Perhaps one of the greatest authorities on the diversity of the experience of "being human" was Joseph Campbell. A mythologist and celebrated author of the classics The Masks of God and The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Campbell was also an accomplished speaker and lecturer. He taught comparative mythology and religious studies at many colleges and universities worldwide. Campbell was a global traveller, a keen intellectual, and had a unique perception of the human experience that he developed into something both scholarly and spiritual in nature, and this became the focus of some of his greatest literary works.
Campbell once spoke the words "Follow your bliss," and he was perhaps giving us the greatest piece of advice we could ever hear as the creators of our lives. He was an influence upon some of our greatest achievers, including author Neil Gaiman and filmmaker George Lucas. These great artists who were so inspired by Campbell have most certainly followed their own inner bliss, and have become very accomplished and successful as a result of doing so.
Just imagine if every one of our students was encouraged to do the same.
Through his many diverse life experiences, Campbell gained much practical knowledge about humanity's quest to answer that inner calling we all have to do what we truly love, and he believed it was the key to living a full and prosperous life. So how does this translate to a child's education? As a teacher himself, Campbell displayed a wonderful notion of this in another famous quote:
"The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves."
Think of how much of our upbringing was spent being made aware only of our limitations. Some of us were always told by parents, siblings, and even teachers that "you'll never be able to do that" or "it's impossible" or "it isn't realistic." Imagine the impact on a student's mind if a teacher were to speak in such a way, and particularly on a young and impressionable mind. How would the remainder of that child's learning experiences be? Would they be easy or difficult? What about their self-esteem and confidence? How would such a psychological impact affect their adult life? The far-reaching consequences could be disastrous. What is to be gained from ingraining within a student—or anyone else, for that matter—thoughts of limitation and inability?
Vitality has to do with being strong and energetic, and it also has to do with the continuity of life itself. One can easily connect vitality to inner passions and interests; in fact, it would be safe to say that one could hardly survive without the other. No matter what, every student has a passion, a bliss, a calling, a talent—something no one else can do. It is a universally rewarding experience when a young individual can be guided towards discovering that inner potential, that vitality. From there, miracles in learning can take place. According to Campbell, this is what a teacher is truly meant to do.
Educators who are passionate about their profession do exactly that. A great portion of their own bliss comes from seeing their students evolve into prosperous and successful young adults. Teachers are enablers, and givers of the keys to the types of knowledge that allow students to unlock the doors to their own inner vitality, and use it with pride and confidence.
This is how teachers can make a difference in the lives of young students. And that's why Joseph Campbell believed that every teacher must find a way to reveal to each of their students what they as individuals are capable of. Our students are our future. They are the leaders, builders, and problem solvers of tomorrow, and they'll be working and prospering in a world we can scarcely visualize.
As an educator, wouldn't it comfort you to know that they are moving into that world with a mindset that you've helped them change from "I can't" to "I can"?