Growth Mindset: "Failing Superman"

“Failing Superman,” video by Marc-Andre Lalande

I really enjoyed this look at how the current educational system is failing its students with its standardized curriculum by Marc-Andre Lalande. He notes how despite decades of schooling, how so many of the skills that are taught and tested are lost outside of the classroom setting. His noting that school fails to accommodate the natural aptitudes and interests of an individual learner, thus making their educational experience less invigorating than it could be had it been designed to develop those unique passions. Lalande doesn’t ignore the fact that educational reforms have attempted to address the ever-changing landscape of our modern world to make sure that our students are well-equipped for the future. He understands that understanding fundamentals, like learning to make calculations by hand, is important to understand how calculators and computers crunch numbers. How do teachers teach everything and anything to keep up with the age of instant answers thanks to technology? Lalande says they don’t, their importance lies in their ability to be a mentor, coach, or cheerleader that helps you develop your curiosity and challenge you to develop your own competencies. Essentially, the gist is that wisdom does not equate to regurgitation of facts and figures. Maybe the ladder to success does not look the same for everyone.

Our current educational system is rigged to convince us that we aren’t “smart” if we aren’t “proficient” in the topics that they select. This proves that a High-School diploma, or any certificate of educational achievement for that matter, is evidence only that one is willing to submit to authority. Or maybe if nothing else that one is willing to “fake it till [they] make it.” When I look at my own growth as a learner, I do think I gained some valuable skills in school. However, like many, I am aware that it is selective and has the ability to hold one back. It focuses on making one do formulas and memorize figures when a bright student could be putting his/her attention on things more personally fulfilling and productive given their passions and interests. Supplementing the current curriculum with more practical information (life skills like filing taxes, balancing a checkbook, or even developing moral character) is probably not realistic since they aren’t in the realm of the “core” subjects of math, science, literature, and history. However, I would like to see an alternate universe where I grew up in a school system that developed individual skills and passions. What would I be like today? Where would I be on the scale of success? How would it be measured in a world like that compared to how it is now? That is a very nurture/nature thought-experiment that will keep me pondering the rest of the day.

(Image Source: Pixabay Stock Photos)

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Learning Challenge: The Fundamentals of Character

“The Science of Character,” video by Tiffany Shlain

In this video, Tiffany Shlain talks about how science has proven that within each of our prefrontal cortex’ lies a capacity to change and develop our character for a more meaningful, prosperous life. This positive attitude adjustment to do with self-improvement is not unlike Carol Dweck’s prescription for being a more resilient and productive person in an academic context, something she calls “Growth Mindset.” Shlain points out that across all cultures, these core virtues are commonly agreed upon: wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence. The traits or qualities that make up each of these core virtues Shlain calls “strengths,” which she says each person has a unique combination of. The traits I myself am “high” in, I would say include gratitude, forgiveness, perspective, and love. However, I’m often “low” in bravery, perseverance, enthusiasm, and some others. This framework for understanding our own innermost workings is apparently an ancient concept that the Buddha and some of our greatest philosophers like Plato and Socrates have pondered in the past. She reminds us to sometimes say “to hell with the hustle” in this day and age that focuses primarily on one's output, and to realize that the best project we can work on is within ourselves. I loved this quote she included and have heard it before: “Watch your thoughts: they become words, watch your words: they become actions, watch your actions: they become habits, watch your habits: they become your character, watch your character: it becomes your destiny.” How deep! Then she advocates for the big seven character strengths that social science deems critical for happiness according to studies to do with academic achievement and overall emotional contentedness: optimism, gratitude, social intelligence, curiosity, self-control, enthusiasm, and grit. So, I’m about 4-5/7, only around 2-3 away from being the best person I can possibly be!

(Image Source: Unspalsh Free Images)

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Extra Credit Reading Notes: Ramayana (Part D)

It’s safe to say this section of the epic was my least favorite for its moments of sexual inequality and injustice toward innocent Sita. In these episodes we Sita saved and then promptly slut-shamed and made to prove her loyalty and purity for the time she was held captive in Ravana’s capital. As if her being a victim of kidnapping wasn’t enough, being blamed for her abductor's abuse of power over her during her time as his hostage in which she couldn’t control whether he “touched her person” seems unethical and excessive. To punish her in place of Ravana, though he did 'get his' eventually, promotes a backward message that a person in her situation is somehow liable for the actions made against her by another. How she continued to ask for Rama’s mercy when he would subject her to such treatment makes her fidelity seem foolish when he, in turn, has no faith in her and in fact turns her away to exile after the peer pressure of gossip got to him. This absolute allegiance the reader has revered her for in the past three sections now has come to be seen as something sad, almost pitiful. The modern feminist reader I’m sure would have liked to see her rebel against this sexism.

Apart from these disappointing, sexually regressive features, the sections of poetic styling redeemed the story for me. There were also some points of the story with vivid descriptions like those during the battle scenes which impressed the socks off me. I think there were two—the poem of Ravana lamenting over his son’s death, and his wife lamenting over Ravana’s death were two sections that I earmarked for being especially moving language-wise. I know that this whole time I kept feeling like I would bite the bullet and buy the Narayan version, but after reading the Ramayana in its entirety I am glad I powered through the PDE version. In fact, while at first I was overwhelmed by the variation of writing styles, numerous links, and attached voice recording of the readings, I now feel like my experience reading of the Ramayana was enhanced for these reasons.

