Why Do I Have to Learn This? I’ll Never Use It.

By our very nature, we are inquisitive – always asking “why?”; usually in response to being asked or told to do something. Have you ever asked the question:“Why do I have to learn this? Or, “Why do I have to do this?” I’ll never use it.” I know I did, more than once. Rarely are you given a reason why it is essential to understand the information presented in your high school or college courses and how it relates to what you want to accomplish in life. Sometimes, the answer is simple: you need to know it for the next test. But other times, there are deeper reasons. For example, learning about history can help us understand the present. Learning about science helps us make informed decisions about the world around us and how systems work together. And learning math teaches us to think logically and solve problems in our everyday lives.

Speaking from experience, there is a great deal of information taught in your math and science classrooms, the facts, figures, formulas, dates, and names, you will never use again – whether you intend to go to college or not. And don’t think you will stop asking this question once you decide on your career path – there will always be a training session you don’t want to attend, with more information you don’t see as being vital to you doing your job. It’s a never-ending cycle. What if I told you that the challenges and struggles you face in your classes, more than content knowledge, are vital to your overall growth as a student and will positively impact your success in any career you choose? Content knowledge measured by test scores and grades may or may not be your ultimate objective; that depends on your priorities. I believe what’s truly important and what we sometimes fail to realize is that the “process of learning” equips us with the “tools” for our success.