YOU CANNOT DIRECT THE WIND...

 



“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”     

 Dolly Parton

 

Some days ago, two young girls joined my eleventh standard, almost simultaneously. One was from St. Xavier’s and the other was from Jai Hind. These South Mumbai colleges have been extremely sought-after institutions. Students take immense pride in the very thought, that they belong to these great institutions… Their parents, too.

But, my experience has, always, been different: more than the educational institution that one belongs to, one’s outlook towards oneself and people around him that counts more in life. Often, the pride turns into arrogance, lack of empathy. I see many young kids from such institutions living in their own ivory towers…

Yes, your great institutions matter in life… provided you deserve them. Else, it can only make you a snob… a misfit.

Am I being too blunt or biased?

Well, I am not… Not trying to generalize, either.

Over the forty-five years of teaching in this big city, I have taught students from almost every kind of institution – extremely popular to extremely unpopular. But, one thing has been constant: The students who have been empathetic, adaptable, sensitive to people around them – yes, these students have done better in life irrespective of the institutions they belonged to. Often, these kids, with fire in their bellies and softness in their hearts, have served the society in a far better way than their counterparts…





So, my two students from the South Mumbai colleges – are different in their outlook. I sense one of them a lot fussy when it comes to learning with others… She wants to learn alone, do the sums from her own college sheets, keep the timings as per her own preferences, even expects me to teach her the way she wants me to teach… Her rigidity rubs on me while teaching.

The other girl is exactly opposite. Even though she hails from an affluent and educated family, she comes about as highly adaptable, sensitive and sporting. I find great joy while interacting with this girl.

I have been telling the girl, who is too rigid, this: “Beta, learn to adjust, to be more accommodating and empathetic.” Slowly, the message seems to go across… Slowly, I see the rigidity and fuss dropping.

No matter how good young kids are in their aptitude, unless they are equally good in their attitude – they won’t go far. Adjustment issues – being less rigid and fussy, being more tolerant and accommodating, sharing, caring etc. – yes, these qualities are qualities of a sensitive mind and heart… They are attitude issues. Education is incomplete without them.


 

“It’s a lot easier to get your way, if you have more than one way,” says Jennifer James. Young kids should remember this…

I think, that’s what every great educational institution is trying to inculcate in young ones – be pliable… Adjust your sails, and don’t try to direct the wind.

 

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: Pixels/Julia Volk/Rachel Claire

 

Video: Meir Kay

 

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