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Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Over the top
By Lady Ochel C. Espinosa
SUMMA Cum Laude. Valedictorian. Honor Student. Top Ten. Cream of the Crop. Gold Medal. First Place. Champion. Number One.
What does intelligence mean to you?
MINUTE IDEA. Many of us believe that intelligence is and can be measured through grades we see in our report cards or perhaps the number of gold medals we get from quiz bees. Every parent hopes and craves that his or her child is born intelligent and perhaps at par with Albert Einstein's IQ.
Local television viewers may have some dictated idea. For years now, the country has witnessed milk products or food supplements indirectly dictate the definition of intelligence. The number one in the class will always be quipped as "promil kid".
We first saw the importance of the Intelligence Quotient (IQ). A few years later, we saw a shift in focus as we were introduced to the Emotional Quotient (EQ), where emphasis weighed heavy on a person's skills involving his or her emotional health.
Either way, what I noticed is that these advertisements portrayed children excelling in the classroom -- being the first one to shoot their hand up, or being successfully able to memorize the countries' capitals while having breakfast with the family.
It then hit me that Philippine culture has equated intelligence with the classroom, or at least placed emphasis on the academe to determine one's intelligence. Parents will boast of having a son or daughter who graduated with honors, grabs a gold medal in a contest or perhaps pass the UPCAT and ACET.
This also coincides with the controversy of the relevance of intelligence to everyday life. But I'd like to think that intelligence is indeed relevant to everyday life. People may just be looking at the wrong places the entire time.
INTERPRETING INTELLIGENCE. I was recently asked to interpret intelligence, by an eight-year old girl. As simple as her question was, it affected me more that anyone can imagine.
It took me a while for a concept or perhaps an appropriate definition or at the very least, an explanation to come to mind. After much dilly-dallying, an idea finally hit me. I heaved a big pile of textbooks on a table and gave cheap shot on explaining.
But I did not stop there.
I told my eight-year old friend to I draw in her mind a big, red 'X' across the "image". From the looks of it my eight-year old friend got even more confused.
But with that question, I myself got even more confused. Really, what does it take to be intelligent?
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING. I then established to myself that intelligence is not equated to the academe. But first, this is not to say that a student's academic performance is not important. In fact, my academics was and still is a top priority, and likewise, for a lot of people out there. Getting a college degree is not enough. Post-graduate studies will have to be in the list of my plans.
But I also believe that academics have been thrown into the limelight way too often. As a child, I've always been academically-inclined. My life pretty much revolved around my life in school. I discovered my talents and potentials in the academic institutions I attended. Luckily, I was always given the chance to express it, and taking on a step forward, even compete.
I enjoyed going to school not only of the academic excellence, I enjoyed grade school, high school, and college, because of the exposure and right choices I made that will enhance my personal capacities.
But not everyone can say they like school, much less enjoy it.
ROUTINES AND TASKS. Meet Lorraine*, grade school valedictorian, high school valedictorian, graduated summa cum laude in college, and surprisingly, quit med school after one tiring and very exhausting semester.
"After graduating from college, I did not feel like much of an erudite. I felt like I simply did what it was I was tasked to do -- I just put a little effort into studying -- something everybody else could accomplish, as long as they put their mind into it", said Lorraine.
A lot of people have now thought of her as a drop out from med school, and no longer that genius placed on a pedestal. "My family had high hopes and expectations. They never really expected I would quit med school. I have to admit, it felt like everything I have achieved in the past has been erased. Quitting medical school was a decision I had to make. I was really tired of getting my self in school, or to be number one so to speak. Right now, I really need to take a break", she asserts.
APART FROM THE REST. Where does the uniqueness of one's intelligence lie, then?
Intelligence is wisdom acquired through experience, and not gained solely within the confines of a classroom -- it is found at the beach, along the streets, by the fishing pond, or even in a farm. It is the wisdom gained by trial-and-error -- life, if you must.
It also surfaces in very subtle ways -- in our ability to comprehend complex ideas, in being creative, in being humorous with sharp wit, in making sound decisions, in creating a vision for one's self, etc. The list can go on and on. Commendable grades are an added bonus, of course.
I have always admired well-rounded people -- those who have excelled in their field. Sure, they have been given due recognition, but in small doses. The more recognized are still those who excel academically.
I am not saying I am a woman of wisdom myself. It is something that I definitely know I'll be working on, even if it takes stepping out of my comfort zone. But this is intelligence for me -- applicable in everyday life. It poses a great challenge for all, and could possibly be a person's very end-goal.
I know it is mine.
Experiencing life will definitely be worth it.
LadyOchel@atenista.net)
(June 21, 2006 issue)
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