Meet Praxis Participant Andrew Smith

“After working for a time in both graduate school (chemistry) and part of a medical degree, I found myself enjoying the teaching roles of both (doctor originally meant “teacher”), although I was growing increasingly frustrated by the “one size fits all”, top-down approach to learning found within most of the educational establishment. I wished to engage in true self-directed learning and career development, with both the freedoms and responsibilities this would entail. At the same time, people show their genuine preferences via their free choices, and as time went on I increasingly desired to position myself within an environment where value was persuasively demonstrated, rather than asserted and imposed. As the saying goes, “put your money where your mouth is”.
One of my chief goals is to help individuals enrich their lives by showing them how to remove obstacles blocking their pursuit of happiness. To achieve true happiness, a life of meaning and virtue, typically requires some potentially difficult changes in both thinking patterns and associated habits. When I came across Praxis and examined the program, with its stated intentions of helping young professionals “break the mold,” and aiding participants in learning how to provide genuine value, I knew this was a potentially life-altering opportunity.”