By Ashley Anthony
In the past, I have spoken about the argument of extra-curricular activities vs extra subjects, stressing that the two are not mutually exclusive. I implored that certain minimum standards should be met, after which no child should be limited in any area. I still believe this to be true, however, I feel the need to speak of the importance of encouraging children to engage in extra-curricular activities, even those they might be bad at.
Guyanese, I believe, have this mentality that you should do what you’re good at and only that. Because of this, what we are good at becomes less of something we can do, and more of someone who we are.
The problem, I believe, with a one-dimensional child, is that central to their identity will be their perceived excellence in a particular field. What then, should happen, if they are challenged –- if they should come to realise that they are not as great as they once believed? Guyana is a small country. It is relatively easy to become the “best” at something. What happens when a child who has been consistently praised for being the smartest student in the country (after topping CSEC), moves abroad and realises that everyone at their university is as smart as they are? What if they don’t get into the school of their choice? What if our best sprinter brings last in a regional race? If their identity was closely tied to their intellectual and physical prowess, does this mean that they no longer know who they are? Do they lose sight of their purpose and vision? How do they come to grips with the fact that there is someone better at doing something that they have been told their entire lives they are the best at?
We need to see extra-curricular activities as less of accessories for college and job applications, and more as being about personal fulfilment and the discovery of one’s self. A balanced individual (in my opinion), is less likely to feel as though their entire identity is threatened upon encountering someone who is better at doing something than they are. This is because through exploring a variety of different activities, they will come to understand that they have strengths and weaknesses, but that their strengths do not define what they can do. If your child is academically gifted, by all means, encourage them to study, but don’t ONLY encourage them to study. Also, let them explore their other interests, even if they aren’t great at them, and show them that it is okay to do something solely because it makes them happy.
