Returning to School Mid-Career? Here’s What You Need To Know | Candice Neveu | TED

翻译人员: kate shi 校对人员: suya f.

Isn’t learning fun?

学习不好玩吗？

I absolutely love it.

我非常喜欢学习。

For the past 15 years, I have been an academic writing instructor,

在过去的 15 年里， 我是一名学术写作讲师，

and I've been a coach for the last five.

在过去的五年中我是一名教练。

The people that I usually work with are adults who've returned to school,

通常和我一起工作的人 是重返学校的成年人，

and I really love working with these folks

而我真的很喜欢和这些人一起工作，

because, like them, I'm a lifelong learner,

因为和他们一样， 我是一个终身学习者，

and I've been to school three times, so far, in the past 20 years.

到目前为止，在过去的 20 年中， 我已经上过了三次学。

But I still remember the first time that I went back.

但我还记得我第一次重返校园的时候。

I almost quit, the first semester.

我第一学期就差点退学了。

By midterm, I was collapsed into this shabby chair

到了期中，我崩溃的倒在了

in my prof's office, in the corner,

教授办公室角落里 这把破旧的椅子上。

in the midst of an existential crisis.

我当时正处于生存危机之中。

Things were going horribly.

事情进展得很糟糕。

The seminars that I so diligently prepared for were painful.

我辛勤准备的研讨会让我痛苦不堪。

Every time we were asked for our responses and analysis of the readings,

每当我们被要求提供答复 和对阅读内容的分析时，

everyone else's responses sounded so smart.

其他人的回答 听起来都很聪明。

Mine, by comparison, seemed so basic.

相比之下，我的似乎很普通。

And then, I got my first paper back ...

然后，我拿回了第一篇论文...

and I'd bombed it.

然后我炸了它。

Yep. (Laughs)

是的。（笑）

So there I was, in tears,

于是，我泪流满面的，

convinced that I was the dumbest, least capable person in the class.

坚信自己是班上最愚蠢，能力最差的人。

And honestly, I got to tell you, I was ready to quit.

老实说，我得告诉你， 我已经准备好放弃了。

But I had actually staked a lot on going back to school.

但我实际上在重返学校上 花了很多钱。

I had actually quit my best job to date

实际上，为了追求成为一名讲师的梦想，

to pursue my dream of becoming an instructor.

我已经辞去了 迄今为止最好的工作。

So I wanted my prof’s advice before I made any final decisions.

所以在我做出任何最终决定之前， 我想听听教授的建议。

She handed me some tissues,

她递给我一些纸巾，

and instead of agreeing with my assessment,

没有同意我对自己的评价，

she told me to stick it out.

她让我坚持下去。

And she said that apparently, I wasn't doing any worse than anyone else.

并且她说，实际上， 我的表现并不比其他任何人差。

Now, I was pretty skeptical,

现在，我非常怀疑，

because all the evidence seemed to point to the contrary.

因为所有证据 似乎都指向相反的情况。

But figuring she knew something that I didn't,

但是我相信她知道 一些我不知道的东西，于是

I held on.

我坚持了下去。

By the end of term, she was right.

到学期结束时，她是对的。

My grades began to improve,

我的成绩开始提高，

and I learned that my fellow students were just as overwhelmed as I was.

我了解到同学们其实和我一样不知所措。

Needless to say, this experience has stayed with me,

毋庸置疑，这种经历一直伴随着我，

and it has informed how I teach and coach.

它为我的教学和指导提供了依据。

I've been where my prof was

我也同我的教授一样，

and said the same things to my students and clients.

对我的学生和客户说了同样的话。

I've also learned a lot since then

从那以后，我还学到了很多

about the relationship between confidence and learning.

关于自信和学习之间关系的知识。

Nowadays, the mid-career professionals who come to me

现在，来找我帮助他们

for help with their academic success

取得学业成功的中级专业人员，

come to me because they think they have a skill problem.

大都是因为他们认为自己有技能问题。

And sure, they could use some skill-building for sure.

