Hayley's education

[stevemacdonald]

If not for her brilliant career Hayley would probably be in her second year at a university studying up a storm. Her intellectual curiosity would take her into all sorts of learning experiences and lay the groundwork for admirable future accomplishments.

Is her lack of a college experience going to limit her in some way? Well-rounded though she is, her education is specific to the music business and hasn't included much of the socialisation and critical-thinking development that the university would furnish.

I'm not suggesting that her judgement is deficient or that she hasn't cultivated a sophisticated outlook on the world, but the fact is, nothing beats a good formal education for getting the most out of life.

If mainting her image is a concern, should could enroll at Columbia or Stanford in the USA and blend in with the other high-profile students quite easily and still pursue her career, albeit in less spectacular way. I think she would treasure the experience forever.

[roger]

Hi Steve,

When someone has a natural gift as special as Hayley's, I think it is less important to attend university than it might be for someone who does not have that gift. I feel sure that the experiences that Hayley has enjoyed whilst fulfilling her dream to be a singer, more than compensate for those which she has missed out on by not furthering her education.

If Hayley had not accepted the opportunities that came her way, she may never have had another chance. I think the suggestion that she could, one way or another, have pursued both is impractical. From what I know of her schedule and the lifestyle that comes with it, there is no way she could dedicate even a small part of her time to anything else. If she tried, she would probably not do terribly well at either.

I don't suppose Hayley took the decision to pursue her singing career lightly and no doubt she discussed her options with her parents and others. The outcome may not have been right for everyone but I feel sure it was right for her. Hayley has often said that, if she was doing anything else, she would regret the fact that she wasn't singing. That, I think, says it all.

Roger

[comet]

Hi Folks

Hayley is a singer. I don't believe it is or was a choice.
It was just unavoidable (destiny) if you like.
There are few better examples of "a singer" anywhere in the world.

What else would she do, when she excels at singing ?

Would college make her a better singer ?
I doubt it.

comet

[Dave]

stevemacdonald said:

...the fact is, nothing beats a good formal education for getting the most out of life.

But Hayley HAS had a good, formal education - to High School standard anyway; it's only the advanced levels and University she's missed out on. Given the chance that she had in her mid teens, and with her passionate interest in singing and obvious ambition, I think the 'course' she embarked upon was the most sensible one possible. Few people in her situation and with her interests would have thrown away the opportunity of a lifetime.

I see Higher Education as a means to an end... not as some people seem to think an end in itself. If you can skip the means and get to the end quicker, I am all in favour of it.

If I may paraphrase the quote (well more than paraphrase it! ):

"Nothing beats a good solid career with prospects and a very good chance of making a million before you are thirty." But it all depends on your point of view.

Dave

[stevemacdonald]

One of the major benefits of attending college -- some would say as important as the education itself -- is socialising with people your own age from many different backgrounds, making lifelong friends along the way. I think it would behoove Hayley to hang out with her peer group of gifted young people in their quest for knowledge, purpose and meaning.

I think there's still time for Hayley to immerse her in such a social environment where she can be completely herself while she's still discovering herself. I don't know that her full-time pursuit of a career affords her that luxury.

[timj]

Hayley,
Follow your heart, that's who you answer to when you get older.....TimJ

[Stephany]

I'm not sure the current school system would fit Hayley's profile and personality.
I don't think it's that important for her to attend university given her talent. As for socialising, what can we say? She has already met an impressive list of people around the world - and I don't mean stars or anything - but down-to-earth fans, families and individuals from all parts of the earth. She has visited most places worlwide and she has probably achieved more in a few years that she would have done in a lifetime; even by attending university.

[Russ]

I think Hayley made the right move and grasped her music career by the horns. I mean, it may well be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and one that when presented to any one of us here, would be very hard to resist and foolish to turn down.

HOWEVER...

By the same token, she's missing out on what it is to be a teenager and the transformation into a young adult. It's almost as if she skipped this entire transformation and suddenly became the adult Hayley we see today. College (or University), in my experience, isn't just about learning out of a book. Heck, I probably forgot most of what I learned there. What I remember and treasure the most are the relationships that I forged with my peers and my professors along the way. Hanging out with my friends, going to dances & parties, engrossing myself in deep conversations with my professors, late night studying with fellow classmates (and the subsequent hilarity that ensued), befriending people from different countries and cultures, dating, falling in love, etc. are all things that I will cherish for all eternity, and has made me a much better person.

