The New Fountain of Youth: Lifelong Learning | Ingrid Bianca Byerly | TEDxStGeorgeSalon

Summary

The speaker extols the virtues of lifelong learning, sharing experiences from teaching on a global study abroad ship where students and retirees alike engage in continuous education. Highlighting the parallels between college and retirement as pivotal moments for self-reflection, the talk emphasizes the importance of personal fulfillment and enriching one's mind beyond traditional career pursuits. The speaker encourages embracing the 'third act' of life as an opportunity for adventure, growth, and the pursuit of passions, challenging the stigma of aging and advocating for a societal shift towards valuing the contributions of the elderly.

Takeaways

• 📚 The purpose of a great education is to enrich the mind and make it a pleasant place for leisure, transcending the mere goal of securing employment.
• 🌏 The speaker had the privilege of teaching on a unique floating campus, a ship that sails around the world with students and lifelong learners.
• 👵 Lifelong learners, often retirees, are audacious, curious, and contribute significantly to the learning environment by demonstrating the joy of continuous learning.
• 🎓 The importance of community in learning is highlighted, showing that learning together, regardless of age, keeps the mind alive and relationships healthy.
• 🤔 Both college and retirement are pivotal moments to reflect on life's purpose, with the former focusing on career and the latter on personal fulfillment.
• 🏆 Life should be divided into three acts: youth, career, and retirement, with each having its unique questions and opportunities for growth.
• 🔑 The stigma of aging is challenged by the idea that retirement can be a time of flourishing, not decay, as cognitive abilities can continue to develop with age.
• 🌐 Cultural respect for the elderly varies, with some societies valuing their wisdom and experience, and others neglecting their potential contributions.
• 🎓🏃 Retirees are pursuing degrees, taking art classes, learning musical instruments, and engaging in physical activities, showing that retirement is a time for personal growth and fulfillment.
• 📚🌳 The proverb about planting trees is extended to investing in people for life fulfillment, not just for a return on investment, emphasizing the value of lifelong learning.
• 🥇 The third act of life, retirement, can be the 'gold medal' of one's life, a time for the greatest adventure and personal achievement.

Q & A

What is the purpose of a great education according to Sidney Harris?

Sidney Harris believes that the purpose of a great education is to make your mind a pleasant place in which to spend your leisure time, emphasizing the enrichment of the mind beyond just getting a job.

What is unique about the study abroad program mentioned in the script?

The unique aspect of the study abroad program is that it takes place on a floating campus—a ship that sails around the world with about 500 undergraduate students and a group of lifelong learners, most of whom are in retirement.

Why are the lifelong learners on the ship significant to the author?

The lifelong learners are significant because they demonstrate the art of seizing the day through lifelong learning, teaching students that learning is a community activity that can keep one's mind alive and personal relationships healthy, regardless of age.

What is the connection between college and retirement as described in the script?

Both college and retirement are stages in life where individuals ask themselves what they will do with the rest of their lives. In college, it's about career and paychecks, while in retirement, it's about personal fulfillment and enrichment.

How does the author view the traditional three stages of life?

The author views the traditional three stages of life as youth (first act), career (second act), and retirement (third act). They argue against the notion that retirement should be a time of decay and instead advocate for it being a time of purpose and fulfillment.

What is the stigma associated with aging in many cultures?

The stigma associated with aging in many cultures is the perception that the elderly have served their purpose and are no longer valuable contributors to society, often due to a lack of respect for their learning capabilities.

Why is it important to recognize and nurture the abilities of both schoolchildren and the elderly?

Recognizing and nurturing abilities is important because it allows individuals to thrive, regardless of age. If abilities are ignored or neglected, individuals may falter, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy of decline.

How do some cultures show respect for the elderly?

Some cultures, such as those in Sweden, Finland, Vietnam, and South Korea, show respect for the elderly by setting up social programs that celebrate them and provide opportunities for fulfilling activities, such as playgrounds and learning opportunities.

What does cognitive psychology research suggest about the aging brain?

Cognitive psychology research suggests that the brain can become more agile as one gets older, thanks to the constant building on the neural networks of cognitive experiences and knowledge.