当然，他们肯定可以使用 一些技能培养。

But for many, that's not the crux of the issue

但是对于许多人来说，

that's getting in the way of their success.

这并不是阻碍他们成功的问题所在。

The real issue lies in how they think about themselves as learners

真正的问题在于他们如何看 待自己作为学习者，

and what they believe to be true about their abilities.

以及他们对自己能力的真实看法。

Now, this might seem like a bold claim, so let me explain.

现在，这似乎是一个大胆的说法， 所以让我解释一下。

Why aren't skills the real issue?

为什么技能不是真正的问题？

Most of us are very capable learners.

我们大多数人都是非常有能力的学习者。

The people I work with are accomplished professionals

与我共事的人都是各自领域的

and experts in their field.

出色专业人士和专家。

They wouldn't be where they are

如果他们不知道 如何学习和培养技能，

if they didn't know how to learn and build skills.

他们就不会成为现在的样子。

When I went back, I had been writing and training for several years

当我回去时，我已经在专业背景下

in a professional context.

写作和培训了好几年。

My challenge was up-leveling my analytical and critical thinking skills.

我面临的挑战是提高我的分析能力 和批判性思维。

Once I was oriented to that gap, I set about closing it.

一旦我了解了这个差距， 我就着手缩小差距。

My grades began to improve.

我的成绩开始提高。

I see the same thing with my students and clients.

我对我的学生和客户也有同样的看法。

Bridging the skill gap is easier than we think.

弥合技能差距 比我们想象的要容易。

It's the confidence gap that is much harder to bridge.

信心差距才是更难弥合的那个。

But it needs addressing

但它需要解决，

because that is what is getting in the way of our academic success

因为这是阻碍我们在学习环境中

in learning situations.

取得学术成功的原因。

So what's going on with our confidence anyway?

那么，我们的信心究竟是怎么回事？

What is happening? Why is it so hard?

究竟发生了什么？为什么这么难？

Based on my experience,

根据我的经验，

adults in learning situations face three main challenges.

处于学习环境中的成年人 主要面临着三个挑战。

The first one is that we struggle with a lot of self doubt and uncertainty.

第一个问题是，我们会在很多 自我怀疑和不确定性中挣扎。

For many of us who go back, the learning curve is really steep.

对于我们许多回去的人来说， 学习曲线确实很艰难。

It's not only been years, maybe decades, since we'd been back in school.

自从我们离开校园后， 已经过了好几年，甚至几十年。

We've spent a hot minute or two since we've been a beginner at anything.

自从我们成为初学者以来， 我们已经度过了一两分钟的热血时光。

All of a sudden, we find ourselves having to navigate online platforms

突然之间，我们发现 自己必须浏览线上平台

and figure out study habits,

并重新掌握自己的学习习惯，

and this whole academic writing thing is a whole next level.

而整个学术写作 完全进入了一个新的水平。

And then, we have to read critically.

然后，我们必须批判性地阅读。

It's a lot.

很多。

And then add to this that when we return to school,

除此之外， 当我们回到学校时，

we often bring with us all the old patterns and beliefs

我们常常会带着过去十年，

that we've been carrying for the past ten, maybe 20 years,

甚至20年来，所有关于我们 作为一个学习者身份的

about who we are as learners.

旧模式和理念。

In the past, if we thought that we were weak students,

过去，如果我们 认为自己是弱势学生，

we've already got bags of doubts and insecurities and anxieties,

我们就已经有了大包小包的怀疑， 不安全感和焦虑，

and we judge ourselves harshly right out of the gate.

我们一开始就会 对自己进行严厉的评判。

Now if you’re thinking, “I was a good student, I got this,” --

现在，如果你在想， “我是个好学生，我明白了，”——

no, no.

不，不是。

We struggle because we can set the bar unreasonably high

我们之所以挣扎，是因为我们可以 设定不合理的高标准

and then judge ourselves just as harshly and as quickly.

然后用同样严厉和迅速的方法 来评判自己。

And it's difficult.

