As we go through life collecting information about the world around us, we do our best to function within the restrictions of what we have learned. Attending school for twelve or even twenty years will never fully prepare anyone for all the additional experiences that they will encounter. The knowledge received outside the classroom is what surrounds us every day, it is that knowledge which is compiled, sorted, reevaluated and compressed to form the person you are today.

The idea of choosing what we believe and understand may not be as open as we thought. Based on the information available at the time, everyone knew without question that the earth was flat, just look how long it took for the true facts to emerge. Keep this in mind when evaluating everyone you encounter because limiting yourself to only a small fraction of information could prevent you from getting to know a deeply motivating person.

Reaction to new or different concepts outside someone's general knowledge can either be welcomed with exuberance or feared to the point of violence. The human brain can be a major stumbling block when it comes to assimilating new information if the neurons are underdeveloped. Fearing things we do not understand is quite common and usually results in the fight or flight reaction. Having the proper and more complete knowledge helps an individual to look past their first perception of any situation.

There are other factors that affect the learning process as well. Ideas and view points of a community may influence an individual with misinformation which can lead to hate crimes. If someone is violently mistreated because of a life style outside the accepted range of the community's ability to understand, it is silently tolerated in an effort to stabilize the community's comfort zone. Laws were not established to punish, but to educate the masses on how to live peacefully with one other. When even a small group of individuals begin to feel they have the right and it's their duty to punish someone for being different, our entire social structure begins to break down.

As mankind continues to evolve into a greater awareness, we will better understand the limitations of the human brain and how to overcome them. In time, when we see somebody who becomes outwardly angry and aggressive, we will begin to see them as someone with undeveloped neurons due to a lack of knowledge on how to deal with the given situation. Their own perception will begin to change as well, by knowing that acts of aggression are viewed not as a show of strength but as a sign of mental adolescence. They will seek out an alternate method of dealing with the problem.

In today's world it is perceived that if you are going to see a psychiatrist, it's a sign of mental instability. Someday a psychiatrist may be looked upon as more of a teacher, giving us lessons on how to understand and work through difficult situations. Scientists may achieve a much greater insight on how specific chemicals react with each person's biological makeup, giving us additional tools for a better life. With this constant search for a greater awareness, comes the knowledge that it is possible to reach what once was thought of as impossible.

Perception is what molds us, drives us and more often than not, holds us back. Our perception of life is formed from the knowledge collected as we pass through each and every day. When fear becomes the main focus, life comes to a stand still, frozen in time, waiting and hoping for a painless end to the mind numbing pit of despair. Change your perception, and you change your future. Know that change is possible, and with that one thought, it becomes accomplished.

Sara Fenwick