Perspective Matters

Every  time I step foot outside of my home country, I realize how critically important it is to assume a different point of view. Quite simply, perspective matters.

Today, we visited our first school just outside of Helsinki on the island of Lauttasaari. We listened to a wonderful presentation by a language teacher, sat in on a few classes, and even had lunch in the cafeteria. Although we talked about the many obvious similarities and differences in school systems, daily schedule, and course load, it was the intangibles that left the biggest impression on me. It was these subtle aspects of our school visit that reminded me how much it matters to step out of your home culture and enter the doors of another. Only then can you truly examine your own self and cultural context.

I noticed how calm the school environment was. Whether in the classroom or just hanging out, students were laid back, happy, and “chill,” for lack of better word. You got a sense of peace in the hallways that I don’t typically feel in an American school. The facility was impeccably clean and we were greeted by students who so comfortably and effortlessly told us about their daily life in school. The cafeteria was so orderly, flowers adorning every table, and students gathered in small table groups, chatting like any teenagers would…regardless of country of origin.

For months, we have been reading and discussing the Finnish education system, hearing stories of minimal homework, short school days, respected teachers, and noteworthy PISA scores. And although I saw evidence of this today, it was the intangible feeling of calm and happiness that made me feel like I, too, would excel here as a student.

In just one day, I felt on an emotional and personal level what I never could have learned in books. Simply being in Finland, being in a school, being with the students, and being in their environment taught me so much more than I ever would have expected. Stepping out of my own sense of what school should feel like gave me an even deeper understanding of what school can be like. Each time I travel, I realize just how important it is for us to assume a different perspective if we truly want to understand our place in the world. I look forward to the coming days in Finland and Sweden as we peel back the layers of the education system—not only revealing more about our Scandinavian neighbors, but providing an invaluable perspective on our own school system.