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

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Shelley Tsang 曾雯海

Isn’t learning fun?

學習不是很有趣嗎？

I absolutely love it.

我超愛學習。

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

在過去十五年間， 我是教學術寫作的教師，

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

在過去五年間，我也擔任教練。

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

我服務的對象通常是 返回學校讀書的成人，

and I really love working with these folks

我真的很喜歡和這些人一起工作，

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

因為我他們一樣也是終身學習者，

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

到目前為止，在過去 二十年間我上過三次學，

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

但我仍然記得我第一次 回到學校的情況。

I almost quit, the first semester.

在第一個學期我就差點放棄了。

By midterm, I was collapsed into this shabby chair

到了期中，我已經癱倒在

我教授辦公室角落的 一張破舊椅子上，

in my prof's office, in the corner,

in the midst of an existential crisis.

當時我正在經歷一段存在危機。

諸事皆不順。

Things were going horribly.

The seminars that I so diligently prepared for were painful.

我勤奮準備的研討會相當痛苦難熬。

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

每當我們被要求做出回應 及提出對讀數的分析時，

everyone else's responses sounded so smart.

別人的回應聽起來都比較聰明。

Mine, by comparison, seemed so basic.

相較之下，我的回應感覺相當基本。

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

然後，我收到了 我的第一份論文成績……

and I'd bombed it.

我表現超差。

Yep. (Laughs)

是的。（笑）

So there I was, in tears,

所以，我眼中含著淚水，

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

深信我是最全班

最愚蠢、最沒能力的人。

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

老實告訴各位， 我已經準備好放棄了。

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

但我其實為了重返學校， 已經投入了很多。

I had actually quit my best job to date

我辭掉了我至今最好的工作，

to pursue my dream of becoming an instructor.

去追尋成為教師的夢想。

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

所以我希望我的教授能在我做出 任何最終決定之前給我些建議。

She handed me some tissues,

她拿了些面紙給我，

and instead of agreeing with my assessment,

她沒有認同我的評估，

she told me to stick it out.

反而叫我堅持下去。

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

她說，很顯然，我的表現 並不比其他人差。

Now, I was pretty skeptical,

這讓我感到懷疑，

because all the evidence seemed to point to the contrary.

因為所有證據似乎都不是這麼說的。

But figuring she knew something that I didn't,

但我認為她知道某些我不知道的事，

I held on.

我撐下去了。

By the end of term, she was right.

到了期末，她是對的。

My grades began to improve,

我的成績開始改善，

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

我也發現我的同學 都我一樣感到壓力重重。

Needless to say, this experience has stayed with me,

不用說，這段經驗一直影響著我，

and it has informed how I teach and coach.

也是我在做教學和當教練時的參考。

I've been where my prof was

我扮演我教授當年的角色，

and said the same things to my students and clients.

對我的學生和客戶說同樣的話。

I've also learned a lot since then

從那時起，我也更了解

about the relationship between confidence and learning.

自信和學習之間的關係。

Nowadays, the mid-career professionals who come to me

現今，

有些還在職涯中的專業人士 來找我幫忙取得學術成功

for help with their academic success

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

原因是因為他們以為 自己有技能方面的問題。

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

當然，他們的技能 肯定是可以再提升。

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

但對許多人，

那並不是阻擋他們成功的主要問題。

that's getting in the way of their success.

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

真正的問題在於

他們如何看待身為學習者的自己，

and what they believe to be true about their abilities.

以及他們對於自身能力的信念。

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

這聽起來可能是很大膽的主張， 所以先讓我解釋一下。

Why aren't skills the real issue?

為什麼技能不是真正的問題？

Most of us are very capable learners.

我們大多數人都是 很有能力的學習者。

The people I work with are accomplished professionals

我合作的對象在其各自領域中 都是有成就的專業人士和專家。

and experts in their field.

They wouldn't be where they are

若他們不知道如何學習和培養技能， 他們不可能會在現今的位置。

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

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

我回學校的時候，

我已經在專業的環境中 做寫作和培訓工作數年。

in a professional context.

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

我的挑戰是要提升我的 分析和批判性思考技能。

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

一旦我意識到這個落差， 我就開始努力彌補它。

My grades began to improve.

我的成績開始提高。

I see the same thing with my students and clients.

我在我的學生和客戶 身上看到同樣的狀況。

Bridging the skill gap is easier than we think.

