Today one of my favorite students discovered she was no longer enrolled. Financial drama led to her removal and now she can no longer take part in the class. It is a terrible thing, because some of the other students in the class are far less deserving than her of the space. The fact is some people come to school to learn while some come merely for a grade. The grade seekers look at a learning opportunity as an obstacle to their ultimate goal, be it a job, degree, or what have you. The learners see an opportunity for what it is, the chance to better yourself as a person and thus become more complete and more intellectual than before.
I was not the learner when I started–not entirely. I absorbed information that pertained to the book I was writing and dismissed all else. In that respect I was much like the students I encounter daily. On the other hand, I recognized what learning for learnings sake can do for you and I really hope these students can do the same.