Journey Through Exploration

By Chris (Age 15, Canadian International School)

Learning is an experience of creativity and innovation into one's mindset. Right-brain training has always been the crucial learning component in Hong Kong's learning society. It is a system designed for many local students ever since kindergarten and primary school. However, is memorizing and sticking to the textbook learning style the most suitable and adequate system for our next generation? Having been to both local and international schools, I was fortunate to experience both of the systems and really grasp how different it is to learn in an environment where the student could really explore into his/her own mindset and search for chances beneficial for themselves.

Learning is not about memorizing and storing as much information as you can at the youngest age possible. Learning is a process in which the student has to spend time and explore what is the most constructive and applicable path for him/herself. Seeing thousands of parents signing their one-year old baby for reading and memorizing classes is an utterly dreadful scene. Under the Chinese culture in which "doing what the majority is doing is the safest path", many parents are blindly sending their child to these right-brain training courses without considering what the true meaning of learning is. Is doing what the others are doing always the best possible way? No, indeed it is an extremely dangerous influence on our next generation. Do all of our sons and daughters have to be doctors and lawyers? There are thousands of careers our there waiting to be explored, and the most appropriate method for students is to let them discover for themselves under the guidance and assistance of parents and teachers.

What is the biggest advantage teenagers have over adults and "experienced" workers? Creativity. Young teenagers have the courage and mindset to present their new ideas and express their creativity. It is a crucial step for parents and teachers to open doors for these phenomenal concepts to enter society. We should take advantage of this value in order to create and advance in our community. Making your child memorize and try to read out words at such a young age is actually limiting their aesthetic skills because they will become so adapted to memorizing the textbook and storing information they are given instead of being innovative.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Comprehending the concept while learning is a much more vital and useful concept compared to memorization and "flash card" reading. Through the videos of third-brain training, one may witness how effective this method of teaching is for young children. However, in contrast, I pity these children who were forced to do all this learning. Without doubt, I've also experienced similar learning methods when I was young. Right-brain seems to be an attraction for parents in Hong Kong due to the fact that one may do better on tests and exams with superior memorization. However, as I grew up and realized how poor my memorization skills are, I struggled to keep up with my classmates. There was no way out of this maze. This situation continued until I was fortunate enough to meet a teacher who emphasized to me how important it is to understand the concept instead of trying to memorize everything. What can a one-year old child do with all these words and vocabulary in their brain? What could they accomplish by reading the newspaper if they don't even have the experience and knowledge to understand the news? Flashcard reading and exceptional memorizing skills are nothing more than just a fascinating scene for parents.

One may argue that letting a child choose his/her own freedom might weaken discipline and it may end up in failure. This is true, but only true if the parents and the environment give a negative influence on the child. Through proper guidance and monitoring, a teenager can still have a lot of freedom to choose his/her own career and explore with creativity. Younger generations will not be young forever. They will have to grow and be independent, allowing them some space to make choices for themselves. A good mother will not do everything she could do to prevent her child from falling, but will watch her child fall and help the child stand up again until they stop falling.

"When everyone out there is a square, you want to be the cube." - Brian Lee

Your mind is sitting right above you, whether you take the initiative to explore it and take the chance to express your ideas is up to you. Right-brain training and flashcard memorization for children as young as one-year old is a negligent action. Learning is a process which can be tiring and discouraging, but teenagers have the choice to seek out a career which they enjoy and love. With proper education and guidance, a child could succeed while being creative and passionate for learning. Be creative, be different.

Carpe diem.