Learned Detachment

I think that one of the reasons I struggle academically is that I get genuinely interested and invested in a given topic in a reading. And it makes me want to read up on any number of branching topics that get brought up. I want to ingest tables of useful information and investigate references, similar to the way we all do when occasionally getting lost down the never-ending wiki-rabbit hole.

But there really isn't time for that kind of exploration when you're in school. You kind of need to be detached and indifferent about what you're reading, because there is far too much to read to have the time to get interested and far too much to do to have time to write the thoughtful papers we may have inside us. It's a shame, because the whole point of being a student is growth and mentored investigation. It's a paradox, because the same structured learning environment both creates and poisons that energy. I hope one day we figure out a better way!