What activities are retirees engaging in to make their third act fulfilling, according to the script?

Retirees are engaging in activities such as finishing degrees, taking art classes, learning musical instruments, running marathons, climbing mountains, and writing memoirs to make their third act fulfilling.

What is the author's view on lifelong learners and their role in society?

The author views lifelong learners as the coolest people on the planet because they have learned how to make their third act of life the greatest adventure, contributing positively to society and setting an example for others.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Lifelong Learning and the Purpose of Education

The speaker, a teacher with experience on 'Sea voyages' study abroad programs, emphasizes the importance of education beyond just securing employment. They highlight the quote by Sidney Harris, which suggests that a great education should make one's mind an enriching place for leisure. The speaker discusses the joy of teaching young students alongside older lifelong learners, who are not there for leisure but to learn about the cultures and places they visit. These older learners demonstrate the value of continuous learning in community, regardless of age, and how it can keep one's mind vibrant and relationships healthy. The speaker also draws parallels between the stages of life: youth, career, and retirement, suggesting that retirement can be a time of rediscovery and fulfillment, rather than decay.

05:02

🏅 Embracing the Third Act of Life through Lifelong Learning

This paragraph delves into the transformative power of lifelong learning, especially during retirement. The speaker refutes the traditional notion of retirement as a period of decline, instead presenting it as an opportunity for personal growth and achievement. They mention retirees pursuing higher education, engaging in arts, sports, and creative endeavors, showcasing that the mind can remain agile with age. The speaker also touches on societal attitudes towards the elderly, noting cultural differences in respect and the value placed on the wisdom of older individuals. They advocate for a paradigm shift in viewing the third act of life as an adventure, comparing it to winning a gold medal after the bronze and silver of youth and career. The speaker concludes by celebrating lifelong learners as the epitome of coolness and encourages the audience to embrace their own third act.

Keywords

💡Education

Education in the context of this video is not just about acquiring knowledge for practical purposes such as getting a job, but it's also about enriching the mind and making it a 'pleasant place' to spend leisure time. The script emphasizes the higher purpose of education as a means to constantly connect, learn, and understand the world more deeply, which is illustrated by the lifelong learners on the ship who continue to pursue knowledge beyond their formal schooling.

💡Lifelong Learners

Lifelong learners are individuals who engage in continuous learning throughout their lives, not just during formal education. In the video, these people are portrayed as being in their retirement yet still choosing to participate in study abroad programs, learning about new cultures and places. They exemplify the idea that learning is a lifelong journey and are shown to inspire students by demonstrating that learning can be a community activity regardless of age.

💡Enrichment

Enrichment refers to the process of making something more interesting, meaningful, or valuable. In the video, the concept of enrichment is linked to the purpose of education and the mindset of lifelong learners. It is about adding depth to one's understanding and experiences, as seen in the way the retirees on the ship seek to learn and grow, thus enriching their lives beyond their professional careers.

💡Retirement

Retirement, as discussed in the video, is traditionally viewed as the end of one's working life. However, the script challenges this notion by presenting retirement as a phase of life where individuals can explore personal fulfillment and enrichment. The video uses examples of retirees pursuing degrees, art classes, and other activities that they were unable to do during their working years, thus demonstrating that retirement can be a time of growth and new beginnings.

💡Purpose

Purpose in the video is defined as the reason for which something is done or created, or for which something exists. It is suggested that people often define themselves by their job titles, which can be limiting. The speaker argues that in retirement, individuals have the opportunity to redefine their purpose beyond their professional roles, focusing on personal fulfillment and contribution to society.

💡Stigma

Stigma in the context of the video refers to the negative stereotypes or prejudices associated with aging in many cultures. The script points out that in some societies, the elderly are not respected because they are perceived to have served their purpose. This stigma is challenged by the examples of active, engaged retirees who continue to learn and contribute, thus redefining the narrative around aging.

💡Cognitive Experiences

Cognitive experiences are the mental processes involved in acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. The video mentions that as people age, their brains can become more agile due to the constant building on cognitive experiences and knowledge. This is exemplified by the retirees who continue to learn and engage in activities that stimulate their minds.

