Going from ‘student’ to ‘changemaker’: notes from a liberal learner
21 May 2021 — Written by Arpit Chhikara
People often wonder how liberal education is different from its traditional counterpart. Well, there are several ways, but in this post, we will focus on one aspect: finding purpose.
Let us put it this way: while most traditional forms of education see a learner through till they are enrolled in a college or career of their choice, liberal education is one that aims to keep people learning lifelong and life-wide; one that creates freethinkers, collaborative communicators, informed citizens, and well-rounded individuals for the future.
Meet Shwetha Lakshmi Ramesh, a grade x learner from Beyond 8. She’s pursuing a unique internship program as a community organiser at YouCan, a non-profit working towards nature conservation and building eco-literacy. As a young person navigating her calling in the area of wildlife and conservation, Shwetha has much to say about her transformative journey. Excerpts:
What have been the greatest highlights of your internship journey so far?
The biggest highlight for me during the internship has been the opportunity to connect with immensely experienced people who helped me gain a holistic perspective on global issues. For example, earlier I used to think of climate change in terms of consumerism but now I can combine that idea with green-tech as well. Another highlight was the Instagram live that I conducted with Ashvini Menon, a visual artist whose work focuses on environment and sustainability. It was one of a kind thing for me. Lastly, the best thing about my internship is the space to be myself. Here at YouCAN, I voice my opinions and contribute to the project, rather than just follow guidelines to get tasks done. This autonomy definitely makes the whole experience much more enriching.
Source: YouCAN Facebook
How do you think this internship will set you apart from everyone?
This internship sets me apart from other people mainly because of the skills I have gained and the experiences I have had. Not many high schoolers get such an enriching experience at this young age. I am thankful for having had this lovely opportunity.
Shwetha’s story of going from highschool to learning about mother nature is an inspiring one. At such an impressionable age, she’s learning how to be expression-able. Which is, simply put, a result of self-reflective skill building from an early age. A result of diving into liberal education at the right time in her life.
Look up YouCan to learn more about the change they are bringing about in the domain of sustainable living. Preparing for a fulfilling career is one of the goals of liberal education which we impart at Beyond 8. To know more about our program for high school students, visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.