We each have one life to live. We each are unique human beings – there is no other being like us in the entire universe !
During my secondary school years, there was one pupil who although had no real bent towards fitting into the school system, quite often came-up with some brilliant words of wisdom. I can still recall (reflecting back on my fifth form year at Wairoa College) this person expressing this philosophical statement: “explore the universe with a universal mind“. At the time, I didn’t attach any greater/ deeper meaning to it than it perhaps being some wild hippie saying that may have been borne from the hit T.V. series “The Young Ones” – that was screening at the time.
However, over the past 3 – 4 years I’ve come to see a wisdom in respect of the aforementioned expression that I hadn’t appreciated before. That being, keep remembering to open your mind to what life offers – be adventurous and open doors to see what lies beyond. Most importantly, for me this expression is about retaining a strong sense of curiosity – being prepared to keep learning and keep adapting.
Interestingly enough, Puketapu School (the school that our daughter currently attends in Hawkes Bay) has as a part of its mantra and Mission/ Values Statement the quest to develop its pupils as “Life Long Learners“. What a great quest – to help students develop a mindset of curiosity, exploration, discovery and learning…ongoing.
I have found that it is people with this sort of mindset who are the innovators/ creators of the world. Long may schools like Puketapu continue to help build these strengths in generations of young people.