We prefer the company of people who like the same things as we do, a natural tendency that social networks put to unrestricted use. On the other hand, we don't always feel the strength to rub shoulders with the world in all its diversity. Sometimes contact with our contemporaries, who seem alienated in certain respects, seems intolerable, so we prefer to opt for solitude.
The artificial context of school, where we're surrounded by a high concentration of immature beings, doesn't necessarily foster our social development; many of us keep to ourselves. In real life, all ages are mixed together. Concentrations of older people don't produce better results. How can the school become a more socially balanced place? Is it the so-called social networks, the virtualization of our relationships or the amount of time spent on screens that increase the incidence of loneliness? It's not so easy to find the cause.
Many aspects of life are affected by loneliness, from academic success, sense of belonging and health, to violence and, more generally, loss of mental equilibrium. Imposed or suffered loneliness is very different from chosen and assumed loneliness. We can certainly reduce the burden of loneliness by combining ambition with the acceptance of help and support: we are not alone. Few people can emerge from a long period of social isolation without feeling as if they're starting life all over again! We find our meaning in our activities in relation to the world, not just with ideas or symbols.
Studying is a personal matter, but learning is an eminently social activity; we learn so that we can act in our environment. In this sense, learning enables us to integrate into our environment and be recognized for our skills and knowledge. Many single people go back to school, if only to reconnect with a socially recognized activity. You can study well on your own, away from distractions, but you can also study very well in a small, motivated and focused group. Study as a socializing factor? Of course it is!
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
