No, I don’t want to turn this into some sensational piece about declining school systems.

When something doesn’t make sense, it’s easy to look at it and think that it is just a collection of random rules. Unfamiliar topics look incomprehensible, so naturally we miss the structure behind them. This doesn’t mean that the structure isn’t there. It’s simply that you can’t see it because you don’t understand the topic well enough.

I am keenly aware that we live in a culture that likes things to be optimized. We are bombarded with messages of the finiteness of our time, which makes us seek activities that will give us the greatest return on our time. (Just that phrasing should set off alarm bells.) We aren’t supposed to “just” have hobbies. Our hobbies should boost the rest of our life in some way. Furthermore, we should engage in hobbies that we can be excellent at. Doing something just for fun is okay, but it is encouraged to participate in activities which push you to your limits.

If you’re like me, chances are you have felt like you aren’t doing enough. Maybe that means not studying enough in school, or perhaps it means not doing enough extra-curricular activities. Maybe you do have hobbies, but you feel like you need to do more.