And Will You Succeed? Yes Indeed, Yes Indeed…

So, I just completed a graduate degree program and am now officially an “MPH”… a Minister of Proper Hugs*, a Magician with Purple Hats, a Mistress of Polyester Hip-huggers, and a Master of Public Health.  I mention this because it has become the impetus for some blahg-worthy thoughts about the role of advanced degrees and the valuation on formal education in society.

When I decided to attend Columbia University in the summer of 2010, I found myself inexplicably uncomfortable with sharing the news.  It seemed that far too often I experienced a level of (not necessarily welcomed) awe from people who I would tell, which for a long time led to my withholding the details of my upcoming plans in an effort to avoid the reaction that caused me to blush and stutter.

In retrospect, my reluctance to broadcast the details of my matriculation was not because I was not proud of this accomplishment or eternally grateful for having had this privilege and opportunity, it was because I do not view it as any more awe-invoking than the many other paths for learning and development that exist and are necessary for our society to thrive.  This is a notion that I have struggled to define and articulate in the face of a deeply engrained high appraisal on a formal academic path in our society.

The human race has an extremely long legacy of placing value on certain types of intelligences.  This legacy now pervades every element of how our societies function and I view it as a tragic loss for people overall.  By “intelligences” I am referring to the different ways that we learn, the different passions that we have, and the different strengths that we all bring to the table, both by nature and by nurture.  That said, I’ve noticed that somewhere along the way (long, long ago) we decided that men’s intelligences are superior to women’s, and that intelligences of white people are superior to those of people of color.

These developments have led to the destruction of one of humankind’s most valuable assets, that of diverse worldviews and intelligences.  Sometimes in ways that are more violent and direct, such as the genocide of Native Americans and their ways of life upon European settlement in the United States, and sometimes it is more subtle, such as the slashing of music, arts, and physical education in public schools.  These acts and many others are the symptoms of a streamlining effect that has thwarted much of our creative and productive potential to the privilege of some, and the detriment of many.

The high level of regard that a formal academic education holds in our society has led to a devaluation of the many other experiences, skills, intelligences, trainings, and expertise outside of the classroom that have throughout history created a synergistic level of richness and depth.

I have recently come to terms with the fact that my particular set of strengths and my chosen professional path is one which society values highly as it fits into the narrowly defined ideals of “success” in financial gain, professional merit, and symbolic milestones; though I will not accept that it is the most ideal.  This is only one particular path, one of billions.  This one works well for me and I feel achieved in my unique path.  The key that I’ve come to understand though is that for one of us to be successful in our hopes, dreams, and passions, we all need to be empowered to succeed in our own.  On a macro and systemic scale, we need to place value on different worldviews in order to draw a full picture and broaden our ideals for a successful livelihood.

These ideas are reminiscent of what the speaker Chimamanda Adichie refers to as “The Single Story”.  We are quite proficient at painting the picture of a whole people based on single ideas of what is or what should be; in doing so we lose sight of the bigger idea, the diversity that truly exists.  I certainly recommend this TED Talk.

I hope that one day my kids and grandkids will grow up with the understanding that each of our strengths is valued and of value in a holistic way.  They will see their voices represented in our media and government and the strengths of our diverse worldviews expressed and considered in making important decisions.

In the meantime, I offer gratitude to the many, many people who have followed their passions and by doing so empowered and enabled me to follow mine; from my family and friends, to the professors and staff, to the construction workers and engineers, to the artists, the farmers, the drivers, the janitors, the painters, etc.  We all need one another and all of our combined intellects in order to succeed.

*Thanks to Shoshi Fein and Sean Crosby for the fun acronyms!