The Warrior came to a fork in the road and made camp. He contemplated which path to choose for what seemed like an eternity. One path he had trodden before, the other was uncharted.
After many sleepless nights the Warrior awoke early, inspired by a dream. He knelt and spoke aloud.
"I remember the horrible weather I encountered on the first path," he said to his heart. "Though it taught me the lessons of preparation and patience, I worry that it may be as harsh the second time around and I am weary from my travels. On the other hand, the second path is unfamiliar and I fear that I will learn little by walking it, or that it may end prematurely, or that it too will be harsh. Which path ought I to choose?"
The Warrior's heart listened with interest just as it always had. "I have weathered your struggle with you and I too ponder this question," his heart said. "To me, it is a question of desire. In love and war it is impossible to predict everything. A true Warrior knows this and does not let his fears dictate his actions. The important question is this: 'which path do you desire most?'"
The Warrior stood and looked out upon the horizon. The sun was beginning its ascent into the gray sky, bringing with it the wisdom and eternity of a new morning. The Warrior gathered up his belongings and set off down the Path.
The route he chose is unimportant. What matters is that whichever way he went, it was his choice. The ability to choose his path is what gives the Warrior his strength.
This material was inspired by novels by Paulo Coelho. Here, I am merely reflecting on my own life through some of his lenses. In no way do I intend to make a profit from, distribute illegaly, or plagiarize any of his material.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Sorry!
I've been on a road trip, taking some time for myself, hence the downturn in the blog writing. It was a great trip down to Phoenix. I took the road through Hurricane to Flagstaff on the way down and there is some incredible scenery along the way. If you ever need to heal your soul, I reccomend the drive. There is no heart that good travels cannot mend. I spend a couple days with my father and his girlfriend, which was nice.
The drive back up was interesting, I felt troubled and didn't have the same calmness about me that I did on the way down. I took the route through Las Vegas this time.
It may have something to do with returning home, to the familiar, to the problems, that made me feel so disheartened. I felt I did not appreciate the world around me as much as I had on my way to Phoenix. The whole drive left me mostly bored and uninspired until I arrived at the Virgin River Gorge, which was incredible as dusk was giving way to night. I arrived at Hurricane that night and stayed there.
I woke up insanely early the next day and hit the road. The inspiration and the calm finally returned when I was driving through Beaver County. I came over the crest of a hill, between two mountains, and descended into the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. The mountains, blue and white in the distance, were covered in snow and the valleys followed suit. It was as if I was in a completely different part of the world, where time and distance no longer mattered; where the world was endless. Vast plumes of fog rose up out of rivers throughout the valley. It was the most incredible sight I'd ever seen.
So, that was my weekend.
Ryan
The drive back up was interesting, I felt troubled and didn't have the same calmness about me that I did on the way down. I took the route through Las Vegas this time.
It may have something to do with returning home, to the familiar, to the problems, that made me feel so disheartened. I felt I did not appreciate the world around me as much as I had on my way to Phoenix. The whole drive left me mostly bored and uninspired until I arrived at the Virgin River Gorge, which was incredible as dusk was giving way to night. I arrived at Hurricane that night and stayed there.
I woke up insanely early the next day and hit the road. The inspiration and the calm finally returned when I was driving through Beaver County. I came over the crest of a hill, between two mountains, and descended into the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen. The mountains, blue and white in the distance, were covered in snow and the valleys followed suit. It was as if I was in a completely different part of the world, where time and distance no longer mattered; where the world was endless. Vast plumes of fog rose up out of rivers throughout the valley. It was the most incredible sight I'd ever seen.
So, that was my weekend.
Ryan
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Record Industry and Higher Education
Many people talk about the continued demise of the record industry. The record industry is failing because they want to use old models to push the same product that people can now get for free online or other methods.
The company CD Baby has found a great way to make it in the new world of record publishing. CD Baby allows individual artists to sell their albums on their website without all the big wig, Record Company bullshit. Its revolutionizing the way music is sold, and its much cheaper. Many artists are resorting to giving their music away for free, and making money of something substantial, such as tours and merchandise. In our new era of free information, this only makes sense.
The higher education system has its own demise ahead. I'm not saying we'll stop learning, but I am saying that the way we learn is changing. People are realizing that they can learn many things they learn in school without going to school, simply by reading and/or trying to do that which they want to do. They are also learning that there is a lot of waste in the current education system. We take so many classes that are supposed to make us well-rounded, but end up becoming frustrated because its not what we want to be learning. And we should be learning what we want to! After all, its our money we're giving them...
Where is the free prize in the education system? Where is the CD Baby?
