This Thursday I had a full-day, hands-on experience filming, and it was extremely fun. Yet, I have to admit many times I missed being in the class with the rest of the Innovation Academy; the dynamic of being autonomous and independent in our projects is extremely motivating.
I realized that there's a huge difference between doing relevant work and work you don't believe in, because if I were to do an assignment I had no choice in doing or even picking the topic, I would do the minimum (or what it's asked) to achieve the best grade. There's the catch: it's not about the grade, it's about doing beautiful work. This might seem like a redundant concept for the 11th grade team of innovators, but it never gets old. We do what we love and that shows--we've developed a passion for learning and that has, and will continue to become, part of our culture.
I realized that there's a huge difference between doing relevant work and work you don't believe in, because if I were to do an assignment I had no choice in doing or even picking the topic, I would do the minimum (or what it's asked) to achieve the best grade. There's the catch: it's not about the grade, it's about doing beautiful work. This might seem like a redundant concept for the 11th grade team of innovators, but it never gets old. We do what we love and that shows--we've developed a passion for learning and that has, and will continue to become, part of our culture.
Having said that, passionate work doesn't mean it will always turn out perfect. Yes, our expectations are very high, and we've found a way to push each other to be better, instead of competing to be the best and acting like crabs in a bucket. Still, we are learners and learners mess up along the way; it's evident that my first documentary will not be an academy-award-winning piece, but it will have value because it has a purpose: serving others.
It's as simple as this: doing a documentary about the economy sounds like the dullest task, but economics doesn't have to be boring. In fact, it's related to everything. There's economics in how a soccer match is set up; there's economics in the way we reach out to one another; there's economics in every choice you do, EVERY day. And so I think, math is maybe the same way, yet that class is certainly not to my interest and thus my grade has suffered the price. The opportunity cost of prioritizing my relevant work is that the work that I don't believe in takes the back seat, and that, is not okay.
It's as simple as this: doing a documentary about the economy sounds like the dullest task, but economics doesn't have to be boring. In fact, it's related to everything. There's economics in how a soccer match is set up; there's economics in the way we reach out to one another; there's economics in every choice you do, EVERY day. And so I think, math is maybe the same way, yet that class is certainly not to my interest and thus my grade has suffered the price. The opportunity cost of prioritizing my relevant work is that the work that I don't believe in takes the back seat, and that, is not okay.
Our culture as an Innovation Academy wants to build students who KNOW how to learn, something you're not always born with, but you can develop. Now my question is: How can I (or anyone) learn a subject they don't feel keen in? It's pretty straight forward (the same way I got interested in economics):
do it YOUR way.
do it YOUR way.
My advice for all students who are reading this and feel like they're not motivated to do any homework or project is to ask for autonomy. There's nothing more exciting than having a choice in how to shape a final product; it truly awakes curiosity in any subject. If you prefer another method of structuring and planning, then try it. The "choice" can be as easy as choosing the topic, and then you'll dive into it with intrinsic interest.Consequently, when we reflect and identify these small bits that make up our culture and put them in practice, not only in between the IA's walls, but also at home or in our IB classes, we reverse the crabs-in-a-bucket effect. We support growth in the people around us because that way we become a richer society in terms of human capital--and the youth society in Peru is filled with that potential. So, the lesson learned is this, empower others to create a culture of inquisitive learners because in anything we do, we CAN be empowered; we CAN leave the bucket. |