I grew up in the United States, leading a typical childhood - attending school, doing homework, and playing video games. During high school, I found myself more interested in friendships than academics, which led to frequent absences and struggling grades.
Eventually, I transferred to online high school where I completed my studies in 2020. A few years later, I pursued an Associate of Science degree in Criminal Justice while simultaneously working toward several networking and cybersecurity certifications.
Over time, I realized that true learning is hands-on rather than textbook-based. People don't learn by being told how to do something without demonstration and practice. You don't tell someone how to fish properly; you show them. You don't tell someone how to tie a knot; you demonstrate it.
This is where traditional education often falls short - the "show" part of show-and-tell learning. Schools excel at delivering information but often lack the demonstration and hands-on experience that solidifies understanding. The fact is, our brains are wired to learn through doing, watching, critical thinking, and problem-solving - not merely by listening to lectures.
I'm grateful that I didn't learn my technical skills in a classroom. Instead, curiosity and the desire to understand how things work drove my education. Curiosity and passion to learn, create, and explore will take you farther than degrees alone ever could.
Information and understanding are two sides of the same coin - one cannot truly exist without the other. You must have information to gain understanding, and you must understand that information to see the complete picture.