What do you think? And why?

In my literature class there is this guy I have been observing (no he is not cute and no not for dating prospects, sadly). The other day our class was having a discussion and I brought up my view and he disagreed and said that he and his 30 honor student classmates hold his same opinion and therefore mine must be wrong. We have had other conflicting views and so I have been studying him and trying to figure out why he thinks the way he does, merely out of curiosity. Then today he made the claim that learning native american history is more important than knowing the past presidential history. A classmate, trying to make a point asked who the 8th president was. No one could answer. (By the way it was Martin Van Buren, who was a key organizer of the democratic party).  

I’m not saying either one is right or wrong. Who knows. But I do think I understand him more now. I think this guy takes all of his opinions and values from what he reads and studies. Where I am the opposite and take most of what I hold near and dear from my life experience. 

I wonder, what influences your morals, values, and ideas of the world? Do you learn primarily from what you have studied? Or like me have you taken in your experience in this world and molded off of that? If indeed we follow the idea that we are taught, “everything in moderation” then we need a healthy balance of the two. I myself am going to try to take in more from reading, from history and from studying. (I’m also going to try to take classes with cuter boys.)  

If you have the chance hit me up and let me know what molds you, I would LOVE to hear what others think and why they think that....and if they think there is a need for a balance.... :) my e-mail is katelyn_kooner@hotmail.com