A common quote goes “Education is the key to success” which holds true. Currently, more emphasis is being placed on strategies and methods that enhance the impact of comprehensive knowledge to students. Recent research has shown that students lack the coherent and critical skills needed to take education seriously. Dr. Martin Luther King stated that the function of education is to teach a student to think intensively and critically. He further went on to state that the true goal of education is to build students with intelligence and character. Dr. King meant that giving students advice and problems that would require them to think as hard as possible in order to get solutions was the true value of education. Critical thinking is the disciplined thinking that is clear and rational, informed and informed by evidence. Intensive thinking on the other hand, involves the thorough though and analysis of information in order to come up with a comprehensive and conclusive answer. Education therefore, should build our capacities to be able to critically and intensively analyze information so as derive meaning. All education stakeholders should strive to inculcate quality and viable knowledge in learners to build such capacities.
In life, we are always faced with situations that demand making tough choices, choices that may either break us or make us. In such situations, many engage their rational minds to come up with the best decisions.
At one point in high school, in my fifth grade, I became ill to the point that I missed school for close to two weeks. In those two weeks, I had missed quite a lot and had a lot to catch up, or else my final grade would be affected. Considering the fact that the final exams were just around the corner, I faced a situation where I had to make a right decision that would lead me to better grades or else face the harsh reality of having to repeat fifth grade.
The thought of having to repeat grades had never crossed my mind. Throughout school I had been a top performer and could not let the situation I was in to lead me to that path. I had never imagined of spending an extra year in high school. I constantly thought of the effect having to repeat grades would have on me. I could not imagine being left behind by my closest friends and having to create new friendships. The thought of this harsh reality I faced started to take its toll on me. I never talked to anyone about the situation I faced but resorted to desperate measures to avert the situation. I skipped tea breaks and spent extra hours in school to catch up on what I had missed. At home I could not sleep; I constantly spent my time reading. All my efforts bore no fruits as I could not understand whatever I was reading. My situation had literary gone from bad to worse, I was stressed. Everyone noticed that I was both physically and emotionally damaged.
Eventually, my situation had become too much to bear and led me to my breaking point. I finally told my parents about the situation. They counseled me and told my class teacher about what I was going through. My class teacher was very supportive that she offered an extra hour of tuition after classes. She further went on to engage top performers in our class who helped me on areas I did not understand. Ultimately, I was back to my usual self. I studied for my exams without panic and by the time I was sitting for them, I was in my correct state of mind. It goes without saying that I performed well in my final exams and was promoted to the next grade.
Looking back at my situation, I believe I made the right decision. I could have chosen to handle it personally, which would have led me to emotional damage and failure, but chose to talk about it. My situation not only led to my better performance, but also showed me the need of talking out difficult situations with people we are close to. To this date, I do not allow to be swallowed in by difficult situations but always take the step of discussing them with those close to me. I no longer make decisions based on my emotions, but after careful thought and analysis.
