Suggestions for people who want to study/learn about everything?

[oppop30]

I'm fascinated with practically every field of study, particularly humanities-based subjects:

I spent my secondary school years taking advanced courses in English Literature, Foreign Languages (Mandarin Chinese and Japanese), Biology as well as Classical Music (history and performance). My school's gifted education programme also allowed me to discover the joy of philosophy through four years of Philosophy and Theory Of Knowledge classes. During that time, I also joined and won a number of creative writing competitions.

I've since graduated and entered college, where I am currently studying Visual Communication and Graphic Design for the second (of three) year. I've since discovered a keen interest in marketing, advertising and copywriting. Additionally, the curriculum includes a Design Theory module and another on Art History and Philosophy, both of which I am very much in love with. However, the classes for both subjects are limited to only two hours a week each, leaving me feeling only almost satisfied. The dean of design has also very graciously given me permission to attend his Interior Architecture lectures between my own classes, where I am allowed to listen in and do the assignments.

Having given my educational background, I would like to ask if anyone has any advice for someone who is interested in, well, everything? Ideally, I'd love to study not only the subjects mentioned above, but also Geography, Psychology, English and Linguistics in depth. While I am satisfied with focusing on learning about one subject at a time, before long I always feel like I want to pick up on an additional one and/or having my lessons progress at a faster and more intense rate. I'm honestly lost as to what to do next in life as I feel like I want to do so much but I don't know where to start.

What should I do? Where should I go? What University or career should I aim for? A sincere answer will be much appreciated!

[atalanta]

Join mensa. Then put an ad in their magazine asking for a life counsellor. Or just write a letter to the editor explaining your quandary. heaps of people will see it and reply.

[joko]

have you considered correspondence courses? you do these in your own time... so you are not ruled by going to lectures etc... you can use the course materials and buy other books for extra info.

are you interested in the qualifications or just the subjects themselves?

if not why not just buy a load of books, dvds etc and absorb yourself...

[boxtops]

when do you have time for real life, with all this study, and for human interaction....?

[Buenchico]

OK, I'm biased (because of my own degree subject) but, with your obvious love of academic study, I'm sure that you'd enjoy going off at a complete tangent to study the one subject which is the purest of sciences and the purest of arts at the same time. Yes, it's Mathematics! (You've not lived until you've experienced praise for 'innovative elegance' in a solution!).

However if you're not confident enough to 'go out on a limb' in your studies, psychology is fascinating because of the differing theories and approaches which somehow combine to make it an ill-defined 'science'. (I started reading psychology textbooks at the age of 14. Nearly half a century later I'm still learning mew stuff!).

Alternatively, try approaching your question 'from the other end'. i.e. decide what you want to do in life after academic study, find out what qualifications you'll need to achieve your aim and choose your academic subject(s) accordingly.

Chris

[oppop30]

Atalanta: I was tested and qualified for MENSA during my second year being in the gifted education programme, but I've never joined it. Somehow the exclusivity and implied intellectual elitism of such organizations have never appealed to me. I will certainly bear your advice regarding the the editor in mind though! Thank you!

Joko: It's not quite the same though, is it? I mean, I do love reading things up online or watching a documentary but it's miles more satisfying to actually be in an environment filled with learning and amazing lecturers who can teach you so much (even beyond their respective subjects). Besides, many of the aforementioned topics are humanities, which are by nature highly subjective so if I am to simply read up on them, I run the risk of developing a very insular and uni-dimensional perspective.

I've read up on correspondence courses after your comment and it seems interesting, but I don't know anyone who's ever gone for that. Ideally, I'd still like to attend physical classes with a teacher though. Thanks anyway!

Boxtops: I'm afraid I disagree with what you are implying and I have never figured out why so many people function under the impression that work (or studies, in this case) must exist separately from 'real life'. I do not think that learning or schooling is on a different plane, even though I cannot say I know for sure what you would define as 'real life'. I derive far more pleasure reading an interesting poem or playing the flute than going to the movies or partying in a crowded room all night. Many of my friends are just as passionate about as many things as I am, so I don't think I will be alienating myself from the rest of society. Besides, since most of the mentioned subjects are humanities, surely it will only pave the way for more opportunities for discussion (a form of human interaction)?

I really appreciate your input and concern anyway (and do pardon me I come across as defensive; I honestly am not but I have had so many people tell me exactly what you have though I personally think it is a moot point). Thank you!

[oppop30]

Buenchico/Chris:
Haha, aren't we all biased towards our own first loves? If I could I would introduce philosophy and language arts classes to everyone (not just 'gifted' classes, urgh)!

I did complete my O' Levels in both Elementary and Additional Mathematics and liked both, but as it is I am already so passionate about so many art-based subjects that I don't know where to start. My problem is that I'll start on one subject and when I have covered the basics I'll want to pick up another, but still won't want to let go of the first! For instance, I picked up my third instrument (flute) at twelve and finished my performing diploma three years later. I soon started on the harp but I still love my first three instruments so much that I'm still taking lessons in all of them just for the fun of it! It's precisely because of this that I don't know how to juggle them as the subjects mount up.

Yup, psychology is something I've been meaning to get into too. I've been reading about it from textbooks just as you have and it seems really fascinating, especially when I look at it during my Marketing or User-Oriented Design classes. Perhaps when I've covered the basic I could even move on to sociology or applied psychology in a certain field!

