Separating Education from the Holiday Season: Why learning should be intertwined with leisure

The Holiday Season is something many of us enjoy for many reasons, such as getting together with friends and family to celebrate, receiving gifts from loved ones, eating home-cooked meals and sweets, and, of course, taking time off from work and/or school.

 I work as an Educational Assistant at a public high school in Canada, so I get two weeks off. Two weeks is a nice, long break, and of course, it is only a matter of time before I have to go back to work. Still, I don’t see this as an inevitability, any more than I see vacation as a luxury, because, thinking back to myself as a student, the idea of going on break and coming back takes away the thrill of genuine learning. Now, as an educator, I have changed this perspective, and I try to encourage students to reflect in the same way. I’m aware that not every student might see going back to school as an inevitability or a negative, but I bet many dread it or wish the holidays would last a little longer. If this is the case for you, then you probably feel that you have to be at school rather than want to be there. This is, of course, a typical way of thinking, especially among younger students. I once thought the same way, but I’ve learned that school is not the only form of education. Education can occur anywhere at any time, even during the holiday season, as long as you are willing to learn. To put it simply, I’m encouraging you to change the notion that you have to be in school to learn to want to be in school because you enjoy learning. If you have a genuine interest in something, instead of seeing the holidays as an escape from the gruelling confines of the school walls, look at it more as an opportunity to explore your genuine interest at your own leisure, and instead of dreading going back to those same confide walls as soon as the holidays end, keep that positive perspective of learning in mind. That way, you’ll see learning as a fun experience as opposed to a chore.

Take my holidays, for example. I spent a few days at my parents' house with the whole family, including my nieces, who are six and ten years old. They were out of school for two weeks as well, and they had many opportunities to explore their interests, partly through their gifts and my dog. My partner and I got my ten-year-old niece a couple of books because she has a natural interest in reading. We also got her a slime activity, because she enjoys learning through creative play. My partner and I brought our dog to my parents' house, and my six-year-old niece was drawn to him because she probably has a natural curiosity towards animals. I always say that curiosity comes with interest, and with interest comes a genuine desire to learn, so this is something worth exploring.

I spent the rest of my holidays at home exploring my own interests, which meant I didn’t just rest; I also worked because I don’t separate my work life from my interests. I instead weave them together through my writing, such as this post and even my fiction. I blend my writing life and my professional life to connect with potential readers, so I look forward to going back to work because I’ve made it a purpose. You can do the same thing, blend your interests with your education by learning in your own style and with your own skills. You have control over your own learning experience, so build your own purpose, and I guarantee you will be excited about going back to school. Some of you may already be doing this, which is excellent. For those who still choose to separate school from personal interests, consider adopting this mindset, and your learning experience will be more positive. Happy New Year, and never stop learning.