On Education

I firmly believe that education is the very best and most accessible social leveller. Those who are educated are those who will go far and fast, and, despite our rapidly increasing international access to education, a truly educated perspective remains immensely valued. To my mind, there are two types of education, formal and independent, and both are equally invaluable and utterly necessary in our present day and age.

Many girls here go on a great deal about the value of formal education and they’re absolutely right to do so. Simply holding a degree as a woman earns you an enormous amount of respect amongst certain types and, to speak frankly, it’s rapidly becoming a necessity in our world now to hold a Bachelor’s degree at the very least. I vehemently disagree with those who say that a university degree is unnecessary, rather it’s more necessary than ever these days; a degree from an institution with a good name behind it will open doors you never knew existed, I’m continuously surprised by the power my C.V. holds by itself and the opportunities which have opened up to me because of where I’ve studied. The university experience gives you a holistic skillset and understanding that you’ll never be able to replicate elsewhere in its entirety—you need to be educated and you need to hone those skills in forming your own arguments and opinions, you need to be able to read a great deal within a short space of time and meet strict deadlines, and you need to know how to socialise with a wide variety of people from all walks of life.

With that said, you also need to be able to educate yourself and teach yourself new skills, simply going to university will do nothing for you if you can’t also learn new things in your own time and keep everything in motion. It’s important to be constantly learning about the world around you, making your own observations and drawing your own conclusions, and it’s important that you have knowledge and skills outside of your formal specialisations, too—you must be well-rounded. I think that anyone who is looking to go anywhere needs to have a basic and broad knowledge of history, of science, of current affairs and business, of literature and art; you need to speak foreign languages and understand human psychology, you need to be able to play a few card games and know how to properly discuss sports. You can’t just laugh along nervously when those around you mention, say, Willy Brandt or the Opium Wars, you need to actually have a handle on what’s going on and be able to contribute intelligently in order to be taken seriously by anyone at all.

More Posts from Smartmouthleila and Others

smartmouthleila

2 years ago

Opening up to someone and being vulnerable seems great on paper but looking into their eyes and opening that door to that dark room in your mind. It feels like labor pains.

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smartmouthleila

1 year ago

I agree 100 percent, they need to pay because all she did was give them exactly what they wanted and it's still not enough. They literally just want to consume her whole and it's getting on my nerves.

jiwon is literally innocent in all of this...

her dad is the only good person in her life and he died

her best friend... has been plotting her downfall from the jump. a true OP... like she was TAKING A NAP ON THE BUS nd sis sat down next to her... stole her wallet and then pretended to find it and come to her rescue.

jiwon needs to hook up with my girl from the glory cus the revenge needs to be even more dramatic. we gotta stop pulling punches. put them hoes in the ground

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smartmouthleila

2 years ago

Someone posted this in my discord chat the other day and I’ve been thinking about it nonstop bc this girl is the most correct girl I’ve seen in far too long and she’s right!

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smartmouthleila

10 months ago

I'm crying real tears you guys🥲that ending😱wtf!? Neuman!? Grace!? Kimikooooooo!!!!!! Noo noooooo😭😭😭😭😭

Wtf happened to Ashley?! Ryan!? I am literally screaming because wtf, wtf, wtf

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smartmouthleila

7 months ago

Why is everyone talking about how hot James McAvoy is, where are the think pieces dissecting the absolute train smash that movie was. So many unnecessary bad choices by the hunted and poor Ant at the end...

The Nara Smiths of this World

I'd like to begin with saying in no way, shape, or form, will I be bashing the beautiful Black woman, wife and mother, Nara Smith. I actually aspire to be like her.

I also prefer content and media (both digital and physical) that cater to the life I have been creating for myself:

Led by God

With a God-fearing man (soon to be my fiancé - then husband, God-willing),

As a wife and mother,

While having the time and ease to do things that bring me peace and happiness like basking in the sun, working out, creating dinner experiences, rolling in academia - simultaneously having a career with a lower tempo, hints my transition from one career field to another (another post for another day).

I love watching her content, especially all of the dishes she makes from scratch.

But what upsets me, are the Black women that make a mockery of her lifestyle and make the excuse like "who wants to be a traditional wife" or "ain't nobody got time for all of that" and people saying that her lifestyle is unrealistic.

Lets be real.

A lot of women who bash Nara Smith are jealous.

Nara Smith is a young woman who is also a model, married, with two children and a third on the way.

Besides being a model, what about my previous statement is unrealistic or unattainable?

"Well who makes everything from scratch like that?!"

Everyone outside of the United States of America, darling.

I implore all the women who read my blog to please travel outside of the United States. Everyone makes everything from scratch and not only is it healthier, it taste amazing.

My first experience in Europe was the Summer of 2017, as an intern at the University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

While interning, I also traveled to Germany and Amsterdam.

