I’m realizing now—working in this group project—that education is a farce. I’ve never had to “collaborate” with co-workers like this in my life. School doesn’t prepare you for that. Not really. It teaches compliance. It teaches deadlines. It teaches how to memorize and regurgitate. But the real work? The uncomfortable conversations? The emotional labor? The gut instincts? The grace it takes to work with other flawed humans in real time? That’s not in the syllabus.
No matter when I finally get my little piece of paper from this university, my values, my instincts, my guidance for others—none of that will change. Because that didn’t come from the classroom. That came from life. From surviving. From observing. From losing. From rebuilding.
Honestly? I’m just getting A’s for telling my story. Which is kind of beautiful… and kind of sad. Because I had to live that story first. And I wouldn’t wish that education on anyone.