School, Schmool

In grade school, I was very competitive. Education was about the grades and nothing else. I would always prioritize Math, Science and English over Music and Arts for the basic reason that the last two were only .6 units. That’s how the educational system made us operate, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either. Although Sir Ken Robinson’s “The Arts and Education Changing Track” was referring to US education system, it was very much like how it was in my school.

The crisis in the text lies in what I learned in my Leadership and Entrepreneurship class abroad. Creativity was given very much importance because of the ideas on leadership and innovation. In the past, Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests have been administered to predict someone’s capabilities to act as a leader. The only criterion for a good leader was the academic intelligence. Luckily, the multiple intelligences determined by Howard Gardner were given consideration. These multiple intelligences included the following: linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, musical intelligence, bodily- kinaesthetic intelligence, spatial intelligence, naturalistic intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, and intrapersonal intelligence (Smith, 2008). These intelligences that are associated with the arts and what are called 'personal intelligences’ tell us that leadership encompasses various disciplines, these make up a transformational leader (Mandell & Pherwani, 2003). With this said, no leader can be transformative just by being academically excellent. And as the text states: “the current system doesn’t need to be improved; it has to be transformed”, we are in need of transformational leaders, those who give value to imagination, creativity and innovation. Basically, it is true that although the current education system pursues creating people who will be economically competitive, it does not produce such. 

As a Communications Technology Management student, I believe that creativity is what stimulates my academic learning. I've learned to look beyond my grades because I have engaged in other fields. I have learned to actually listen and appreciate lessons because of the different approaches taken by educators. 

Sources:

Mandell, B., & Pherwani, S. (2003). RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLE: A GENDER COMPARISON. Journal of Business and Psychology , 17 (3).

Smith, M. (2008). Howard Gardner, Multiple Intelligences and Education . Retrieved January 27, 2011, from Infed: http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

What's Yours?

Date: November 12, 2010            Place: NSW, Australia

My childhood friend, Janelle, invited me to go a birthday party in the city (Sydney). Of course, the very sociable person that I am said yes to that offer. The train ride to get to Janelle’s was about three hours, I had to switch trains twice. From the university station in Newcastle called Warabrook, I had to transfer to Hamilton and then transfer again when I was in Strathfield. It was almost the end of JTA semester for me and finals week was coming up. I was deciding between spending my last few weeks focusing on studies OR making the most out of my JTA experience... I guess you’ve figured out what I decided to do. I’ve got my priorities straight! [Yes, that is sarcasm:)]

Sing-along. Back to the train ride, as I boarded the train from Hamilton, I noticed a group of young Samoans [can I just say, Samoans have nice bodies!haha. Disclaimer: they were wearing sandos]. I had around 170 minutes left to spare so I decided to sit near these youngsters, just in case they decide to be friendly. My train rides to Sydney were always with old people so you have to understand my enthusiasm for seeing people my age. After some time, they started playing songs like “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz and “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy. I was trying to sing along with them without letting them notice. I would like to think I’m a very musical person: I can TRY to sing...if I’m any good at it, that’s another story. After several songs, they started playing something I wasn’t quite familiar with. The song goes “There’s a pretty girl on the train... (something something) can’t stop looking at her...” Did I mention already how very modest I am? [Hahaha] I didn’t even bother to look around, I assumed they were singing about me [feeling, I know!]. I tried to hold it in but I couldn’t so I smiled without looking at any of them. I guess one of them saw me smiling because after that, one of them just stands up and says, “Hi! My name’s Chris, what’s yours?”

Ego-boost. I couldn’t help but giggle. It was a bit flattering [oh who am I kidding, it was very flattering] that someone would be interested in me. I felt very pretty that day [haha!]. I told him my name and he started asking questions. He noticed how my name was Christian-y. He was right: my name was actually derived from Our Lady of Lourdes. I told him about my family: I’ve got two sisters and two brothers; I’m the fourth child; I was the youngest until my brother was born seven years ago. He asked me about my age, he couldn’t believe I was only nineteen. He says I looked very mature; he wasn’t the first to say that. I guess it’s from hanging out with older people most of the time. I could be childish too though, especially when I’m hurt. Anyway, I was very friendly, as I’ve mentioned earlier, I’m quite sociable plus I don’t really mind talking to strangers when I was in Australia. I noticed that he had a rosary around his neck and a wooden bracelet with the pictures of Mary on them; he also had a tattoo. I try to notice everything. I like putting meaning into the smallest things which is probably why I tend to over think. We talked about religion for a bit because of the said bracelet and rosary, I told him how I’m part of Catholic youth organizations and how I serve at church. I couldn’t help but ask about his tattoo. I’m known to be the girl who has no filter (this translates to me being too frank, too honest and too talkative). I found out his tat was the name of his grandmother. I found it adorable, even if he thought I was judging him. I’m very open-minded even if I grew up with conservative parents. I don’t really like being judged so I don’t judge other people. I like thinking I can do whatever I want and that carpe diem is the way to live but sadly, there’s more to life that just me, myself and I. So I guess I should stop talking about myself now. :)