How do we reach for the stars?
Posted on September 28th, 2019
Turning sixteen is that milestone in our teenage lives that many of us fondly remember. It is that time that youngsters are just keen to get a grip on their lives both social and academic. Socially, its Sweet sixteen, what would you expect? Blame it on the raging hormones probably. But, the same is not true of our choices in Academics and the A levels! It’s a now or never, do or be done with, a once in a life time decision that cannot be wished away. It’s that time in your life where one has to zero in on those subjects that you have a love hate relation with. Not to mention, spend the next 2 years convincing and proving to one that it was indeed a sound choice. There is no looking back as we are buried neck deep in this age old education system and might just as well go with the tide.
The A-Level is a subject-based qualification as a part of the General Certificate of Education to students completing secondary or pre-university education. Although, A-levels have a broader curriculum, there are no set pre-arranged subjects. The contents of the subjects are extensive. The knowledge gained is in-depth and challenging. A-levels, with regard to these aspects, require young minds to focus dedicatedly towards achieving exceptional scores. It goes without saying that this level of dedication would require us to perpetually give up on any aspirations we may harbor of our defining skills and talent that have naturally evolved and helped shape our personalities. Effectively killing our basic instincts!
Needless to mention, the nerve wracking process of subject specialization for A-level results can be the high point in a student’s career in the long run. But for many it is a more of drudgery where joy of learning is a far cry. Trapped with having made the decision, one opts to learn by rote, relying more on memory than on the conceptual application of learning. It’s not hard to conclude that A levels are not everyone’s cup of tea! There’s quite a difference in the difficulty level between GCSE and A-level. A subject that you thought was easy may suddenly become a lot more vast and complex! Leaving you to wonder how the once love hate relationship with the subject has clearly moved definitively towards hate!
This begs our attention to other modes of education. One that offers holistic growth and helps bring out our real caliber. Where, goals are a mere reflection of your love for the subject, than a rat race to the finishing line. It’s hard to choose but harder to set yourself aside from peer pressure or from parents and community and steer your academic choices towards doing what you love. Educationalists the world over are of the opinion that a joyful learning experience has a more positive impact on a child’s behavior. It is therefore imperative that we cut down the chase and carve out new gateways to equip our future generation on the new requirements of the new century.
Our political Diaspora, the leaders elected to bring about change need to acknowledge and adapt to educational reform. Societies that vote for change are often trapped in a leadership of narcissist views and thereby lack the will to roll out policies that can offer an atmosphere of creative learning. One that delves into truth of our existence, and incorporates methods and values that encompass joy of learning that reflect in the outcome of schooling systems. There is no other way out except to “Be the Change you want to see in the world “, because, It is Time!