而且这很困难。

The second challenge that we face

我们面临的第二个挑战

is that we spend a lot of time comparing ourselves to everyone else.

是，我们花了很多时间 将自己与其他人进行比较。

Now, this is a really human thing to do,

这是一件非常人性化的事情，

and it's a very easy pit to fall into for high-achieving adults.

对于自我要求高的成年人来说， 这是一个很容易陷入的困境。

Because, let's face it, we want to know

因为，面对现实吧， 我们想知道

that we can at least keep up with or do better than our peers.

我们至少可以跟上同行的步伐 或做得更好。

But when we compare ourselves to other folks,

但是，当我们将自己 与其他人进行比较时

it can be paralyzing,

那可能会麻痹我们，

because we can fall into thinking that we are less than them.

因为我们可能会 认为自己不如他们。

This is especially true when people start sharing grades and progress reports.

尤其是当人们开始共享成绩 和进度报告时。

We can go from feeling accomplished and on top of things

在仅仅几分钟内，

to feeling behind and confused,

我们可以从满满的成就感

in a matter of minutes.

到感到落后和困惑。

And the third challenge that we face

我们面临的第三个挑战

is that we have a strong fear of failing.

是我们对失败的强烈恐惧感。

Now, for most of the folks who go back, we've got a lot on the line.

对于大多数回去的人来说， 我们有很多事情要做。

We're juggling a job and family responsibilities alongside school.

我们在学习的同时 兼顾工作和家庭责任。

Plus, we want to do well,

并且，我们希望表现出色，

because we're usually there to up-level our career

因为我们通常 是为了提升自己的职业水平

or hit a career goal in some way,

或以某种方式实现职业目标，

to say nothing of the time and the financial investments involved.

更不用说所涉及的时间和财务投资了。

So being afraid of failing, well, it's understandable, right?

所以害怕失败，嗯， 这是可以理解的，对吧？

But it is an obstacle to getting the very thing that we want.

但它却是我们 与想要获得的东西之间的障碍。

So those are the challenges.

因此，这些都是挑战。

There is good news, though.

不过，也有好消息。

These can be overcome by making three important mindset shifts

当我们在学习环境中时，

when we are in learning situations.

可以通过进行三个重要的思维方式 转变来克服这些问题。

The first shift is that we really need to question the stories

第一个转变是， 我们确实需要质疑我们的大脑

that our brain is telling us about who we are as learners.

所告诉我们的关于我们学习者身份的事。

Every day, we have a ton of thoughts,

每天，我们都有很多想法，

and we often don't stop to examine them.

而且我们经常不停地审视它们。

But when we do, we notice that often most of them are really unhelpful.

但当我们这样做时，我们会注意到 其中大多数往往确实于事无补。

And this is especially true when we are pushing ourselves

当我们强迫自己走出舒适区时，

out of our comfort zone.

尤其如此。

Our brain interprets the challenges

我们的大脑将学习和尝试新事物过程中

and discomforts that come with learning and trying new things

遇到的挑战和不适

as dangerous,

视为危险。

and it wants to move us into what is familiar and safe.

它希望将我们带入 熟悉和安全的区域。

So the way that it does that is it amplifies all of our fears

因此，它的作用就是 放大我们所有的恐惧，

and cranks the volume on our inner critic,

提高我们内心批评家的音量，

who's more than happy to tell us all the ways we sucked in the past,

它很乐意告诉我们 过去我们做得有多糟糕，

how we're not doing it now, and there's no hope for the future.

我们现在做得有多差， 未来多么没有希望。

Our job is to notice these stories and why they're happening --

我们的工作就是注意这些故事 以及它们发生的原因，

because we're stretching --

因为我们正在紧张不安，

and to challenge these outdated beliefs.

并挑战这些过时的理念。

So when we question the truthfulness and the relevance

因此，当我们质疑自己在当前环境下

of the stories that we're carrying for who we are in our current context,

所背负的故事的真实性和相关性，

and choose more accurate and helpful ones,

并选择更准确、更有帮助的故事时，

we can change our entire experience.

