Searching for freedom has always been part of my life. When I was 12, I wanted to learn how to play the trumpet. As our school was offering music classes, I promptly enrolled for 'The Band', not knowing how much I would enjoy the process. When Mr. Nicolau - a conductor with that glimmer in his eyes - came on the scene, we knew at once that learning from him would be an amazing experience. And we were absolutely right. As passionate teachers usually do, he did his best to inspire us. Once he drew a small circle on the blackboard and crossed its border about a dozen times. While we held our breath, he said, "My boys, can you see those marks that I've put on that circle's border? If the circle represents all the knowledge you currently have, each check represents a window that may be opened to new discoveries in life..." We didn't even blink. He moved around - giving us a little time to think about the concept - and replaced the first circle with a larger one. "As you acquire new knowledge through those channels, your understanding grows and you can set up more and more ways to interact with the world..." Noticing that he had our attention, he added the last circle: "Can you tell me what is going to happen when your circle grows and grows in constant motion?" A timid voice came from the back, "Those circles will never end, teacher. The more you learn, the more you can!" We all looked back surprised. That brave 12-year-soul had so beautifully summarized the moment... Obviously, he seemed to be even more surprised than we were! The teacher nodded, excited, "You've got it! Freedom is the result of learning!" And that was just the beginning of many, many discoveries... At the time of this writing - 25 years later - he is still raising his old baton, moving around and making the hearts of one more generation beat faster, including my own daughter's!
After graduating from Junior High School, I kept my search for freedom.
Supposing that dropping out of school would be the easiest way to be free, I secretly planned to do it. My plans were working perfectly until my mom heard about it! Instead of giving me a long, long sermon, though she just handed me an article entitled 'Some Considerations on Personal Freedom'. I took it, intrigued. She kept scanning me with her eyes - as only worried moms can do... In the middle of that page there were two handcuffed hands over a piano keyboard. The article emphasized - through a compelling story - that if you don't know how to play any musical instrument, whenever someone requests you play it, you are limited to only one choice: No, I can't. On the other hand, a skilled musician would have two options - playing it or not - and that is what freedom is all about: the ability to choose. Long story short, I kept my butt on the chair. That being said, what you and I - and everyone and his dog - are really looking for in this life is simply... more freedom. (Even if you think you just want to learn Portuguese!) In conclusion, as soon as you understand how the learning process can work for you, you will not only be able to learn Portuguese in a smarter and faster way, but you will also improve your academic career (or professional one), develop the necessary skills to manage it and change the patterns that work against your goals to those that support them. I firmly believe that everyone can keep learning throughout their lives - everyone. Here is my personal invitation to you: Make up your mind to start learning something right now, and count me in! Though my mom passed away in 2000, her way of living clearly showed me that only knowledge brings freedom. She did live up to her own beliefs. For a while I just believed her... But now I live it, too. |
