What were your first independent studies?

9 years ago

I had a fascination for animals and insects when I was a kid (still do). As a young child I would ask my mother to take me to the library and I would check out stacks of books about bees, sharks, dinosaurs, lions, bears, etc. because I was fascinated with how animals survived, communicated, and what we could learn from them.

For example, sharks interested me on so many levels. They have never found a shark with cancer. Something in their biology keeps them from getting it. Or as another example, dolphins and whales, how they communicate with one another and how intelligent they are.

Okay one more: Killer Whales are actually not whales at all, they are a different kind of dolphin! Who knew right? I'm fascinated that these mammals have their own languages too. One set of Killer Whales will have unique communication not found in another set of Killer Whales from another area.

My mind is still boggled that we discover new species of animals and insects almost daily. The world we live in is truly amazing.

RoD

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Alexa Smith Banned 9 years ago

I also studied astronomy on my own, when I was quite young, and perhaps with much of the same fascination that you felt for it, Sal.

My other "first independent study" was the game of backgammon. I learned when I was very young, and used to pester my father to buy me, and then used to pore over, all the backgammon books I could (and that was a lot of books). I think that by the time I was about 8/9, I fully appreciated that in spite of it involving rolling dice, it was a game of mathematical/probability/statistical skill.

(Gossip only: as I was mentioning to Richard the other day, I saw a clinical psychologist earlier this year, as a patient, for "proper psychometric testing" because I was concerned/interested at how "Asperger-ish" my results were, from my own online testing on interactive/educational websites, and I realised only then - in conversation with him - that all my "first independent studies" had also been very typical of those of "Asperger-ish kids". ).

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- Claude Whitacre 9 years ago
  
  How the mind works. How the brain works. It began as necessary to figure out why people were acting the way they were. I was a very slow study, in the beginning. That fascination has never left. It eventually became very useful when selling.
  
  Logic and rational thinking were always something I studied, even as a teenager..
  
  My understanding continues to evolve.
  
  As a kid, I was fascinated with reptiles. No idea how that started.
  
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- ThomM 9 years ago
  
  Anything about nature, though my independent study part was more from observation then from books. I was (and still am) also fascinated with growing plants. The concept of a giant Oak coming from a tiny acorn is for me a mind blowing thing. I have around 5 Butternut trees (Juglans cinerea) in my yard that came to be from Squirrels burying the nuts in the lawn and not finding them. After they sprouted my father carefully dug up the sprouts and planted them where they are now. I've watched those trees grow for at least 55 years now and still remember the days they where planted.
  I also learned how to tell the pH of soil by tasting it before I was 10.
  But what else is there for a boy growing up in the country to do
  
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Dan Riffle

9 years ago

In fourth grade I became obsessed with physics. I carried a college physics text book in my backpack and read it in class when I was finished with my work. Other kids looked at me funny.

At some point in fifth grade, girls started making sense to me (well, as much as they ever would anyway) and I set that book on fire and buried the ashes.

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Frank Donovan

9 years ago

I'd like to say I spent all my time on academic subjects, but as a kid I was only really enthusiastic about studying football (soccer) stats, song lyrics and learning every Monty Python sketch by heart.

Mind you, you'd be surprised how useful that's been in adult life.

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lanfear63

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Frank Donovan

I'd like to say I spent all my time on academic subjects, but as a kid I was only really enthusiastic about studying football (soccer) stats, song lyrics and learning every Monty Python sketch by heart.

Mind you, you'd be surprised how useful that's been in adult life.

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"No it isn't"

Ok Frank, if your that good, what sketch was that from?

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Frank Donovan 9 years ago

Originally Posted by lanfear63

"No it isn't"

Ok Frank, if your that good, what sketch was that from?

I've told you once.

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- lanfear63 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Frank Donovan
  
  I've told you once.
  
  .
  
  No you haven't
  
  (ok, you passed)
  
  Is this the 5 minute one or the full half hour?
  
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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by Dan Riffle

At some point in fifth grade, girls started making sense to me (well, as much as they ever would anyway) and I set that book on fire and buried the ashes.

