{"id":5917,"date":"2021-11-27T04:36:15","date_gmt":"2021-11-27T04:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecoversities.org\/?p=5917"},"modified":"2021-11-28T04:51:16","modified_gmt":"2021-11-28T04:51:16","slug":"parents-peers-reactions-to-alternatives-swaraj-university-live-human-signposts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecoversities.org\/pt\/parents-peers-reactions-to-alternatives-swaraj-university-live-human-signposts\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents\/Peers Reactions to Alternatives – Swaraj University | Live Human Signposts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The previous three articles, stories of Experiential Learning, <\/a>Sense-Making & Developing Confidence, <\/a>and Facilitation & Peer-to-Peer Learning<\/a>\u00a0show that attending Swaraj University was life-changing for each of the four people<\/a> interviewed for this series. Each of them learned different skills, developed perception and made connections to other people and projects while at Swaraj. Paradoxically, each of them described experiencing disapproval and negative responses from their parents and peers when deciding to take the alternative path. This article is part of the Swaraj University series<\/a> of the Live Human Signposts project<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Parents and Peers Reactions to Alternatives<\/i><\/strong><\/p>

None of the people interviewed received overwhelming support or encouragement from their parents to attend Swaraj University. Stanzin had to tell a \u2018white-lie\u2019 to his parents, explaining to them that he was going to a <\/span>normal university<\/span><\/i> in Rajasthan. He explained, \u201cFrom second year I told them that Swaraj was not a normal college.\u201d Even after that, he expressed that they still (to this day) could not tell the other people from their village because \u201cPeople think if you do some kind of government job, or something like that, then you are successful\u201d and that everything else is considered not being successful.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gaurav expressed that when telling his parents that he was going to Swaraj both of his \u201cparents started to cry, and there was the whole emotional drama.\u201d and that <\/span>\u201c<\/b>even after that there was so much ridicule from my relatives and friends and their friends\u2026\u201d. Similarly, Arti shared that when sharing about her decision to go to Swaraj that her parents\u2019 reaction was \u201cvery dramatic. Super dramatic\u201d and that \u201cmy mom was really sad, she was really in bad shape. My dad, my brother, everyone, really everyone, I think everyone was against this decision.\u201d Madhur described a similar reaction: \u201cI did not find a lot of encouragement. A few of them were confused. A few of them thought it was something cool. My parents, my mother was very afraid. She wanted me to go to those colleges, and pursue that kind of career. It took her many years to get out of that fear. There was a lot of resistance from her side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gaurav and Madhur described when they were the \u2018toppers\u2019 in their classes relatives, and other parents, used to send their kids to study with, and simply be around them. Madhur described that <\/span>\u201c<\/b>after I took these decisions [to pursue alternatives]. [After that] The parents told the kids not to speak to me much.\u201d Gaurav described a similar experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gaurav went on to question the legitimization of his elders, passionately expressing, \u201cwe were always told if a person is older in age, he has got more experience than you, so he can guide you, but that was the point I realized that this is not always the case.\u201d<\/span> Stanzin expressed a similar view, from the rural perspective, \u201cPeople started thinking that schooling and modern education is very important. If you want to get a better education you should go to the bigger cities.\u201d Paradoxically, this was the same reason why he explained that he did not learn to appreciate his culture until after going to Swaraj.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Upon reflection, each of them expressed compassion for their parents’ reaction back when they decided to take the alternative path. Gaurav shared, \u201cgetting a job was a big, big achievement. My father just studied in a particular class, and then he was able to crack a government job. And that was a big achievement. So there was still that conditioning in mind, if you are able to crack this job \u2026\u201d He continued on, \u201cparents want our good, and [they feel] if you are able to enter that college your life will be sorted.\u201d On reflecting on his parents, Madhur added, \u201cNow, I understand where that [his parents\u2019 reaction] is coming from. My parent\u2019s generation, for them, college was really the ticket to a better life, to migrate, financial success.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Find out more about the Live Human Signposts Project<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Daniel Rudolph<\/a> <\/b>(initiator and author) is interested in exploring alternative, experiential learning opportunities for people of all ages. He is passionate about forming community, and building public spaces for meaningful, transformational gathering. He spends a lot of his time learning juggling and facilitating gatherings. He also enjoys writing and sharing poetry.\u00a0Dan is currently in an apprenticeship in Vermont at the <\/span>MAPLE Monastic Academy<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

Pia Janzen<\/strong> (illustrator & editor) is excited to visually support projects that inspire us to question and reimagine how we as humans relate to each other and our surroundings. She loves painting people, making music, eating, oceans and being around animals and she is passionate about working towards a more sustainable, liberating and authentic way of being.<\/p>

Sierra Allen<\/b> (editor) is a recovering individualist, spiritual forager, storytelling apprentice, unschooler, rock climber, and youth advocate. Sierra is a co-creator of\u00a0EDiT – Education in Transformation<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0audiovisual editor and weaver with the Ecoversities Alliance<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The previous three articles, stories of Experiential Learning, Sense-Making & Developing Confidence, and Facilitation & Peer-to-Peer Learning show that attending Swaraj University was life-changing for each of the four people interviewed for this series. Each of them learned different skills, developed perception and made connections to other people and projects while at Swaraj. Paradoxically, each of 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