. Weird, right? It's not that I've stopped learning. Far from it.

Seeing that mislabeled instrument got me thinking. Why am I so glad I'm not in school anymore? School is supposed to be a fundamental place for gaining knowledge and, of course, making friends. So why the relief? Maybe it's because what I was learning felt increasingly irrelevant to my daily life. Maybe it was the unnecessary competition and stress. Maybe it's because I wanted to gain real-world experience sooner, in a less pressured environment. Maybe it's because I wanted the freedom to pursue my passions at my own pace, now that I have a clearer vision of my goals.

The education system seems remarkably good at stealing time off a student's clock. Students' minds are crammed with half-remembered facts and anxiety throughout the year, leaving little room for imagination to flourish.

"The environment was a chaotic orchestra, with each instrument playing its own tune, making it impossible to enjoy the melody of my thoughts.”

So, how am I learning now?

I get the inevitable question: "Okay, you dropped out. What are you going to do? How will you survive in this competitive world full of trained professionals?" Will I become illiterate while my friends become doctors and engineers? I used to clam up because I didn't have a good answer. Hmm, how stupid of me to leave school without answers to those questions!

Actually, I do have an answer now, I just wasn't articulate enough on the spot. While the reduced stress is a definite perk, it's not the main reason I left. The bigger reason is experience.

I am grateful for the opportunities to learn through various experiences in my daily life. I often find that I gain practical knowledge through these activities that complements what I have learned in a classroom setting.

I help my father and local farmers with their work in the fields whenever I can.

I lend a hand in building construction alongside masons and carpenters, learning from their skills.

I enjoy playing guitar and making music, and I am slowly developing my skills as an amateur musician.

I am part of a band called 'Imizh' (இமிழ்) with my friends; if you're interested, you can find us here: (https://www.youtube.com/@ImizhIsaikuzhu).

I also help my family manage a traditional grocery store, Neithal Marabu Angaadi; you can visit us at (www.theneithal.store).

I have stopped schooling but I am continuing my studies through NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) along with the above.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not claiming to have some profound wisdom. I’m still trying to change my conditioned school brain. But I'm learning, experiencing, and growing in a way that feels much more meaningful.

Are my fellow adolescents truly living their lives, or are they just letting life pass them by? Do they learn things that are genuinely relevant and important for navigating the real world? Do they even know what kind of rice they're eating?

Do they understand the answers that they memorize, are just answers to questions on a single test paper, and that they might not hold any significance in real life?