彌補這種技能落差 比我們想像的更容易。

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

相對很難彌補的是信心落差。

But it needs addressing

但我們得處理這個問題， 因為正是它阻擋了

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

我們在學習情境中取得學術成功。

in learning situations.

So what's going on with our confidence anyway?

所以我們的信心到底是怎麼了？ 怎麼回事？為什麼這麼困難？

What is happening? Why is it so hard?

Based on my experience,

根據我的經驗，

adults in learning situations face three main challenges.

在學習情境中的成年人 會面臨三個主要挑戰。

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

第一個挑戰

就是我們因為強烈的自我懷疑 及不確定性而感到苦惱。

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

對許多重返學校的人來說， 學習曲線真的很陡。

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

我們上一次到學校讀書

可能是數年甚至數十年前的事了。

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

我們已經有好一段時間沒有 當任何領域的初學者了。

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

突然，我們得在平台上摸索， 設法建立學習習慣，

and figure out study habits,

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

而學術寫作可說是完全不同層次的 挑戰。接著我們得批判性地閱讀。

And then, we have to read critically.

這是很大的挑戰。

It's a lot.

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

火上加油的是，當我們返回學校，

we often bring with us all the old patterns and beliefs

我們通常會帶著

關於我們是怎樣的 學習者的舊模式和信念，

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

這些都跟著我們跟了 十年，也許二十年。

about who we are as learners.

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

過去，如果我們認為 自己是較差的學生，

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

我們就已經滿腦子懷疑、 不安全感，和焦慮，

and we judge ourselves harshly right out of the gate.

且我們打從一開始就嚴格評斷自己。

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

如果你想的是：「我是 好學生，我行的」——

no, no.

不，不。

We struggle because we can set the bar unreasonably high

我們會苦惱，是因為我們 設定的標準高到不合理，

and then judge ourselves just as harshly and as quickly.

然後一樣嚴厲、 快速地評斷我們自己。

And it's difficult.

這樣很辛苦。

The second challenge that we face

我們面臨的第二個挑戰

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

就是

我們花很多時間拿自己 跟所有其他人做比較。

Now, this is a really human thing to do,

這是人的本性，

成就很高的成年人 很容易落入這個陷阱。

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

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

因為，面對現實吧，

我們會想知道我們至少跟得上 我們的同儕或甚至表現得更好。

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

But when we compare ourselves to other folks,

但是當我們將自己與他人做比較時，

it can be paralyzing,

可能會讓人很氣餒，

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

因為我們可能會陷入認為 自己不如他們的想法中。

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

當大家開始分享成績和進度 報告時，這現象特別明顯。

We can go from feeling accomplished and on top of things

我們可能會從感到 有所成和能掌控一切，

to feeling behind and confused,

變成感到差強人意和困惑， 且幾分鐘就能有這麼大的轉變。

in a matter of minutes.

And the third challenge that we face

我們面臨的第三個挑戰

is that we have a strong fear of failing.

就是我們對失敗有強烈的恐懼感。

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

大部分返回學校的人 都承擔了許多風險。

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

除了學業之外，我們還得 兼顧工作和家庭責任。

Plus, we want to do well,

此外，我們想表現出色，因為我們 去那裡通常是為了提升我們的職涯

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

or hit a career goal in some way,

或以某種方式達成職涯目標，

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

更不用說涉及到的 時間和財務投資了。

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

所以害怕失敗是可以理解的，對吧？

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

但這反而會阻擋我們 獲得我們所想要的。

So those are the challenges.

這些是我們要面臨的挑戰。

There is good news, though.

不過，還有好消息。

These can be overcome by making three important mindset shifts

我們可以克服這些挑戰，

只要我們在學習情境中能夠 做三種重要的心態轉變。

when we are in learning situations.

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

第一種轉變，

我們真的得去質疑我們大腦中

關於「我們是怎樣的 學習者」的故事。

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

每天，我們都有很多想法， 且通常不會停下來檢視它們。

Every day, we have a ton of thoughts,

and we often don't stop to examine them.

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

但若能這麼做，

就會注意到通常這些想法 其實多半都沒有幫助。

And this is especially true when we are pushing ourselves

當我們將自己推出 舒適圈時，特別是如此。

out of our comfort zone.

