We asked some of the brightest folks from within the community to reflect back on their days in school and to share with us a story of when they learned a particularly important or impactful lesson. We’ve shared highlights below.

Harold Cochrab

The most important lesson(s) I learned, attending college, was to have an open mind and patience. I’m from a small town in Alabama where there is not much cultural diversity. When I attended Alabama A&M University, one of greatest HBCUs in the world. I had a major culture shock. You meet people from all of the world, different ethnicities, religions, different personalities, etc. you learn to adapt and meeting these different people you also learn about yourself in sense. Read more>>

Yashodhara Suri

One of the most important (and first) lessons I learned in school was when I went to Montessori school in Pre-K and Kindergarten. They would always instill in us “to learn to love to learn.” I thought that quote was, firstly, so clever and sweet, and secondly such a good lesson. Looking back at it even now, I think it was such an important lesson to learn so early in my life. There should always be a thirst for knowledge and learning and an open-mindedness in learning many different things. Read more>>

Nura Rachelle

We are all born with planetary imprints of our lessons, potentialities and gifts. I was born during the planetary hour of Saturn, so for me, everything in life is school. Like many astrologers and mystics before me, I call this the Earth School. Some call it a playground, or a grand experiment, but for me, everything is linked to some type of lesson, and we are all on some type of path of mastery. Read more>>

Jeanishma Daniels

This lesson came from my first Chef instructor, Chef Mekolites. It was the first day of culinary school, I remember having butterflies in my stomach because I was fresh out of high school and everything around me was new. Part of his welcoming speech was “Only the strong survive.” He explained how culinary school wasn’t as easy as some people would make it out to be. There would days when you will want to quit, but keep pushing through. There would be people you will befriend that won’t make it to the end with you, but you must keep pushing. Read more>>