Bibliography:Author: Various

Title: Ramayana
Source: Public Domain Edition, Web

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

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Week 4 Story: Sampati and Jatayu

They say the invisible sky is an empire of its own without an edge,
With wind as clear and incalculable as the sea, some fish-like birds allege.
Both my brother’s heart and mine beat intimately as one,
Until a fateful race of flight when we were separated by the sun.

Blinded was Jatayu as he dove headfirst from Indra’s heavens high,
For lonely as the scorching star is as she's hung idly in the sky,
She’s bound to solitary confinement by her ultra-violet light.
Thus, my outstretched wing-ed barrier did little to obstruct her beams so bright,
And earthbound did I spiral, feathers scalded, toward Mount Vindhya’s height.

With visions of a flightless future and denied eternal rest,
My existence thus seemed only a cruel and useless test.
Instead vowed Saint Nishakra that my charred body could be cured,
And foretold that as compensation for a just deed would my senses be restored.

Alas, at once I was able to wade in Varuna’s cleansing shore,
Finally, as youthful and vigorous was my love of life just as it was before.
As predicted I was able to come to virtuous Rama’s aid,
And my health for his hope did we trade.

“Remember, please, my memory of Jatayu as you go reclaim your queen,
A valient vulture whose lost life can’t so simply be redeemed.
He was a brave and noble bird who was known to always intervene,
And befriend every single soul even when consequences were extreme.
I can only hope to mimic his moral example I so esteem,
And in this effort alone I would be living out his dream.”

A second chance I was given, from the ashes did I rise,
So why am I obliged to revisit the place of my demise?
I pity the poor sun so isolated from her solar system kin,
A celestial paradise so vast and secluding is so woefully grim…

Author’s note: 
(Based on the episode "Sampati and Jatayu") I ask that anyone who reads this be kind—this is the first time I have attempted rhyming verse since probably High School (long, long ago). I know some of it sounds awkward, but I am actually quite proud of myself even if my version is shorter and not as accurately detailed as the original. Also, I did spend a lot of time on this but as much as I wanted to edit it further, I had the Canvas due date to think about. I hope you enjoy my re-imagining of Sampati’s story in his own voice of the time he flew too close to the sun and was disfigured until he was restored to health as a favor for helping Rama on his quest for Sita. Other than my struggle to turn the PDE’s prose version into poetry, I tried to give a bit more depth to the characters which included personifying the sun, at least in Sampati’s eyes. I hope this insight into Sampati’s mind will make sense of his experience of being burned by the sun and losing his brother whom he so admired.

PS- I had a hard time coming up with a unique title for this story, so if anyone has a suggestion based on how they understood the story, I am all ears!

Bibliography: 
Author: Various
Title: Ramayana
Source: Public Domain Edition, Web

(Image Source: Graphic made by me, SumoPaint Photo Editor)

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Reading Notes: Ramayana (Part C)

In the scuffle between Sugriva and Vali, Sugriva is indebted to Rama for interfering in the brother’s fight and serving Vali the final, fatal blow that led Sugriva to fill his brothers void on the throne. Since Sugriva usurped his brother’s place of power, he then has the means to repay Rama for his favor in sending his troops far and wide in search of Sita (who was stolen by Ravana in Part B). It wasn’t until troops in the South happened upon Sampati, Jatayu’s (the noble and valiant bird who was vanquished trying to save Sita in Part B) brother that they learned of Ravana’s location on the island of Lanka. This is where the story picks up as the monkey named Hanuman, with the support of his peers who pump him up with the motivational story of his birth, does he leap “leagues” across the sea toward the rakashasa’s castle where Sita is held captive. Hanuman’s experience once he arrives is not easy—he himself has to escape from the demons who set his tail on fire but not before he is able to see and speak to Sita. On his way back over the ocean to tell of his travels and gather others, his blazing tail is smothered and soothed by the water. When he reaches Rama, we learn a little of the fears he is facing as he organizes his plan and orders his followers to heed dangers of rakshasa magic.  At the very end, we get a sense of what the Ravana is feeling in preparation, and we learn he has a younger brother named Vibhishana. After being banished by Ravana for his warnings of impending justice, Vibhishana joins Rama’s forces.

In this part of the Ramayana features a lot of suspenseful scenes. The theme of brotherhood is made very pain in Part C, with first Sugriva and Vali’s deadly struggle, and now the future face-off of brothers Vibhishana and Ravana when Rama comes to Sita’s rescue. I’m interested to see the conclusion of this recovery escapade. Some of my favorite scenes were those episodes that had small side stories, like that of the vulture whose wings were scorched from flying too close to the sun or the one where we heard of Hanuman’s beginnings and his athletic abilities. Another scene that stood out to me in terms of content was when Hanuman had finally found Sita in the Ashoka grove; its word choice was very visually appealing.

Bibliography:

Author: Various
Title: Ramayana
Source: Public Domain Edition, Web

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

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