I love learning, but don't like school

Post Reply New Topic

Let me know if this sounds familiar.

I actually enjoy studying. I like doing research, and like to write essays.

But I hate going to school!

If I pick a topic to study (and I'm working on several things, as well as fiction), I have no problem spending two hours or more each day on it. And if I'm rested, I could crank out page after page of quality material, and love doing it.

But, boy, if you put a syllabus in front of me...forget it! I get nervous about homework and tests. It's as if the school is saying, "You have _______ days to learn the material."

Sorry, but I can't do it that way. Even if I had a YEAR, it would still feel like "cramming" to me, and I hate that! But, if I study on my own, I feel so much more relaxed. I feel as if I learn the material better, if I'm not constrained by teachers.

Anybody else recognize this pattern?

Yep. Plus, the school is chaos when the teacher isn't teaching, and there is too much stimuli. I don't feel as though i need to cram it, just the opposite. I've often felt as though it's too slow, until it picks up its pace. Not to mention every teacher has a different style, etc. College is much quicker than high school, though, less review. But, it is even more dependent on the professor. So, self-study is much more relaxing.

That sounds familiar.

I hated high school with a burning passion but loved learning so I used to cut school to spend the day at the library reading nonfiction books and encyclopedias (this was right before the internet went mainstream).

1) High school is a social hotbed full of cliques
2) Most of the teachers were dry and dull
3) Most of the subject matter didn't interest.

I loved college though because
1) It was a lot more socially acceptable to be "quirky" and people were a lot friendlier
2) I could take classes that interested me and chose my professors based on reviews and recommendations. I could also drop the classes I didn't like as long as I dropped within the first four weeks of class.
3) Students are treated with a lot more respect on a college campus than at high school.

I wanted to add that I think AS students and their families should seriously consider either homeschooling or doing an online school for those horrible high school years and then rejoining their peers at a community college when there is a lot more freedom than high school.

teenagers are soooo cruel.....

Omg, that does sound familiar. I love learning and I love textbooks but I hate feeling like I need to satisify the "gatekeeper" to pass the course. I dropped out of high school because it was too slow and i was alienated from my peers. They found me disturbing so I stopped going. I did however go to the library and learn stuff on my own and got my GED just by walking in the door. I didn't have to study for it. As for college I pick online classes because I can go at my own pace rather than listening to a teacher drone on about stuff I just do not care about. College however IS much more tolerant of their students and their quirks. I love that. Your free to pick your own ways of getting your grades rather than being forced to do a specific thing. I like being able to pick my topics to research in depth all I want and writing my findings and getting responses from my instructers.

I agree with the title of this thread.

I like to learn, but I prefer learning on my own, than in a class or in school.

I can do so at my own pace and when I want to do it. I definitely consider myself a self-learner.

Mark Twain once said this great statement. "I have never let school interfere with my education."

I'm still in school and having a very hard time too.
The whole system just doesn't work for me, because when I learn, I like to learn about one subject only, and when I'm done learning, I can move on to the next subject. But in school it doesn't work that way, because each week you learn a new piece of information on one subject, and another piece of information on another subject, and so on, and it is driving me crazy because I just want to learn about one thing at once.
I also get nervous from doing homework and making tests. I want to learn at my own tempo, whether it's faster or slower.

As it should be... you'd have to be a creatively devoid sheep to enjoy school as is. The acquisition of knowledge is encouraged, but only alongside nonsense like grades and mandatory tuition fees that fund football stadiums for a losing team.

Same here. Even though I attended school, I actually consider myself unschooled, for the simple reason that literally everything I know and use day to day was self taught. Although I used to spend a great deal of time learning, I now use a method that I call 'Just In Time Education'. with the instant access to information the net provides, I just learn as and when I need to.

I learn best when we are doing it on the board, but that means no one else has a chance because I forget sometimes to put up my hand.
And I'm also best when I speak things out instead of doing it on paper
So ask your teacher if he/she can change her/his teaching style

Tell me about it. Is home schooling an option? Higher years in college can get better - though it depends on where and what field.