It was actually the opposite for me. I had a girlfriend in high school. And as a senior I discovered a love for physics. So I set the girlfriend on fire, and buried the ashes.

Seriously, after training in Kung Fu for several years, I became aware that my fascination was really with the physics of it, and not really the martial aspects.

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MissTerraK

9 years ago

Mine is very hard to put into words. I don't know if the following words capture it or not, but I'll give it a shot. Other worldly, supernatural, unexplainable phenomenon...

I just always sensed there was more to the world than what we see with out naked eye so I was very interested in storms, tornadoes in particular, the solar system, dreams, visions, angels and demons, etc.

I loved books on unexplained mysteries of the world like The Bermuda Triangle, UFO's, The Lost City of Atlantis, true ghost stories, unsolved mysteries and the like.

I also read some ancient text that I can't name so as not to break any rules or get this thread deleted.

Anyway, I don't know what you'd classify that as, maybe a different dimension?

Terra

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whateverpedia

9 years ago

Originally Posted by MissTerraK

I loved books on unexplained mysteries of the world like The Bermuda Triangle, UFO's, The Lost City of Atlantis, true ghost stories, unsolved mysteries and the like.

I also read some ancient text that I can't name so as not to break any rules or get this thread deleted.

Wow. That's pretty much exactly what I was into as a young 'un as well.

Like you I also read a medieval version of an ancient collection of books, although I didn't read it from cover to cover until I was in my early 20's. I think I came to an entirely different conclusion about the collection to you though.

The conclusion I drew was reinforced by reading other texts from around the time the collection was written, as well as contemporary accounts of what was going on in the wider world at the time. Since then I've also studied the history of the organisations whose raison d'etre is based on that collection of ancient texts.

With the advent of the internet I've furthered my studies in that field, and am now quite resolute in my understanding of the subject matter.

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MissTerraK

9 years ago

Originally Posted by whateverpedia

Wow. That's pretty much exactly what I was into as a young 'un as well.

Like you I also read a medieval version of an ancient collection of books, although I didn't read it from cover to cover until I was in my early 20's. I think I came to an entirely different conclusion about the collection to you though.

The conclusion I drew was reinforced by reading other texts from around the time the collection was written, as well as contemporary accounts of what was going on in the wider world at the time. Since then I've also studied the history of the organisations whose raison d'etre is based on that collection of ancient texts.

With the advent of the internet I've furthered my studies in that field, and am now quite resolute in my understanding of the subject matter.

I continued my studies into adulthood as well and probably feel the same as you regarding those organizations whose raison d'etre is based upon that collection of ancient texts.

To me, it's more of a personal one on one sort of thing.

Terra

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whateverpedia 9 years ago

Originally Posted by MissTerraK

To me, it's more of a personal one on one sort of thing.

Terra

Good for you (no sarcasm).
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- MissTerraK 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by whateverpedia
  
  Good for you (no sarcasm).
  
  Thanks! I appreciate that, Whatever.
  
  Terra
  
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whateverpedia

9 years ago

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BENEFITS:

Name your own salary, conditions and work hours.
Work from home if you like, or even your local pub.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

Must be able to rattle off football statistics;
Know the lyrics to loads of songs;
Know every Monty Python sketch off by heart.

Send your resume, and a cover sheet highlighting why you feel you are the right person for the job (no more than seven words) to:

The Department of Irrelevant Tosh
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N.B. Due to departmental prejudices, applications will not be accepted from anyone with the surname Donovan.

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Frank Donovan 9 years ago

Originally Posted by whateverpedia

N.B. Due to departmental prejudices, applications will not be accepted from anyone with the surname Donovan.

Typical. They always get you with the small print. If it's not the name, it's the "no convicted axe murderers need apply" clause.

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seasoned

9 years ago

Well, I studied a LOT of things as a little kid, but primarily electronics. Later, that morphed into computers, though I DID want a cosmac elf when I was younger. HEY, I WAS a young kid, and computers were expensive! When the Apple II first hit markets, they actually had a 4K model! WHY? Because memory was so expensive.

