EDUCATED BY TARA WESTOVER

 

If I had my way, I will get all the young people in Jenta to read the book EDUCATED by Tara Westover. And all my female friends.

Before reading the book, I had seen a comment in World Economic Forum Book Club by someone who exclaimed "I'm surprised that she survived". I did not know what he meant.

Reading the book explained that reaction.

It is fascinating the things and places that hold us back. Long held beliefs, family disorientation, and inability to use our voice (perhaps because we have never been thought to) and our parent's INNOCENT, WELL INTENTIONED, DESIRE (but ignorant) to keep us ON TRACK. I could almost write a cildhood memoir that shares the same stories with Tara Westover.

The challenge for kids in slums and ghettos is not just their instant, immediate, and physical lack, it is also a deeply mental and cultural lack. This grows out to be the things that shape us and guide us through life.

But you will be wrong to think that Tara only explores her childhood story. The transition from the shy, timid, abused and unschooled girl into a global scholar is worth following. You see, sometimes, where we are born is not where we will end.

And overcoming the mental struggles of transitioning from a "normal" life into a different one is sometimes overwhelming and scary. I know this first hand. I still remember being rattled by a meat we ate at Judy's home. I don't know if that was a meat or a "meal". The meat was a combination of goat, cow, pig, chicken, etc. grinded and mixed together then fried. When I took the first bite, my brain wanted to understand it. My brain wanted to know if this was chicken or beef, or goat, but no, it wasn't any of those. For every bite, I felt a different taste that ranged from all of these animals but it wasn't any specific one of them. How could I understand this? I could not.

But standing at this crossroad, one has to make A DELIBERATE choice to transition into something OUT OF WHAT THEY ARE USED TO BEING. You may think it's a one off moment, but you have to make that decision every time you face a new opportunity.

In the process, the change of thoughts, the change of attitudes, the change of beliefs, the build up one's core values and the decision to stand for what you believe, that's what it means to be educated.

That's the reason this book is important. If you have sometime to spare, you should read Tara Westover's book; if you don't have time, Goodluck.

May you be educated, whatever way!