EFFORTLESS PERFECTION & THE MYTH OF THE Independent Scholar

I went to orientation today, and the keynote speaker, Cheryl I. Harris, talked about the myth of the independent scholar. This idea perpetuates that students are put-together– the idea of “fake it till you make it.” Before I started college, I remember hearing about the idea of “effortless perfection.” People (and girls, in particular) felt this pressure to perform academically, go work out, look great, bake cookies, be a good friend, and on and on… all the while looking free of struggle, worry, or anxiety.

Harris challenged this myth because ultimately, our best learning does not happen independently. We need not only our notes and our understanding, but other people’s input, reflections, voices, and challenges to make sure we are grasping material. Sometimes that will happen through study groups being formed, but at other times, that also means that we have to be vulnerable and “look stupid” by asking questions.
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The values of individualism and self-sufficiency are direct threats to asking for help, because it requires admitting that you need someone else. Dr. Harris is right, of course, with the importance of learning with and from others. The context of understanding, creating, growing cannot happen in a vacuum.