Lifelong Learning can transform our lives. Success stories of such transformations encourage us to adopt conscious Lifelong Learning ourselves.
TEDx Hyderabad presentation of September 2019 by Gitanjali JB is a masterpiece. Click the link to watch it (564) Why be a lifelong learner? | Gitanjali JB | TEDxHyderabad – YouTube . It shows how Lifelong Learning can make your life immensely richer and fulfilling, and even make you feel younger.
“Learning For Life – Stories That Inspire” ebook by Joachim Sim Learning for life by Joachim Sim (sape.org.sg) is a well researched collection of success stories of nine people from Singapore, with different backgrounds, who reached commanding heights in life through Lifelong Learning. It is to Jim’s credit that he selected these people keeping diversity and inclusiveness in mind. It convinces us of the universal value of Lifelong Learning.
It is heartening to see that Lifelong Learners get a lot of support from families, relatives, friends, classmates, teachers, employers, educational institutions, colleagues, government, banks etc. If you are keen to learn, the world will stand behind you.
The first story in this ebook is of Jack Sim, a celebrity. He was born in 1957. After a chequered education, he did well in the construction industry. At the age of 40 he co-owned 14 companies. Having attained financial freedom, he decided to devote his life to social work. He founded the World Toilet Organization, Restroom Association of Singapore and Bottom of the Pyramid Hub. In 2008, the Time Magazine named Jack as one of the Heroes of the Environment.
But it is his outstanding penchant for Lifelong Learning that we can follow as an example. Jack did not pass the GCE ‘O’ and ‘A’ level school examinations in Singapore. He obtained an Industrial Training Certificate in 1975. He attended short courses at Harvard University and Singularity University in USA, and in universities in Sweden and Norway. He was sponsored for most of these. In 2009, he was accepted for a Master of Public Administration course which he completed in four years at the age of 56. He fulfilled his wish of becoming a professor and taught in Singapore, Israel and USA. He believes in learning by doing.
While it is almost impossible for us to devote ourselves to Lifelong Learning as much as Jack, he is a good beacon.
Elsa Debessa came to Australia from Ethiopia in 2004 at the age of 19. After staying home for over 10 years and having three children, she enrolled in a Skills for Education and Employment program in 2021. She took up another course too.
She got a job in which she works 3 days a week and is continuing her education.
Terrence Lennon-Wingfield grew up in a South Australian township nearly 800 kilometers from Adelaide. He was often absent from primary school, due to illness.
In 2012 he quit school without completing high school. He found odd jobs in-between stretches of unemployment.
Terrence enrolled at Tauondi Aboriginal College in Port Adelaide in February 2020, and completed the Certificate III in Community Services course in 2021.
Terrence is now a transport officer for an Aboriginal medical clinic, as well as a student at the University of Adelaide.
‘Education catches me. It’s got a hold on me.’ He says.
These two and other success stories can be found in the Stories section under Publications on the Adult Learning Australia website Stories Archive – Adult Learning Australia (ala.asn.au) .
Follow That Dream Photo by Alex Azabache on Unsplash