Exploratory Essay

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” according to Nelson Mandela. While it is constantly being changed to reflect standards held by communities and corporations, education is a resource that is considered crucial to creating a pathway towards individual and general success. Much of the focus on developing countries is related to the education provided for children in those countries because future generations will eventually hold power and need to be prepared. While the current education system’s flaws and failings may be disputed, it remains an undeniable fact that all children deserve the right to attend schools that will equip them with the knowledge they will carry with them for the rest of their

For instance, in her article regarding the current debate revolving around school standards and their relationship to the evolution of the modern workplace, Valerie Strauss writes, “Education should prepare young people for life, work and citizenship” (Strauss 1). As jobs are increasingly calling for more from their employees, the education system must also change its pace to reflect the knowledge students will have to acquire and utilize in their careers after education. Simply memorizing the information presented to them will not assist students in their journeys towards adulthood and maturity. Instead, they must learn to assess their experiences and knowledge and apply them to the current situation. These skills can be developed and refined as part of a student’s learning curve. Additionally, in sixth grade, my science teacher decided to begin implementing the “design thinking process,” a method to map out and follow a path of discovery, testing, and implementation. She encouraged us to think about design thinking in everyday life and use it to process our questions and ideas. By explaining to us in detail how the process worked, the teacher ensured that we were comfortable using it to chart our progress and make advancements. She viewed design thinking as a tool that we could use long after leaving her classroom, so she wanted to express to us the many

For example, while Carol Dweck was conducting research to explore people’s reactions to failure, she decided to present several ten-year-old children with challenging puzzles and observe their strategies and coping mechanisms. However, instead of being discouraged and abandoning the pursuit, these students continued to toil even as their efforts appeared fruitless, seeking not only the correct solutions but also intellectual growth. Dweck realized, “They knew that human qualities, such as intellectual skills, could be cultivated through effort. And that's what they were doing - getting smarter. Not only weren't they discouraged by failure, they didn't even think they were failing. They thought they were learning” (Dweck 2). These young subjects of the education system were accepting of their situations and saw them as opportunities to expand their knowledge. While others might have turned their back on the puzzles as an indication of frustration, disappointment, or even a drop in self-confidence, these students persevered eagerly. Testing their intellect and analyzing their progress, was, to them, crucial in a way that merely reaching the correct answer was not. By being aware of the benefits that could be reaped from facing a taxing situation, these