💡Neural Networks

Neural networks in the video refer to the interconnected web of neurons in the brain that are responsible for various cognitive functions. The script suggests that continued learning and engagement can strengthen these networks, leading to increased cognitive agility even in older age. This is illustrated by the active retirees who are constantly building on their cognitive experiences.

💡Personal Fulfillment

Personal fulfillment is the sense of satisfaction and happiness that comes from achieving one's goals or finding meaning in one's life. In the video, personal fulfillment is contrasted with the pursuit of a job or paycheck, suggesting that in retirement, individuals have the opportunity to focus on what brings them personal joy and meaning, such as learning new skills or pursuing hobbies.

💡Third Act

The 'third act' in the video metaphorically represents the retirement phase of life. The speaker encourages viewers to think of this phase not as an end but as the beginning of the 'greatest adventure of all.' The video argues that the third act can be a time of significant personal growth and achievement, as evidenced by the retirees who are pursuing degrees, learning new skills, and engaging in creative activities.

Highlights

The purpose of a great education is to make your mind a pleasant place to spend leisure time, beyond just getting a job.

Teaching on Sea voyages, a study abroad program on a ship with 500 students and lifelong learners.

Lifelong learners are audacious, curious, and fun-loving, often in retirement, who choose to learn on voyages.

Lifelong learners teach students that learning in community is key to keeping the mind alive, regardless of age.

Two comparable stages of life are college and retirement, both prompting questions about life's purpose.

People often define themselves by job titles, which can be limiting and unfair.

Life is often divided into three acts: youth, career, and retirement, but this should not imply decay in the third act.

There is a stigma to aging in many cultures, with youth not respecting elders.

Recognizing and nurturing a learner's ability is crucial for their growth, regardless of age.

Lifelong learners on the ship have mastered the art of thriving through constant learning.

Some cultures respect the elderly for their wisdom and experience, and have social programs to celebrate them.

Retirement should not suggest giving up dreams and creativity but rather be a time for cognitive agility and growth.

Retirees are pursuing unfinished degrees, art classes, musical instruments, and physical activities.

Lifelong learning in retirement can involve teaching, singing, filmmaking, and other fulfilling activities.

Lifelong learners demonstrate that learning together keeps the mind awake and there's no end to learning in the third act.

Societies grow by investing in people for life fulfillment, not just return on investment.

A new paradigm views the third act of life as the greatest adventure, with youth as bronze, career as silver, and retirement as the gold medal.

Lifelong learners are the coolest people on the planet for mastering their third act.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Ola Żądło Reviewer: Anna Sobota

The journalist Sidney Harris once said

that the purpose of a great education

is to make your mind a pleasant place in which to spend your leisure time.

I love that quote because it leaps over

the most mundane point of education,

getting a job,

and lands on the higher purpose of making your mind

a constantly enriching playground,

constant connections, new knowledge, open to new knowledge,

and a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Now I’ve had the extraordinary privilege of teaching

on three semester at Sea voyages.

This is a study abroad program on a beautiful floating campus -

a big, gorgeous ship that sails around the world

with about 500 undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 22.

But what's most remarkable to me about this voyage,

aside from these wonderful young people,

is that there’s always a small contingency of lifelong learners -

most in their retirement, audacious, curious, fun-loving people.

These are people that choose to go on a study abroad program

in which they learn about the people and places that we’re sailing to,

not booze cruisers and shuffleboard ships.

They’re people that have mastered the art

of seizing the day through lifelong learning.

I’m always so excited when at the back of my world music classes,

there's the entire group of lifelong learners.

Not because of anything particular about the difference between the students,

but because of what they bring to the program.

They teach the students that learning constantly in community,

with each other, no matter what your age,

is the biggest secret to keeping your mind alive

and your personal relationships healthy.

And what they show me, what they make perfectly clear to me,

is that the two most comparable stages of your life,

believe this or not,

is when you go to college and when you start your retirement.

And I’ll tell you why.

In both those precious moments, you ask yourself,

what am I going to do with the rest of my life?