Could it be us?
The company CD Baby has found a great way to make it in the new world of record publishing. CD Baby allows individual artists to sell their albums on their website without all the big wig, Record Company bullshit. Its revolutionizing the way music is sold, and its much cheaper. Many artists are resorting to giving their music away for free, and making money of something substantial, such as tours and merchandise. In our new era of free information, this only makes sense.
The higher education system has its own demise ahead. I'm not saying we'll stop learning, but I am saying that the way we learn is changing. People are realizing that they can learn many things they learn in school without going to school, simply by reading and/or trying to do that which they want to do. They are also learning that there is a lot of waste in the current education system. We take so many classes that are supposed to make us well-rounded, but end up becoming frustrated because its not what we want to be learning. And we should be learning what we want to! After all, its our money we're giving them...
Where is the free prize in the education system? Where is the CD Baby?
Could it be us?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Art 5
A new painting I just started on. I'm excited about this one. I'm not sure how it will finish. But I bet it will be a fun one!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
The New College. Orientation.
Week 1
I want to change the way you think about learning. I want all of us to be able to learn in a fun and engaging way. In a way that is inexpensive, fast, and effective.
I imagine a school where on the first day you are greeted by fellow students and staff alike. For orientation, we are provided keynote speeches by some of the world's most influential thinkers and then invited to meet and greet where all students will be able to interact with leading professionals and innovators in varying fields. All wallflowers will be pulled into rigorous conversation. The fun starts on day one.
On day two, we will start with a refreshing breakfast and the entire student body will be asked to divide into different categories based on their general interests. For the next little while, students will be led by group leaders to flesh out their true passions and their personal drivers. This will continue until the entire student body is essentially singled out. This is when we recognize and celebrate our individuality. Students are asked to spend the rest of the day thinking about their ideas and passions until the sun sets. This is a day dedicated to soul searching and cross-student interaction is forbidden for the rest of this day.
On day three students will be encouraged to form loose groups, with the help of group leaders, in a way that is strategic to the needs of their ideas and their passions. This will take a lot of getting to know one another, and will require intense student interaction for most of the day. After the sun sets, students are made to interact with their group and explore their different ideas in an open and hospitable environment. On this day, we celebrate as clusters of interest and ideas.
Day four will find us waking to a refreshing breakfast yet again, and a new agenda. Today, all students are put through "group leader" training. In this way, we will ensure that students will always have somebody to talk to when they need advice or are questioning their own convictions and are about to settle. Group Leaders will be taught how to invoke people's curiosity and their passions. They will be taught to communicate effectively and openly and give constructive criticism. They will be taught to be facilitators of idealists. All students are expected to give time to other students on a regular basis, though with no stringent expectations, for there are incentives: The more time given means even more time exploring worlds that are foreign to us, where we will learn some of our most profound insights.
The rest of the week will be made up of "free time". This is time meant for idea exploration, rough planning if wanted, meeting new people, and solidifying relationships with fellow students. It's important to note that immaturity in the form of social ostracism will be punished. We all want to work in an environment of harmony. We are here for ideas, passion, and creativity. Popularity contests will be checked at the door. This calls into question a specific problem:
Week 2
On week 2, day one, students are made to work on their ideas and passions with other students in the form of interactive questioning. Students are asked what they envision themselves doing and what that person doing them would be like. Students will interact all day with their groups talking, in turn, about their ideas and others are requested to give constructive feedback, while not allowing anybody to settle for less than is absolutely possible, no matter how remote.
On week 2, day two, students will begin mapping their ideas and how they imagine getting there, noting the things they need to learn, the obstacles they will encounter, people they'd like to meet. Today is dedicated to exploration. Students will actually be mapping their future the way they see it and mostly identifying the things that may be required for their success in what they've identified.
On week 2, day three, students will solidify the things they need to try their idea, make their creation, or pursue the path they've chosen. On this day students will work with each other and their group leaders to find as many ways as possible to pursue these things and we will give constructive feedback, listing the many ideas, eventually in descending order of appeal to the student.
On week 2, day four, students will start. They will start with the student body at their side, yearning for their success as much as their own. They will set out to make whatever they are making, with a large social network at their side, making connections, and learning from the process itself. They will learn via the process instead of about the process.
The leadership of the college will comprise of a group of students based on the college's size, elected directly by the student body in a democratic direct election. These leaders will be responsible for making connections with other institutions, media channels, businesses, governmental authorities, and big-thinking persons. They will be our ambassadors. For this position, the leaders may receive some compensation, but any compensation or gifting from third parties with whom they may be interacting on behalf of the college, will be strictly prohibited and immediately and severly punishable. They will also be the final authority on punishable offenses for students.
