by Elizabeth George October 05, 2012
My wife once told me of the words on the tombstone of a well-known scientist: “He Died Learning.” Those three words made a great impression on me. Since then, I have tried to follow this man’s example. And I hope this will become your motto as well. Unfortunately, there are teens whose motto is “I would rather die than learn.” They dislike school and can’t wait for graduation so they can get on with “real life.” And they go through the motions, exerting only the minimum effort necessary to get by. Sadly, when tomorrow arrives, they will wake up and discover that they have very limited career options because they didn’t develop the skills or acquire the disciplines that were needed for the challenges of the future.
Now maybe you’re thinking, “Yeah, I get it. But I’m not a very good student. I try, but I never seem to do very well.” Well, friend, there is hope. You need to realize there are two kinds of learning — formal and informal. Formal learning takes place with the help of textbooks and, in most cases, within the four walls of a classroom. You don’t have much choice about this type of learning. It’s what the school system dictates (or, if you are home-schooled, it’s what your parents expect). But even if you struggle, it is still necessary for you to try your best because formal learning is what gives you the foundation and discipline for all the learning that you can choose to gain outside the classroom.
Then, there’s the informal learning! This type of learning has to do with your personal desires and dreams. Informal learning provides you with limitless choices you can make every day. It’s an ongoing activity that will last your entire lifetime.
When I worked at a pharmacy as a teenager, informally I learned about medicine, medications, chemistry, and retail sales. The pharmacist was a willing teacher, and I was a willing student. That informal learning shaped my future for many years to come. But it was my formal learning that made it possible for me to pursue the informal learning. So don’t panic when someone says you need to get an education. There are lots of ways to learn, as you can see below:
Question: Guys, what is your favorite subject in school? What topics naturally spark your curiosity and desire to learn? Parents, share an example of how learning helped you earlier in life.
Read From Jim’s heart for teens…Becoming a Learner for Life on Elizabeth & Jim George.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
by Elizabeth George June 28, 2022
by Elizabeth George June 21, 2022
“I used to be so confident. But now I feel like such a loser.” Do you feel this way? My God never asks for us to have confidence in ourselves. He only asks that we have confidence in Him! And when God commands, He also supplies. This is true for every area of your Christian life. You can get up every day, go to your closet, and select the spiritual clothes you’ll wear for the day. Here’s a partial description of God’s approved wardrobe.
by Elizabeth George June 14, 2022
Father’s Day gives families the time to thank dads for the many ways they meet our needs. While we can show that appreciation more than one time a year, let us take time to count the many blessings we enjoy because of our husband, and show him blessings in return.