Almost Something, Almost Everything

Fish in a Tree

There is a popular theory surrounding the American school system. It is that in schools we are all forced to do the same work, despite the known fact that everyone is different. Many people have been known to compare America's schools to an analogy. It is about a fish climbing a tree. Let's say there is a group of animals such as an elephant, monkey, polar bear, chicken, and a fish. Now, you ask all of them to do the same tasks. If you ask them to climb a tree the fish will most definitely fail that task. The monkey, however, can perform the task of climbing a tree with little to no challenge. We are all different and we are all capable of doing different things. If this is true, why does this form of education still exist?
I like to believe that this analogy applies to much more than just school. Socializing, for example. Everyone is different. Some people are carefree when it comes to speaking, some care far too much. We are all different, so why does the world force us all to communicate in order to perform necessary everyday things? At this task, I tend to identify as a fish. Those who are a monkey, however, tend to be unaware that they live in an environment made of more animals than just monkeys.

So, next time you ask someone why they are so quiet or talk negatively about quiet people please consider the fact that they are simply a fish, and I promise they are trying to climb that tree. But, if you prefer a short answer to questions such as, "why are you so quiet," I will leave you with this: I am quiet because I hate talking as much as monkeys hate listening. Until you find me a monkey who can listen I will continue to be a silent fish attempting to perform the impossible task of climbing the tree of socializing, alone and very quietly, as I am not in any interest of wasting my breath for monkeys who do not care to listen to what I have to say.