AGE IS NO LIMIT TO LEARNING, IS IT?

Hey Luvies!

I'm sure you guys have pretty much surmissed from the last couple of posts that I've been on a sojourn called 'Acada'.

I got into this debate once with a couple of friends where I was of the view that 'Adult Education' is a whole lot better than 'No Education'. I mean it's better late than never, ain't it? My friends who are veritable jesters by the way, went on to list the disadvantages of going to school when you are past your prime... at least your academic prime. I'd never heard such a thing!

"The thing is, by 21 tops, one should be done with any institution called school." Dr Emeka told us. At my raised eyebrow, he went on.

"Between the ages of 2-21, the mind is in its prime. It gobbles up information and retains information at the rate of a brand new word processor. Have you talked to kids these days. They'll tell you the most amazing things and you can have the most incredible conversations with them."

"Yeah, so how's that connected with anything?" Another friend Richard, the banker and a confirmed, die-hard cynic asked. "We were smart back in our time - for our time, if that means anything." He continued.

"Yeah! That's because you were the oldest kid in school. I mean you were practically 20years old when you left secondary school." Akeem, the smartmouth amongst us reported amidst burst of laughter.

"And almost 30 when he left the University." Dr Emeka interjected, which sent us into howls of laughter.

"The point is, it's scientifically proven that as one gets older, the cognitive part of the brain begins to decline. So where you could read few hours when you were younger and have all that information retained in your memory, as you get older, it gets a lot harder... more of an effort." Doctor Emeka concluded with his 'theory'.

"You don't need to be a rocket science to figure that one out!' Akeem quipped. 'Too much booze, too much nkwobi, too much bass and too numerous a number of women does that to you!"

That set the boys off again. 

Now, remembering that half-brained theory, I do wonder though... not the too much booze, bass or nkwobi part but really...? Does studying get harder as you get older... or is it what you have to study that gets harder?

What are your thoughts?

The truth is right now I feel as addled as a 90 year old women struggling with this blighted programme. And that's the honest truth!!

However, my own theory was defeated when I read about this amazing woman in an article by the University of Sydney titled 'Age is No Limit To Learning'.

Lis Kirkby is proving that age need not be a barrier to University learning.

Excerpt

At the age of 90, Lis Kirkby is redefining the term lifelong learning. She is now devoting her considerable energy to a PhD after an illustrious career across politics, prime time television, social change and radio. Her thesis focuses on the similarities between the Great Depression of the 1930 and the Global Financial Crises (GFC) of the late 2000s. She was inspired to pursue this topic after watching conservative governments determined to reduce spending after the GFC took hold, the same strategy employed after the Great Depression, and one Lis believes is a grave error.

Waow! All I can say is that I'm totally and thoroughly flabbergasted. I need to suck in my gut and roll with the punches! If good old Lis could do it, why in Jupiter can't I get through this?

I've had to do an update on this post to aid non - Nigerian visitors to the blog understand some words peculiar to our dictionary.

Glossary:

Acada - Education/ Academics.
Bass - Cigarette
Nkwobi - Nigerian delicacy of cow hooves, tongue, hide, pepper and other spices.

Light & Love,

xxx

Isi-Aki.