What kind of Learner are you ?

One of my mentors once advised me: There are 3 kinds of learners in life – like a rubber, like a leather and like a dry wood. We should all strive to become the 3rd type.

Why and How?

Say you push the pin of learning (assume metaphorically) towards this rubber kind of a person. So what will happen? The pin will come back with no impact on the rubber. Meaning, this kind of person is not ready to learn howsoever number of times you try and teach him / facilitate learning for him/her.

Let’s look at the 2nd kind of learner. Say you push this pin towards this leather kind of a learner. So what will happen? The pin will create a hole equal to the size of the pin. Meaning, this kind of person is only ready to learn what you teach him (or what is there in the syllabus, in case he is a student) and does not want to explore further. He only wants to pass the immediate milestone - an exam, a task at hand etc.

And finally the 3rd kind of a learner. If you push the same pin towards this dry-wood kind of a learner - what will happen? The pin will create a hole – a hole that expands and keeps on expanding constantly. Meaning, this person is the ultimate kind of a student / learner. You teach him/her ‘A’ and he will make an effort to learn that thing till ‘Z’.

We should all strive to be such a learner. Always open and enthusiastic to learn more.

I will always keep this wonderful lesson in my mind all through my life. And so can you.