Our brain interprets the challenges

我們的大腦會將學習和嘗試新事物時

and discomforts that come with learning and trying new things

伴隨而來的挑戰 和不舒服感解讀為危險，

as dangerous,

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

大腦會想把我們帶到 熟悉且安全的事物中。

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

因此，它的做法就是

擴大我們所有的恐懼， 放大我們內在批評家的聲音，

and cranks the volume on our inner critic,

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

他會很樂意告訴我們 我們過去所有搞砸的事、

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

現在也沒有做到， 以及未來毫無希望。

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

我們要做的是去留意

大腦說的故事及它們發生的 原因——因為我們在成長——

because we're stretching --

and to challenge these outdated beliefs.

並去挑戰這些過時的信念。

So when we question the truthfulness and the relevance

因此，當我們去質疑我們腦中 這些故事是否真的反應出

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

我們在當前的情境中是什麼樣的人，

and choose more accurate and helpful ones,

並選擇比較正確、有助益的故事，

we can change our entire experience.

我們就可以改變我們的整個經歷。

The second shift that we need to make

我們需要做的第二種轉變

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

是我們需要在錯誤中尋找教訓。

As learners, we are going to make mistakes.

身為學習者，我們會犯錯，就是會。

We just are.

Rather than making them mean something

與其把它們連結到 我們目前或未來的能力，

about our current or our future ability,

or our self-worth, for that matter,

或自我價值，

we need to get curious and look at these setbacks

我們更應該展現好奇心， 把這些挫敗視為

as offering data that we can use to improve.

是在提供資料協助我們做改善。

And part of being curious is remembering that the mistakes

展現好奇心就包括

要切記，學習會發生在犯錯中。

are where the learning happens.

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

我們要把目標設在 進步，而不是完美。

progress, not perfection.

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

當我們能放下，不再需要

知道一切、表現完美， 及把一切做到完美，

be perfect and do it all perfectly,

we are much better able to evaluate our progress

我們就更能好好評估自己的進步，

and actually identify the skills we need to build

並實際找出

我們會需要發展什麼技能 才能實現我們所想要的結果。

for the outcome that we want.

And then finally, the third shift we need to make

最後，

我們需要做的第三種轉變

is to practice self-compassion,

是練習自我同情，

not self-criticism.

而不是自我批評。

Learning and pushing ourselves to our growth edge,

學習並將自己推到成長的 邊緣，本來就會不舒服。

it's uncomfortable work.

It's not easy.

這並不容易。

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

這就是為什麼第三種轉變 是最重要的轉變，

because it's actually the fuel for our success.

因為它其實是我們成功的燃料。

When we stop criticizing ourselves

當我們停止批評自己，

and start showing ourselves the kindness and the compassion

並開始對自己展現

我們很容易給予所有 其他人的仁慈和同情時，

that we so easily give everyone else ...

we are much more likely to take risks,

我們就更有可能去冒險，

because we create a sense of safety inside ourselves,

因為我們在自己內心創造了 安全感，知道我們可以犯錯，

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

並從中學習。

And when we remember that we're imperfectly human,

當我們記得自己是不完美的人類，

且我們的同學也是不完美的人類時，

and that our fellow students are also imperfect humans,

we’re less likely to compare ourselves to them

我們就比較不會 拿自己跟他們做比較，

and more likely to connect and collaborate with them instead.

且反而更有可能與他們連結和合作。

When we cultivate a belief inside ourselves

當我們培養一種內在的信念

and show ourselves compassion,

並對自己展現同情時，

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

我們就會增加我們面對挑戰 並從中學習的能力。

And we build the resilience and the confidence

且我也能們建立在學習情境中

that we need to succeed in learning situations.

要取得成功所需的韌性和信心。

從這個基礎上，

And from that foundation,

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

我們會更能辨識出我們擁有的技能——

and we do, by the way --

順道一提，我們是有技能的——

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

我們得磨練的技能，

以及我們需要的技能。

Closing the confidence gap enables us to reach our goals,

減少信心落差

讓我們能達成我們的目標， 感到有成就和驕傲，

feeling accomplished and proud

rather than bedraggled and depleted.

而不是疲憊不堪、精疲力盡。

My experience and my work has convinced me

我的經驗和我的工作讓我深信

that when we build a positive growth mindset

當我們能在學習情境中建立正面的

alongside our skills in learning situations,

成長心態以及技能時，

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

我們不僅會大大增加我們的成功

we uncage our fullest potential,

我們還會解鎖我們最完整的潛力，

and our possibilities for change and growth are limitless.

且我們改變和成長的可能性

就會是無限的。

Thank you very much.

非常謝謝。

(Cheers and applause)

（歡呼和掌聲）