Milton once claimed "Confidence imparts a wondrous inspiration to its possessor.--It bears him on in security, either to meet no danger, or to find matter of glorious trial." Confidence here I remind you is not to be miss-defined as arrogance. Confidence is indeed something that must be built, and a long term project it is. I do not mean an empty hollow confidence which is merely a facade. I am referring to knowing that you can trust yourself, that in a tight situation you have the ability to overcome it, no matter what it may be.
In my classes which started recently, I was quickly reminded of of how little true confidence there is in these students. They go about perfectly fine in their own small world with their own small friends. I'm talking about high school students who look well enough at a quick glance. Really, they are talking to each other and getting average grades and paying average attention to the teacher, but is that true confidence? I see a lack to critical thinking and logic. They are like walking computers programed with specific responses to specific questions so they can pass the standardized problems in life. Every once in a while I see one of them faced with and problem outside their small comfort zone, and just like a PC (sorry I couldn't resist my inner nerd) they crash. They crash back onto their parents or a teacher to bail them out and solve whatever it was. Now I'm not knocking reasonable help. God knows we need it from time to time and there are several students I've notice with good self-confidence.
I was blessed with parents, and a father specifically who laid the foundations of analytical thinking and troubleshooting in me at a young age. He gave me problems to solve and taught me to think in a very real and applicable way. The experiences that he gave me, the experiences that he allowed me to acquire are an integral part of my self-confidence. Sure I failed, rather often. I made a fool out of my self once or twice, but less of a fool than the kid next to me, who didn't try at all, probably looks today. I am confident that I will fail sometimes. I am confident that even if I fail I will learn from my mistakes. I am confident that the reward is worth the risk.
Dad here's to you. Thanks for all the experiences and pushes you gave me. I can figure out what's wrong with that engine and fix it, just as easily as I can talk to my state representative. I can design a small website, just as easily as I can write poetry. I can learn my way around a sound system from scratch, just as easily as I can cook a sage apple stir-fry from scratch. Because you taught me how to have confidence, I can do all these things and more. You showed me how to learn something I didn't know. Thank you.
Well, my stars. I sure hope you don't consider me to be a member of this great unthinking blob that surrounds and imprisons you. I don't think I could bear it.
ReplyDeleteYou wanna know what I think? I think there's something to be learned from almost everyone in your life, regardless what seems to be going on in their head to the casual observer. I've been humbled many times by people who, by my standards, didn't have a whole lot on the ball. By your standards, they definitely didn't.
So, while I appreciate your thoughts and agree with some of them, I would submit for your consideration that perhaps more can be learned from the people around you then you think.
By the way, you misspelled "programmed." Mayday. Mayday. Crash.
I didn't say that the students were a great unthinking blob. I just said that I don't think the majority of them are confident they can tackle new challenges.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that there is something to learn from almost everyone in life; however, people have to look for those lessons and be able to recognize them. It seems like you have learned how to see those lessons and that is a very valuable skill to have.
I'm fairly certain that "programed" only has the one 'm', but if indeed it is supposed to have two of them, I will correct it shortly.
You also said you see "a lack of critical thinking and logic." Now, obviously, the "unthinking blob" comment was an exaggeration. Sometimes things need to be taken to their logical conclusion for people to understand the implications of what they are saying.
ReplyDelete"They are like walking computers programed with specific responses to specific questions so they can pass the standardized problems in life." Now how could I possibly find something like THAT offensive? Obviously, the fault here is mine.
And, of course, written text can sound more combative than spoken word. It just annoys me when someone condemns the thinking of a group they don't really amalgamate with. It's hard to have real firsthand experience without being IN the group.
I have no problem with someone who fancies them self an observer. Just be wary of the line between discernment and judgement.