我们就能改变自己的整个经历。

The second shift that we need to make

我们需要做出的第二个转变是，

is that we need to look for the lessons in the mistakes.

从错误中吸取教训。

As learners, we are going to make mistakes.

作为学习者，我们会犯错误。

We just are.

我们就这样。

Rather than making them mean something

就此而言，与其让它们

about our current or our future ability,

对我们当前或未来的能力

or our self-worth, for that matter,

或自我价值有某种意义，

we need to get curious and look at these setbacks

不如让我们保持好奇心 并将这些挫折视为

as offering data that we can use to improve.

提供我们可以用来改进的数据。

And part of being curious is remembering that the mistakes

好奇心的一部分就是要记住，

are where the learning happens.

错误是学习开始的地方。

And that's what we need to aim for --

这就是我们需要追求的目标 ——

progress, not perfection.

进步，而不是完美。

When we release ourselves from the need to know it all,

当我们摆脱了了解一切、

be perfect and do it all perfectly,

保持完美并完美完成所有工作的需求时，

we are much better able to evaluate our progress

我们就能更好地评估自己的进度，

and actually identify the skills we need to build

并真正确定为实现我们想要的结果

for the outcome that we want.

所需要培养的技能。

And then finally, the third shift we need to make

最后，我们需要做 出的第三个转变

is to practice self-compassion,

是练习自我同情，

not self-criticism.

而不是自我批评。

Learning and pushing ourselves to our growth edge,

学习并将自己推向成长边缘，

it's uncomfortable work.

是一项令人不舒服的工作。

It's not easy.

这并不容易。

And that's why this shift is the most important one,

这就是为什么这种转变 是最重要的，

because it's actually the fuel for our success.

因为它实际上是我们成功的动力。

When we stop criticizing ourselves

当我们停止批评自己，

and start showing ourselves the kindness and the compassion

当我们开始向自己展示我们那

that we so easily give everyone else ...

很容易给予他人的善意和同情心...

we are much more likely to take risks,

我们更有可能冒险，

because we create a sense of safety inside ourselves,

因为我们在自己内心营造了一种安全感，

that it's OK to make mistakes and learn from them.

允许自己犯错误并从中吸取教训。

And when we remember that we're imperfectly human,

而且，当我们记得自己，

and that our fellow students are also imperfect humans,

以及我们的同学也是不完美的人时，

we’re less likely to compare ourselves to them

我们就会减少与他们的比较

and more likely to connect and collaborate with them instead.

并更有可能与他们建立联系和合作。

When we cultivate a belief inside ourselves

当我们在自己内心建立信念

and show ourselves compassion,

并表现出同情心时，

we increase our ability to face challenges and learn from them.

我们就会增强我们面对挑战 和向挑战学习的能力。

And we build the resilience and the confidence

我们增强了在学习环境中

that we need to succeed in learning situations.

取得成功所需的韧性和信心。

And from that foundation,

在这个基础上，

we are better able to identify the skills we have --

我们能够更好地识别 我们所拥有的技能，

and we do, by the way --

顺便说一句，我们确实有

the ones we need to hone and the ones that we need.

需要磨练的技能和需要的技能。

Closing the confidence gap enables us to reach our goals,

缩小信心差距 使我们能够实现目标，

feeling accomplished and proud

感到成就感和自豪，

rather than bedraggled and depleted.

而不是陷入困境和精疲力尽。

My experience and my work has convinced me

我的经历和我的工作使我相信，

that when we build a positive growth mindset

当我们在学习环境中树立

alongside our skills in learning situations,

积极的成长心态和技能时，

not only do we increase our success -- like, intensely --

我们不仅可以有效地提高成功率，

we uncage our fullest potential,

还可以充分发挥自己的潜力，

and our possibilities for change and growth are limitless.

变革和成长的可能性是无限的。

Thank you very much.

非常感谢。

(Cheers and applause)

（欢呼和掌声）