In a way I am happy for Hayley, that she has done so well for herself and is surely striving towards the goals she has set for herself, but in a way I feel sad that she had to give up so much in order to get where she wants to be. In the end, I guess you can't have everything, so do what you can to make yourself happy!




"I've looked at life from both sides now" ...By Russ!! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif


Russ

[fusilier23]

There will always be time later to go back, after things cool down or settle down. Supposedly you have to be at least 25 to try enrolling at the UK universities as an "exceptional student" and who knows what will happen in five years?

[Stephany]

russcj7 said:

What I remember and treasure the most are the relationships that I forged with my peers and my professors along the way. Hanging out with my friends, going to dances & parties, engrossing myself in deep conversations with my professors, late night studying with fellow classmates (and the subsequent hilarity that ensued), befriending people from different countries and cultures, dating, falling in love, etc. are all things that I will cherish for all eternity, and has made me a much better person.

You have a point there, Russ. I totally understand what you're saying, but I'm sure Hayley doesn't regret it at all given she does every day what she enjoys the most in life : singing.

[stevemacdonald]

stephany said:

... You have a point there, Russ. I totally understand what you're saying, but I'm sure Hayley doesn't regret it at all given she does every day what she enjoys the most in life : singing.

Too bad it has to be such a total commitment to career at an age when she could just as happily be swept up into the fine mental challenges and fascinating personal encounters that a college student experiences in abundance. Let's not forget that there is a lot of money at stake in keeping her right where she is, singing, recording and touring. She made the decision to go this way long before she could consider it from an educated perpective. Luckily, she seems content as an artist doing what she loves and perhaps this was the best decision possible for someone so extraordinarily capable. I just wonder if she felt she'd be letting everybody down had she opted for more of the traditional rites of passage.

[Richard]

Hello Steve and everybody!

I'm totally convinced that Hayley made the right decision to concentrate on her singing career. She has also shown a firm commitment to children's charities, particularly UNICEF, and she knows how to use her fame to the benefit of less fortunate people. Should she be forced to give up singing at some time in the distant future, there are now plenty of options open to her thanks to her ever-growing experience in the music business, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[roger]

stevemacdonald said:

I just wonder if she felt she'd be letting everybody down had she opted for more of the traditional rites of passage.

Yes, she might. More importantly, she would be letting herself down.

As things stand, she always has the option to change direction and go to university if she wants to. Had she done that in the first place, the opposite move would almost certainly not have been an option - and she knows it.

Roger

[Mark]

Hi everyone

This is a very interesting topic. Having read the comments so far, I can see positive and negatives from both sides. In my mind, I am sure Hayley has done absolutely the right thing in following her career, rather than taking time out, maybe missing the moment, in order to go through "the university experience".

However, I followed the same route as Hayley, having left school at age 16 - I had my own business by age 20 and was very adult for my age (so I was told). Whilst most people of my age at the time were still in education, partying, socialising etc, I was running a business. Now in my 40's though, I sometimes can't help thinking that missing this stage of my life out (in other words becoming an adult whilst still a teenager) has effected me in some way. All in all though, I don't regret my choice.

Perhaps it is only later in life when you can tell if you made the right decisions in your youth . You can only do what feels right at the time and I am sure that Hayley is absolutely right to take the road she has given her emense talents.

Best regards
Mark

[grant]

I feel that, initially, Hayley was just doing what she enjoyed. With her amazing talent , family support and early talent quest success, it was inevitable. Almost as though everyone knew she was someone special and just directed her to her destiny.

Hayley has always said she loves what she does and wouldnt be happy doing anything else. OK, she has missed out on some of the fun of growing up, but just look at the fun she's had anyway!

As for a university education; I'm not sure that's the answer for everyone. She could choose to do a degree course when she decides to "slow down" but will that be necessary? In her short career so far she has had the sort of grounding in life that most of us can only dream about.

In a recently posted article, she admits to being lonely living on her own when she is not singing. Hopefully, when she eventually finds a place of her own and spread out some roots, she will make more friends.

For my money, Hayley is exactly who she wants to be and knows exactly where she is going in life.

God bless you Hayley!!

Grant