Steve

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hardraysnight

9 years ago

i learnt twinkle twinkle little star by making everyone within a 10 mile radius sing it at least 10 times a day for a month

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seasoned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by hardraysnight

i learnt twinkle twinkle little star by making everyone within a 10 mile radius sing it at least 10 times a day for a month

I was SHOCKED when I heard one person play "twinkle twinkle" in a church. I never bothered to learn who wrote it! The REAL title is "Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman", and it was written by MOZART!

Mozart - Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Variations...

Steve
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travlinguy

9 years ago

I'm not sure they were studies but I was fascinated by mail order. I used to send away for stuff from ads in the back of comic books and Boy's Life. I remember how disappointed I was when I bought into the "Sea Monkeys" thing only to find out they were brine shrimp. I asked my dad how the company was allowed to blatantly lie and make up BS stories to suck in little kids. He mumbled something about getting used to it.

In time I decided I would sell stuff by mail order but by then I was a bit older than 10. My first product was a novelty/practical item that you can still buy called the Permanent Match. I took out an ad in the back of the National Enquirer. They had a huge classified section back then. I still remember the ad title: The Last Lighter You Will Ever Need. I was 12.

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BigFrank Banned 9 years ago

Ornamental tropical fish, dinosaurs, pond live from one-celled organisms to amphibians, our solar system and philately.

Cheers. - Frank
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BigFrank Banned 9 years ago

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I'm not sure they were studies but I was fascinated by mail order. I used to send away for stuff from ads in the back of comic books and Boy's Life.

I sold Cloverine Black Salve. I know you saw those ads. :-)

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- Tom B Banned 9 years ago
  
  Hmm.. I remember I was into Dinosaurs, the Solar System and Drawing/Painting. Art ended up being a passion I still carry today.
  
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  BigFrank Banned 9 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap
  
  Dinosaurs.
  
  I can't believe I forgot those. I was totally consumed for a couple of years. lol
  
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seasoned

9 years ago

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I'm not sure they were studies but I was fascinated by mail order. I used to send away for stuff from ads in the back of comic books and Boy's Life. I remember how disappointed I was when I bought into the "Sea Monkeys" thing only to find out they were brine shrimp. I asked my dad how the company was allowed to blatantly lie and make up BS stories to suck in little kids. He mumbled something about getting used to it.

In time I decided I would sell stuff by mail order but by then I was a bit older than 10. My first product was a novelty/practical item that you can still buy called the Permanent Match. I took out an ad in the back of the National Enquirer. They had a huge classified section back then. I still remember the ad title: The Last Lighter You Will Ever Need. I was 12.

Don't you love that! They could as easily have been BACTERIA! Animals that were SO small and looked NOTHING like monkeys, or the portrayal on the package. SUPPOSEDLY the only real commercial use is as FOOD for some fish. But they later did something WORSE with ROCKS! I went to a highschool that was VERY near where they were likely harvested.

Steve

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discrat 9 years ago

Baseball Cards
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Claude Whitacre

9 years ago

Originally Posted by travlinguy

I'm not sure they were studies but I was fascinated by mail order. I used to send away for stuff from ads in the back of comic books and Boy's Life. I remember how disappointed I was when I bought into the "Sea Monkeys" thing only to find out they were brine shrimp. I asked my dad how the company was allowed to blatantly lie and make up BS stories to suck in little kids. He mumbled something about getting used to it.

In time I decided I would sell stuff by mail order but by then I was a bit older than 10. My first product was a novelty/practical item that you can still buy called the Permanent Match. I took out an ad in the back of the National Enquirer. They had a huge classified section back then. I still remember the ad title: The Last Lighter You Will Ever Need. I was 12.

Oh, Man! I forgot all about that. Yes, as a young teenager, I bought every Melvin Powers book on mail order. I sold comic books in magazines, then I sold Anoles (chameleons). I would buy them for a quarter each... by the hundred, and sell them 2 for $4 from classified ads. I made money at it too. I would catch preying mantis' locally, and sell them as pets. The same with baby turtles.

I would buy wholesale directories, buy some hunting or fishing gadget, and sell them through the mail from classified ads. I tried direct mail, unsuccessfully (in an incredibly amateurish way). But classified ads in magazines were how I made a living.

Yeah, the sea monkeys and the X Ray Specks were a real disappointment.

