Lifelong learning, noun:
: The ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge.
Lifelong learning enhances all aspects of life and is a major part of personal development because it encourages an individual to challenge oneself in numerous ways. Being a lifelong learner has taught me to prioritize the quality of my work, allowed me to set personal goals, encouraged me to develop and value communication skills, and pushed me to become culturally aware.
Growing up, I swam on a competitive swim team for 14 years. Swimming taught me the importance of doing things, such as work or assignments, correctly. If a swimmer wanted to improve, showing up to every practice was not enough; swimmers must put 100% into workouts and ensure that they do not get lazy with their swimming technique. When I did this, my performance at swim meets would steadily improve; however, if I got lazy during my practices, my performance would stagnate. Because of this experience, I now ensure that I always produce quality work.
Because swimming taught me to value the quality of work I put into projects, I learned the importance of setting goals as well. At every swim meet, I would strive to get a new personal record; as a result, I learned the value of challenging myself, keeping in mind the adage: “Each time you try something, strive to be your best.” Having the opportunity to experience setting goals at a young age was a critical part of my development and I have continued this behavior throughout my 24 years.
I furthered my personal development through learning the importance of communication skills. I realized the importance of developing communication skills when I studied in China during 2013. This was my first intercultural experience and I loved it. Because few Chinese people could speak English, I was challenged with the opportunity to effectively communicate with people to survive day to day life. I often made mistakes, such as the time I bought paper towels instead of toilet paper, but I learned how to take them in stride in order to improve the next time. As a result, I now value the impact that good communication can have on daily life.
While studying abroad, I also learned to become culturally aware and be wary of my interactions with others. This knowledge was developed as I learned how to adapt to new cultures, such as where the host (the person buying the group’s dinner at a restaurant) was supposed to sit, and that when handing a professor your paper you always use two hands. This opportunity allowed me to be self-aware when interacting with people from different backgrounds. Some behaviors that are natural in the United States might be considered rude to people from other countries. As a result, I now appreciate cultural differences when interacting with people from different backgrounds.
These experiences made me realize that lifelong learning is something that you can experience at any age. Personal growth does not stop when you graduate from high school or college; you continue to learn from your daily interactions with others. Lifelong learning is a practice that I hope to continue to apply throughout my life.