7 Lessons From School

7 Lessons From School

This fall marks the first time in over a decade where I will not be walking on a university campus. 

I took 6 years to do my undergraduate degree in business at Carleton University and completed four years of campus ministry in Ottawa and Montreal. 

I would have to say that I absolutely loved university life. I loved the people, the stuff I learned, and the fun experiences through clubs and sports.

I would have to say there were many struggles too. I think students can all relate to the ridiculous projects, that terrible teacher, and the freedom that comes in beginning your life as an adult.

So as I reflect from my university experience over the past 10 years, here are 7 lessons I learned that I think applies to leadership. Because leaders are learners, and we can all learn from our experiences.

  • Relationships matter.
    • I remember the people more than the work. They say we only remember 20% of what we learned at university. When I remember the good times on campus, I remember the parties, the fun, the relationships and the people that I met. This is a life principle that I have kept in mind, especially now that I am working full-time: relationships matter more than anything else in this world.
  • Know when to Stop.
    • In the world of studies there’s always more to do. I think the same can be said about the working world. But as a leader, the key is to know when to stop. It’s good to stop working too much for two reasons: life is more important than work and having some rest can help you complete the task later. The question I ask myself is, do I really have to do more? If yes, that’s okay, it means I have to finish what I intended to do.
  • Go with your gut.
    • Our instincts usually prove true to who we are. Take for example my experience playing soccer. I didn’t play organized soccer until university. And I always thought I would have a knack for scoring. So what position did I play? Striker! And I scored many good goals and had a great shot. We all possess some instinct to who we are and where we thrive. 
  • We get what we put in.
    • I loved university because of the freedom. I saw it as a special time. I studied in Paris, went on a mission trip in Quebec, played sports, joined clubs, and had interesting summer jobs. I invested my time in university seeing that it was a special season. Leaders try new experiences and seek to get the most out of life. Because there is a lot that it offers.
  • Be Gentle to yourself.
    • A good family friend of mine consoled me when I came out of a bad exam. They said they would buy and devour a bucket of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream after a hard exam. Leaders have to be gentle with themselves because they have bad days too.
  • Pay up.
    • I had a good friend who accumulated parking tickets during his whole time at university. He would often brag about how much he had outstanding – more than $1,000 on his car. They never sought him out to pay it. Then he tried to graduate and get his certificate, but couldn’t. They told him he had to pay the fines first. We should pay our dues or then we’ll lose. 
  • Find Your ‘Why’.
    • When I discovered my ‘Why’ – my purpose, everything changed. Out of all my great university experiences, I encountered God in a personal way through Christ. My life changed. It took on new meaning with a fresh perspective. It set up my life’s mission. I entered university wanting to discover my purpose. I left with a mission to serve God and others. Leadership begins when we find our true ‘Why’.

Time spent at school is a special time. It is a time to learn about a degree, an interest, or a specialization. Leaders are learners; both about the world, others, and more importantly, themselves. We can all learn lessons from our schooling.

What are two keys things you have learned from your experience at school?

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