I've always asked myself what job I want to end up doing too. Since I'm currently enrolled in a design course, I'd say a copywriter at an advertising firm. However, I don't think I'll be fully satisfied with myself if I simply take up the creative writing and advertising/marketing courses necessary for that position. I always find myself wanting more, even if it will not be directly applicable for a certain job position. I guess if anything, my true aspiration is to become a renaissance (wo)man!

Thanks again for the detailed advice!

[daffy654]

How old are you? Your talk of having taken O' levels leads me to believe you must be around 40 years old, yet the rest of your posts allude to you having recently left secondary school and studying at college.

[oppop30]

Daffy654:
I'm sixteen and going on seventeen in 2012. Sorry for the misunderstanding; I was referring to the Cambridge International GCE O' Level examinations, which are generally taken at around sixteen or seventeen. I skipped two years in school so I took mine at fourteen, after which I graduated from my Secondary school. I am currently enrolled in a specialized art college (Lasalle College Of The Arts) for a diploma in Visual Communications and Graphic Design, so I guess you could say I'm still studying at a pre-University level. I've one year left before graduating so I'm really beginning to worry about what course of study I should pursue when I get to a University.

Thanks for asking and I apologize for the confusion.

[moonraker558]

None of this is of any use when you are dead, so start living for a change.

[oppop30]

redhelen:
No, I am not.

moonraker558:
If the we allow the shadow of our own mortality to overwhelm us and to only plan our lives according to how much time we believe we have left until we die, then surely everything would be futile? Even a life of hedonism would become meaningless in death. As I've mentioned in a previous comment, I don't believe in divorcing learning from 'real life'; who is to say what really constitutes living 'life', so long as it is lived in a morally upright way (it even mesmerizes me how there are so many ways to define 'morally upright')?

I honestly think that I will enjoy every moment of learning everything I've listed above, far more profoundly than if I were to be doing some other activity that other people may consider more practical or pleasurable. As a bonus, perhaps I'll even achieve 'Arete' or 'Eudaimonia' from all of this, haha. Now wouldn't that truly be 'living'?

[bigglez]

can u pay 2 lern me summat

[oppop30]

Bigglez:
I'm sorry, I don't really know what you mean.
Thanks for commenting anyway!

[maggiebee]

Sounds like a load of bull to me!

[Nibble]

You could try an alternative approach, work in the non-academic world, whilst studying, & paying for yopur own courses.... I do, then no-one has the right/gall to complain about students, money, blah-blah, etc.

Then we choose which courses/ interests we pursue, and it enlightens us at the same time. Also it gives a real sense of achievment for completing somethingwhich I choose to educate, inform & stretch my self to.

Hope this doesn't sound whingey, pushy - not intended.

Good Luck with your studies, and HNY for 2012!

[seadogg]

It certainly sounds like a wonderful fabrication to me also Maggie, but I don't know a genius.


If it were me, I should go for the money making skills and enjoy being a polymath later. So stick with the advertising and copywriting for now and "if your soul isn't fettered by an office stool" you can go on to these other things later

[oppop30]

Redhelen, Maggiebee:
In all honesty, when I asked this question I was genuinely hoping to get some direction - almost any advice as to where to go or what to do. I have absolutely no reason to lie about it. I cannot possibly hope to impress anyone here by lying because I have not (and would not) reveal my name or personal information.

Initially, I was a little wary about telling you my exact location as you did not provide any reason as to why you asked. Now that I know, I can only say that I live in Singapore. In (generally) the fourth year of Secondary school, students here sit for the Cambridge International GCE O' Levels. I have taken my two years earlier because I was at first enrolled in an international school which allows advanced placement, but later managed to enroll in a local institution.

In Singapore, though we adhere to British spelling (eg. empathise/empathize - we are a Commonwealth country, after all), the teachers generally turn a blind eye to 'American English' in terms of spelling and pronounciation due to the prevalence of American pop culture in the local media. My spelling is aided along by the spellchecker function of the response form, but it has unfortunately neglected a few grammatical errors I've made along the way, haha! I have also been told that I am a bit of a pedant (or less kindly, 'Grammar Nazi') and that is a trait that certainly irks many of my classmates still.

Please do not get me wrong; I am neither offended by your comment(s) nor am I turning defensive over your claims. If you remain skeptical of my age and situation then I will not persist either because it is a pointless digression from the real issue raised by the original question. Nonetheless, I still appreciate your effort in having left comments!

[oppop30]

Nibble:
No, it doesn't sound pushy at all; don't worry!

I was thinking about that too, and mused upon a similar course of action when I raised the same query on the Ask Me Help Desk website. That certainly is the most realistic, since University courses often take years (double the usual length, if one is to be a part-timer).

I guess what I was secretly hoping for when I asked this question is to find out if there is any job in the world that would be a perfect fit for a person who doesn't quite want to go into any one profession/field, but rather to truly be able to draw upon all of these subjects equally. More than that, I just never want to leave my classroom because I love that feeling of just sitting there and taking everything in!

Thank you for your suggestion; I'll bear it in mind. Happy new year to you too!

Seadogg:
I understand if you are skeptical about the educational background that I have listed for myself, but I would like to thank you for leaving some good advice in spite of your misgivings!

Yup, that's what my parents say too. I suppose though they are quite reluctant to say it, at some point, learning for the sake of learning is unrealistic. I gess if I were to pursue a career in copywriting I would have to start on a creative writing, marketing and/or advertising course in University, but during that time, I'm a little worried that I'll start to get restless and want to pick up another subject for the fun of it. I daresay it's almost a vicious cycle! C'est la vie, huh?