Jennifer's Profile :: Email Jennifer

Studying in school is hard work, especially in India. School kids face tough competition in schools, college entrance and then to get a job. Nothing comes easy. Hitting the books is mandatory. But, everyone wants a break! Hindu school kids all around India long for the day of Saraswathi Puja. On this day, which falls sometime in late September/early October, the last day of Navarathri (the celebration of nine nights), books are given rest.

In fact, in some households, all implements of learning and assistance, such as books, kitchen appliances, household appliances, televisions, motorcycles, bikes, cars, and other items, are given rest, and praised by being cleaned, possibly decorated, and set in front of the prayer alter. Some families decorate the items with a small amount of kum kum (red powder) or may opt to paint anew or decorate with flowers and other things. On this day, you may see the public transportation dressed up with flowers and other colorful items. The basic concept is that anything that provides us knowledge or assists in providing that knowledge (Such as cooking vessels start in the process of providing nourishment, without which, we could not have the energy to walk to school and read.) is given rest and worshipped on this day. Hence the school, and sometimes, college kids are happy to have a much needed break from the books!

As I think of this, I am reminded of my friend who read my future through tarot cards some years ago. The cards told her that I must learn beyond the books. Dig in and try something --- without reading and researching it to death ahead of time. Learn as I go, learn without hesitation and need to get advice from a book. Learn through experience.

What a novel concept!? Can you think of a time you learned something without reading it first? Could you count experience on a resume that you did not learn through school, college, or work? What kind of knowledge do you have that you consider ‘outside the book’?

As for me, I have one such learning experience that happened to me earlier this year. I planned a one day conference all by myself. This conference consisted of two rooms, one with speakers and one with vendors. This conference hosted about 100 total people, half of them being participants. I had to keep and track a budget and manage many different aspects of event coordination. None of this did I do from reading or studying a manual. I went to college and earned a B.A. in Communication (social sciences) and M.A. Social Work. In neither of these degrees did I learn about this from a book. In my M.A. program, our class did organize a conference, as small groups of committees. In this recent conference I organized however, there were no committees, it was only me. I was all the committees! Then, I realized two things. The first was I did not participate whole heartedly in the M.A. conference committee, and secondly, that organizing such an event is a large challenge for a one-woman show! I have no regrets, however, as everything is a great learning experience, and now I know what to do differently next time.

So, this Saraswathi Puja day, continue to give books and all other learning implements devotion and a much needed rest. However, do use the day to reflect on the ‘new alternative ways’ of gaining knowledge. These are the ways they did it in ‘the olden days’ before there were pens, pencils, paper and books. They did it by listening rather than reading, they did it by experience rather than studying and comparing models, they did it by doing it!