Where do you start from?

A young friend of mine told me he wanted to explore biology, but he didn't know where to start from. He thought that he needed to go to college to get some guidance.

Some colleges do offer ready-made programs you just have to follow, but usually they are not meant for absolute beginners: applicants are accepted on the basis of their previous interest and knowledge in the field.

Liberal arts colleges do offer beginner courses, and they are easy to identify as they have words like "introduction" in their names. However, if you do not need the very basics or you have just finished an intro class, you have to think of your next step.

You have to work out a way to decide what to study next, and you cannot rely on formal counseling for the rest of your life as sooner or later you will no longer be a formal student, and you'll be left to your own devices. You cannot enroll in college every time you need to plunge into a new field.

just another blog?

I have just read Norman Doidge's The Brain That Can Change Itself. I can't say I have just opened my eyes to great ideas as the general ideas are not new to me - I have come to believe in them through reading stray books on psychology, eastern philosophy, through [self] observation and thinking.

Yet, the book has brought a change - my decision to explore deeper and wider the biology of psychology. My studies will, of course, involve learning more about the biology of the body, naturally tapping on "non-living" sciences like physics and chemistry. It will inevitably involve delving into the humanities and self-reflection on my artistic and sports activities, etc.

It will be just a new door to learning about everything, as I am interested in no less than everything. There might be things [like accounting] not worth learning towards my goal to know God's thoughts, but how could I know for sure at this stage of my life?

Writing has always helped me learning, so I will be writing about my "new" endeavor. I would like to share at least part of it with my sweetheart, some of my former students, so blogging seems to be the most convenient way. Why not share my journey with all who might benefit from it?

[Here's the book in Bulgarian.]