During my tenure in Europe, I walked everywhere, used public transportation (it was clean, on time and efficient if I may add), went to people's homes where they made their authentic dishes and simple ones from scratch - while simultaneously losing 15lbs, and not on purpose.

Making your desired entrees from scratch versus using products that are processed and already made with preservatives are better for your health. Not only do you taste the difference but you will feel the difference.

Back to the point of women being jealous of Nara Smith's more traditional lifestyle and leisure:

The unfortunate truth of this - speaking as a Black woman with real Black Women experiences - so many Black women are truly perturbed by Nara's choice to take the time to cater to her children, household and husband as she does.

I think most of this disturbance comes from the fact that as Black women, we're told from early youth to work so hard and earn so many accolades where we do not need a man/husband and to not submit to the idea of motherhood and marriage until you receive every possible degree, award and accomplishment - which turns into us working just as hard as men to achieve a certain status, settling down in our mid 30s, yikes!

I have recently transitioned from one career field to another due to my desire to not only become a wife, but a mother.

But not an overworked wife who does not have time to cater to herself, household and husband, but a mother who has the time to be as hands-on as possible, make dinner, be a part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), etc.

This was my reality as a child. My parents were married; My father had a career that pulled him away sometimes but he was the providing a comfortable life for my mother, sister and I. My mother chose to have an at-home daycare so she can make my sister and I breakfast in the morning, be home to receive us after school, help us with our lessons, and put us to sleep. She was intentional with her career choice so she could cater to herself, take care of her home and her family.

And there is nothing wrong with a woman choosing to still work to have some independence, but choosing a career that is not as demanding that she sacrifices her family for it.

I brought all of this up due to conversations I had with women in my previous line of work who tried to convince me that I could "have it all" as they like to say: meaning that I could have the demanding career and title, be married, and have children.

Anyone who knows me personally, knows that I am extremely observant. During the last four years in my career field, I paid attention and listened quite carefully to the women who had children in both orthodox and unorthodox manners. The women who were married, with a child or children said all of the following:

"There was a time I spent a year away from my child, leaving them at three months of age."

"I was on my feet working just to go home and still be working."

"I got divorced because he couldn't understand that I wanted a certain level of success and being at home would not push me towards that goal."

"I don't even have time for myself."

"I have missed so many important moments."

Mind you, there's more. And I'm not saying that you cannot be married, with children and have a demanding career. I just believe it is irresponsible for older career woman to perpetuate the narrative that you can have 100% of everything all at the same time - when it's not true. Something or someone is going to be neglected.

So when I chose to transition out of my previous occupation, all of these women kept trying to persuade me to stay, but then I looked at their lives, it was not what I wanted:

Woman 1: Divorced with a boyfriend, three children (two different fathers) - spent months at a time away from her children, struggles with being feminine; Top of the food chain at work.

Woman 2: Married closer to 40, one child, lives a flight away from her husband to keep her demanding career, spends weeks away from her son.

Woman 3: Divorced, two children, sleeping around (with people we know) and the joke of our department, falls in love fast, one son has joined a gang, ex-husband is in-and-out of jail; Has worked for our organization for 15 years.

Woman 4: Left her newborn after two months to take a position in another country for a year, marriage suffered tremendously, also another "big dog" for the organization.

Now, as a woman who wants the lifestyle I already described in the paragraphs at the beginning of my piece, are these stories that I would want to emulate?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

I won't go as far as saying that this is every woman's reality who has a demanding career, but even the women who stay married and have children have also told me that their marriage suffered tremendously and there is a closeness they lack with their children.

And again, that statement is not for the totality of working woman, but it's a shared experience of most.

When I told multiple women that I am ready to be a wife and a mother I was told I would regret it.

I don't and I won't.

I've had a job since I was 16; I have dated, traveled, lived in the city and suburbs on my own, and my truest desire is to live a life of leisure and peace, with my future husband and children.

So, for the girlies who are ready to settle down, leave the busy careers behind, do it!

Side bar - I just turned 26, I want to have my first child before 30 (and after I am married of course).

And do not, I repeat, DO NOT allow people's opinions, especially your Black female peers (it is what it is), to dissuade you from the lifestyle you truly desire, because they are the same women who complain about how miserable they are because of their choices, and misery loves company.

Choose your family, choose love, choose yourself.

With Love,

Sarah Chanel

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smartmouthleila

1 year ago

Cannot believe no matter how many times I watch the hunger games it still manages to make me so.

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (2023) Dir. Francis Lawrence THE HUNGER GAMES (2012)

THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES (2023) dir. Francis Lawrence THE HUNGER GAMES (2012) dir. Gary Ross THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE (2013) dir. Francis Lawrence

(insp.)

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