What does my poem, “A Degree of Confidence” mean? It asks the question, “Where does confidence come from?”
When a person is interested in a subject, their interest causes them to act in a way that helps them to better understand and further their desire to learn about the subject. As they gain knowledge and experience concerning that interest, their confidence as well as their experience with the subject becomes more familiar and thus more enjoyable.
This is the way education in your chosen subject grows as well. But often with learning comes a sense of power or control within that learning that is tempered by reality.
For example, if a student were to study human nature, or psychology, philosophy, religion and so on, their knowledge may give them a sense that what they learn is the whole picture.
If you apply a set of rules, or steps, or points etc., the solution will pop-up and you have learned how to deal with those who are your “patients” or “clients” etc. They fit nicely into those preconceived rules.
Now if those who are now graduating in their chosen field approach that field with the attitude above, they soon realize that the reality of what they will deal with is far different than what the textbook has so neatly laid out.
A DEGREE OF CONFIDENCE
A Degree, ~ like confidence
Ignites the match
~ The lantern is lit ~
The shadows of the Pathway of Life
Give way to a bright, new future
Graced as it were
With that ~ youthful exuberance,
That opulence ~
Of yet another mind
In the expansion mode of
Unbounded ~ limitless vision
~ Triumphantly Proclaiming ~
The idealism yet untested
By the waters of reality
An’ thus held in check
By the floodgates of
~ Life’s Own Experiences ~
© PATRICK M. SHAY