Reflections of a Lifelong Learner

I work in a skilled nursing facility that has two different physicians. One is in his

mid-40’s and the other is in his 70’s, both physicians are very knowledgeable and eager to teach.

The physician in his 70’s has a great bedside manner and has seen almost every case in his career

having worked in the Emergency Department for the majority of his life. His ability to teach

comes from experience. The physician in his mid-40’s worked in private practice before starting

in long term care and has a very different approach to medicine. He is very current with the latest

research, studies and treatments. He goes to conferences, reads medical journals, and stays

apprised of new advances in medicine.

Knowledge and learning to me can come in any form; it is our responsibility to be

observant and open-minded enough to know when to listen. Experience is a great learning tool

and we have the ability to learn from our own experiences as well as others, although the best

lessons are the ones that we experience ourselves.

In our world of technology, it can be overwhelming the amount of information that we

have access to. The media- TV, internet, radio, cell phones, etc.- are more convenient than ever

and can be both an asset and a detriment as well. Being an educated learner is not as easy as

watching a news broadcast and taking the information for face value. As learners and intelligent

citizens, we have to be able to recognize that information can be biased and can be left out in

order to sway the viewer in a certain direction. For example, Fox News may report that President

Obama has an approval rating of only 60%. Keep in mind the phrasing. If he his approval rating

is 60% then this also means that more than half of the country supports President Obama. This is

not the way that Fox News wants to convey the information. They want to spin it in a negative

way.

Personally, I have always used the adage that “Knowledge is Power” and I stand behind

this. One thing that a person can never have enough of is knowledge. The more you know the

more you are able to contribute and change. I believe that this country needs to take personal

responsibility for their own learning and seeking out information, so that we can be more

empowered and educated learners.