Why being book smart is not all that important

Juliette Salah, Staff Writer

We spend a majority of our youth going to school five days a week for 180 days a year; it’s natural to wonder how much we actually gain from this. During the school year and even during breaks, students focus almost exclusively on schoolwork. Complete the worksheet, turn in the project, get a good grade on the upcoming test, all so that the GPA is high enough to get into the college of choice. Many students get so bogged down that they develop a sort of short-term vision. In other words, they can only see the span of their life in regards to their next test or next presentation. If that’s not the case, then they only see as far as high school graduation. Many forget to take a step back and view their life as a whole. While, being book smart has its perks, obtaining life experience by taking the time to live life to its fullest is truly the most valuable. It is important to remind ourselves how necessary it is to just live a little.

Let’s start with some definitions. School will teach you various things. This includes anything from reading to solving complex math problems to learning about different chemical bonds or the different branches of government, along with everything else that falls in between (it’s a long list). All of this would fall under what many call book smart. Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books is a classic example of someone who is book smart and academically talented; throughout the series, she is shown as far ahead of her class. She learns about spells above her level and familiarizes herself with the complicated history of the wizarding world. 

On the other hand, there are personal experiences, which teach you various life skills. The list of examples here is even longer, but it includes traveling, drawing, playing a sport, baking, learning to drive, even going to a party or on a picnic, to name a few. Harry Potter’s story demonstrates the importance of having life experience. As a teenager, Potter never really excelled in school. However, the skills he acquired from life experiences helped him overcome numerous challenges (i.e. dueling Lord Voldemort and winning) and become the character we now see him as.  

So, which is ultimately more beneficial: life experiences or book smarts? Book smarts definitely have their pros; many students are aware of that and dedicate a lot of their time and energy towards it, but they often forget the importance of experiencing life. Personal experiences are valuable for two main reasons. First, they can teach valuable life lessons. Take traveling for instance. If you are a frequent traveler, after a while, you begin to master the art of navigating an airport. Not only is this a good life skill to have on its own, but learning to find your way around an airport teaches you how to read and follow directions, and when you (inevitably) arrive late at the airport, you get a chance to perfect those problem-solving skills. Travelling teaches us even more than that. Regardless of the destination, while traveling, people experience different cultures, meet different people, and try different foods. The second reason why life experiences are significant is memories. The memories made while traveling, for example, are unforgettable, and many treasure them for life. Memories become an important part of your identity and make life worth living.

Thus, just as Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore once said, “It does not do well to dwell on dreams and forget to live,” it is critical for students not to forget that there is more to life than studying for the next test. To be clear, one should not forget all about school. Instead, throughout the years spent in school, one must not forget to live a little. Go on a trip with your family, learn how to cook a fancy meal, throw a gigantic party, create a band with friends, or even learn to trapeze so you can later join the circus if that’s what your heart desires (all with parental approval of course). The point is, life is short, so live it to its fullest; you may even learn a lesson or two along the way.