Eat, sleep, study, repeat
Imagine that you are in a group circle where all of you represent strangers to each other. You will have to present yourselves shortly.
As a start, the majority will likely tell their names, age, and what they studied or are studying. You will subconsciously go with the flow in the same order of ideas.
I remember when I went for a job interview for a “Product Specialist” post. They told me, we want to know who you are, try to tell us about yourself. I answered: “Yasmine SABBAH, the introvert kid, artistic adult, and sarcastic seller. Being the best performer in my previous experience as a “Medical Sales Representative” had me believe that it’s okay to have a different approach, to master storytelling and to bring a life in what you are willing to sell.”
The interviewer had no clue whether I had a scientific background, an artistic one, or maybe was I the owner of a memes page on Instagram.
The reaction was obvious, “No, seriously, what have you studied, tell me about your age…” confused expressions on her face, adding: “Introvert kid, Artistic adult, and sarcastic seller? Explain more, it has no sense.”
It has no sense for her because I’m not that prototype, super sharp, apparently super confident yet super doubting on the inside, that the education system tried hard to sue.
Even if I wanted the job so bad, there is that slight nonchalant attitude that triggers recruiters. It has always been the case since my years of studies in primary or high school. The pharmaceutical university studies confirmed that success is slightly related to being stoned. Having an artistic sense has nothing to do with passing an exam.
It was frustrating to learn that much interesting information and topics with dead words and non-interactive support. Then, be evaluated based on having the best memory card. Paradoxically, the subjects I used to love the most rewarded me with the worst marks. You might be wondering why. It’s because I used to explore always more whenever I am fond of a specific topic. I could never learn by heart.
My passion for education goes beyond the degrees and the tests, but it concerns what remains after I forgot what I learned in school. I keep in mind every kind of information related to the subjects I used to love. As an example, I can cite pharmacology. My passion for the mechanisms of action of each medicine got me to check videos and interactive content. It helped me get familiar with how it works. Otherwise, I am still sharing on Instagram pieces of advice related to my thesis written in 2018 which concerned obesity and phytotherapy.
With the emergence of data and free content on the internet, people will tell you that education is a waste of time. “Look how Bill Gates quit university. He is hiring people from Harvard University to work for his company”.
I am sick of this wrong cliché speech because we have to work for what we love, not judge and complain about what we achieved. You want something, be curious, explore, even if the educational system wants you to learn just for the exam. YOU have to define your interests and embrace your curiosity to understand “why and how” and not be a prototype as they want you to be.
The academic definition of creativity is: “the use of skill and imagination to produce something new or to produce art” (1).
Skills, imagination, productivity, producing, something new, and art…
Too many words in just one definition. This explains how hard it is to deal with creativity and to integrate it into the educational field.
I still remember the very first painting I did when I was two. My sister could draw amazing pictures from a young age. Trying to mimic her, I drew a non-symmetric circle and started to cry. Her encouraging words made me achieve drawing a dinosaur. She was my first motivational teacher without knowing the value of her supporting attitude.
The fact is, regardless of how I loved to draw, my primary school painting teacher never skipped an opportunity to tell me that the colors I used are sad, that the drawing is awful, and that I had no talent. When I talked about warm and cold colors she made fun of me, not considering the knowledge I had. At the end of every session, we had 24 similar drawings and then my different sheet. It made me feel bad every time and killed that special perspective. Thank god I had tennis courses at that time to regain my self-esteem every time it went low.
It’s funny that no recruiter knows that I need to listen to Chopin to work on repetitive tasks. No boss would care if AC/DC were primary for my long drives between two cities. No teacher knew that I listened to Rocky Balboa’s motivational speech before any exam to attend. (2)
No one would know how working out would boost my productivity. Even in the pandemic of covid 19, where the gyms are closed, doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity makes my mood on top. I never thought I was different because all I do is spontaneous with no effort or overthinking. And yet it works for me, and I am sure it does for many of you. Try to add a new creative routine and you will be surprised by its impact.
I am an idiot for responding to the recruiter that way, but I had to try it at least once. I find it interesting to see reactions about how being different is perceived.
My opinion is that the educational system is a part of the problem.
It’s about how it makes us feel. No creativity is allowed. Misperception of the beauty of diversity is outstanding.
If you want to see a change, be that change.