This is the roughest form of my dream. Most of the details are flexible and I generally intend for the college to have little structure. The students will have autonomy, just as the current system provides, which is essential, but will have extensive coaching, not just by staff, but by fellow students, who will comprise the staff.
I want to change the way you think about learning. I want all of us to be able to learn in a fun and engaging way. In a way that is inexpensive, fast, and effective.
I imagine a school where on the first day you are greeted by fellow students and staff alike. For orientation, we are provided keynote speeches by some of the world's most influential thinkers and then invited to meet and greet where all students will be able to interact with leading professionals and innovators in varying fields. All wallflowers will be pulled into rigorous conversation. The fun starts on day one.
On day two, we will start with a refreshing breakfast and the entire student body will be asked to divide into different categories based on their general interests. For the next little while, students will be led by group leaders to flesh out their true passions and their personal drivers. This will continue until the entire student body is essentially singled out. This is when we recognize and celebrate our individuality. Students are asked to spend the rest of the day thinking about their ideas and passions until the sun sets. This is a day dedicated to soul searching and cross-student interaction is forbidden for the rest of this day.
On day three students will be encouraged to form loose groups, with the help of group leaders, in a way that is strategic to the needs of their ideas and their passions. This will take a lot of getting to know one another, and will require intense student interaction for most of the day. After the sun sets, students are made to interact with their group and explore their different ideas in an open and hospitable environment. On this day, we celebrate as clusters of interest and ideas.
Day four will find us waking to a refreshing breakfast yet again, and a new agenda. Today, all students are put through "group leader" training. In this way, we will ensure that students will always have somebody to talk to when they need advice or are questioning their own convictions and are about to settle. Group Leaders will be taught how to invoke people's curiosity and their passions. They will be taught to communicate effectively and openly and give constructive criticism. They will be taught to be facilitators of idealists. All students are expected to give time to other students on a regular basis, though with no stringent expectations, for there are incentives: The more time given means even more time exploring worlds that are foreign to us, where we will learn some of our most profound insights.
The rest of the week will be made up of "free time". This is time meant for idea exploration, rough planning if wanted, meeting new people, and solidifying relationships with fellow students. It's important to note that immaturity in the form of social ostracism will be punished. We all want to work in an environment of harmony. We are here for ideas, passion, and creativity. Popularity contests will be checked at the door. This calls into question a specific problem:
- Social awkwardness. I define this as any person who lacks that certain charisma that others may have and therefore has a hard time meeting new people. Perhaps a day could be built into orientation for this issue. Or perhaps we could do a pre-orientation week, where students who have awkward tendencies can socialize and try to break past their fear of social situations. It would be impossible to succeed in our new college by hiding under a rock. We are social creatures.
Week 2
On week 2, day one, students are made to work on their ideas and passions with other students in the form of interactive questioning. Students are asked what they envision themselves doing and what that person doing them would be like. Students will interact all day with their groups talking, in turn, about their ideas and others are requested to give constructive feedback, while not allowing anybody to settle for less than is absolutely possible, no matter how remote.
On week 2, day two, students will begin mapping their ideas and how they imagine getting there, noting the things they need to learn, the obstacles they will encounter, people they'd like to meet. Today is dedicated to exploration. Students will actually be mapping their future the way they see it and mostly identifying the things that may be required for their success in what they've identified.
On week 2, day three, students will solidify the things they need to try their idea, make their creation, or pursue the path they've chosen. On this day students will work with each other and their group leaders to find as many ways as possible to pursue these things and we will give constructive feedback, listing the many ideas, eventually in descending order of appeal to the student.
On week 2, day four, students will start. They will start with the student body at their side, yearning for their success as much as their own. They will set out to make whatever they are making, with a large social network at their side, making connections, and learning from the process itself. They will learn via the process instead of about the process.
The leadership of the college will comprise of a group of students based on the college's size, elected directly by the student body in a democratic direct election. These leaders will be responsible for making connections with other institutions, media channels, businesses, governmental authorities, and big-thinking persons. They will be our ambassadors. For this position, the leaders may receive some compensation, but any compensation or gifting from third parties with whom they may be interacting on behalf of the college, will be strictly prohibited and immediately and severly punishable. They will also be the final authority on punishable offenses for students.
This is the roughest form of my dream. Most of the details are flexible and I generally intend for the college to have little structure. The students will have autonomy, just as the current system provides, which is essential, but will have extensive coaching, not just by staff, but by fellow students, who will comprise the staff.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
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