In college, it’s what am I going to do for a job, for a paychecks?

In retirement it’s what am I going to do

for my personal fulfillment and my enrichment?

If you divide your life into three stages,

three acts like a beautifully defined play

or the three movements of a gorgeous piano concerto,

your youth is your first act, your career is your second

and your retirement is your third.

And in the youth you can ask, what do I want to do with my career?

But in retirement you can say, what is my purpose?

I think most of us could define ourselves by our purpose

and unfortunately, our purpose is often defined by a job title.

This is quite sad because, in fact, that job title often depends

on how fortunate you are to receive a good education

or how unfortunate you are to receive a weak one.

And in fact, what happens then is that

we have the first act of our lives to discover, the second to deliver,

and the third to decay.

And really, that’s not how it should be and it needn’t be like that.

And it’s what contributes a lot to the reason

that there is a stigma to aging in so many cultures.

In some cultures, the youth do not respect elders

because they see them as having served their purpose.

This perceived notion of decay is an incredibly unfair situation

because in fact, if you don’t get seen as a good learner,

you don’t see yourself as a good learner, and it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It’s the same for the elderly as it is for schoolchildren, we know this.

If a school child's ability is recognised and nurtured, they thrive.

If it’s ignored and neglected,

they falter.

The thing about the lifelong learners on the ship

is that they have they’ve learnt the secret of lifelong learning

and that they can thrive in this way.

In some cultures, they respect the elderly.

In fact, in some traditional societies,

the elders are so respected as seen as wise

[for] the wisdom and the experience that they bring

and they are treated as such.

In Sweden and Finland, there are robust social programs set up

to celebrate the elderly

so that they have a fulfilling elder years.

In places like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, in Vietnam,

or in Seoul, in South Korea,

you can see playgrounds with equipment for the elderly to play on

or to play games in.

And frankly, playing games and learning,

and exercising is not childlike,

it’s human.

Retirement used to suggest hanging up your hat,

giving up your dreams,

losing your creativity, losing your initiative,

losing your mind.

Cognitive psychologist and research has shown us

that, in fact, it’s just the opposite.

That in fact, a great deal of your brain can become more and more agile

the older you get because you’re constantly building on the neural networks

of your cognitive experiences and your knowledge.

And this is what the lifelong learners on the ship know.

Nowadays, the retirees have learned to sort of got into the secret

that the older you get,

the more you can get your third act together.

(Applause and laughter)

Retirees are getting the degrees they’ve never finished.

They’re taking the art classes they’ve longed to do all their lives

but didn’t have time for.

They’re picking up musical instruments.

They’re running marathons, they’re climbing mountains.

And they're writing their memoirs.

I know an 86 year old professor and colleague of mine

who is still teaching full-time and is loving every minute of it,

and he’s as interesting as he ever was.

And he’s doing what he loves in his retirement.

Then, there’s the 87 year old beautiful diva

that used to love going to the rest homes to sing show tunes to the old folks

who were much younger than her.

(Laughter and applause)

And then, there’s the 90 year old filmmaker

whose strange friendship I treasure so greatly,

who now makes documentaries on wildlife, when in fact,

he had a very successful career in training videos in the corporate world.

And those lifelong learners, I told you about on the ship,

I can assure you they bring as much to the classroom

as any of the course materials in it

because they show the students that learning together

keeps your mind awake

and that there’s no end to the learning you can do in your third act.

There's an old proverb that says that societies are great when they plant trees

whose shade they know they will never sit under.

I’d like to extend that proverb and say that societies grow even greater

when they invest in people for the fulfillment of their lives,

not some sort of return on investment.

Imagine if we had a new paradigm of thinking about

the third act of our lives as the greatest adventure of all.

That your youth, your first act, is your bronze medal.

And your career, your second act, is your silver.

And then, oh, my,

there comes the third act, the great glorious gold medal.

(Applause)

I personally think that lifelong learners are the coolest people on the planet

because they’ve learnt how to get their third act together.

Have you?

Will you?

I wish you all a triumphant third act.

Thank you very much.

(Applause)