But I had a real mail order business going from my bedroom for a few years.

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Kay King

9 years ago

From the first things I remember my curiosity and interest was for animals, nature, plants, trees, flowers.

When I think of the number of hours I spent just thinking about things - and imagining things and investigating stuff - I'm so glad I had to entertain myself rather than having a bunch of gadgets to fill my every waking moment.

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HeySal

9 years ago

Out of thanks. Not ready to go home, though.

Originally Posted by Kay King

From the first things I remember my curiosity and interest was for animals, nature, plants, trees, flowers.

When I think of the number of hours I spent just thinking about things - and imagining things and investigating stuff - I'm so glad I had to entertain myself rather than having a bunch of gadgets to fill my every waking moment.

Isn't that the truth? Now days if the kid isn't stuck on technology, they are hauled off to preschools where every minute of their time is regimented for them - they never learn to think or imagine. I think preschool should be outlawed even if we have to subsidize moms to stay at home and raise their kids again. We'd probably have to subsidize those kids less as adults. They have to have time to be alone and in their own minds.

I remember not ever daring to say I was bored to my mother. I had a playroom full of toys and books, around 1000 acres to play in out back, and from the age of 6, a library card and a library less than one mile walking distance (yeah, we were taught how to cross streets safely, too, unlike today's bovine kids that just walk out in front of moving cars). I just read an article that said that the average kid today can't identify 10 indigenous plants or animals. I find that a very disgusting state of affairs.

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Kay King 9 years ago

I find that a very disgusting state of affairs.

I find it frightenin and I think we're already seeing some results of that upbringing in a technical age.

We have people promoting causes without understand what they're talking about....we have an EPA totally out of whack and on a mission to control as much of the country's natural resources as possible but for the purpose of control not for sustainability.

We have little outcry over hackers who reveal personal information in an attempt to stop someone from releasing a certain movie they don't approve of.

The less people are exposed to nature and animals - the less they understand or care. You can scream global warming all you want - but if you can't identify wildlife habitats...what does it matter anyway?
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Kurt 9 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

Oh, Man! I forgot all about that. Yes, as a young teenager, I bought every Melvin Powers book on mail order.

Just because you read about me doesn't mean you actually have the Melvin Powers. Be nice or I'll use my Melvin Powers on you.
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sbucciarel

Banned 9 years ago

I loved chemistry. Had to have a chemistry set and microscope for Christmas and went into mad scientist mode for a good while.

Also read on my own a lot of books on psychology. I read, and still do, a lot and psychology has always interested me.

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Rod Cortez

9 years ago

The paranormal also fascinated me as a young boy. I read books about ghosts, witches, unexplained phenomenon, UFOs, etc.

I never believed in any of that stuff until I had first hand experiences with the paranormal. I have no doubt there are other dimensions out there that we can't see or hear.

RoD

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Carltonuckner12

9 years ago

You don't need permission to do independent study, but you have to notify the school district and they need to be satisfied that the child is getting an adequate education according to their standards. You will probably have to sign up with a recognized home-study school. Some school districts have provision for this within the public school system, in which case it is free. If you go with a private organization, you will have to pay for it.

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WalkingCarpet

Banned 9 years ago

Female anatomy.

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tagiscom 9 years ago

I suppose Dinosaurs as well, and computers, video games, and Lego!

Science, art, blah, blah, blah!

Chess, well l got a chess computer around that time, and got to level 2, after a few years. I think that l still have it, but it is broken!

Yes, chess, video games were the two top ones. I was seriously into model building as well!
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barbling

9 years ago

Carnivorous plants.

Soap carving.

Antique books (loved books by Ernest Thompson Seton and Albert Payson Terhune).

Good days those.....

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AprilCT 9 years ago

Art - drawing friend's faces and horses. Maybe I should have pursued that further, but didn't. I loved to sew, my mother got a sewing machine and I was just fascinated with making clothes and made a lot of really good clothes through the years, even formal gowns for school dances. My dad bought me a microscope for Christmas one year and a chess set. Those both also held my interest for a good while. I still have the chess set and the microscope, but I can't remember when I last used them.
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What were your first independent studies?

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