I'm a rather social person... all my report cards growing up had the same comment. "Rock is doing great, she's smart (ok ok I just made that last part up) and a pleasure to have in class (hehehe, made that up too), but she needs to spend less time chatting with her friends and more time paying attention to the lesson, a real social butterfly'.
Is this a bad thing??
I always took it as a compliment.
We're not hermits people, being social is what helps us survive.
The way my parents reacted to these report cards and the path to success plan that inevitably was developed with the teacher always made me giggle (ok cry because as a social butterfly acceptance is so important). The teacher should have stopped beating around the bush and written “Rock has really figured out how to thrive in our society, she should really stop that and spend her time memorizing shit like the rest of us, shit that will never help her in any way because google is about to be invented anyway”.
Math you say... I hear you saying it. When you hear memorize useless shit you hear MATH. I'm right there with you. That's right you're not alone. Feels good doesn’t it.
The all important MATH (from now on when you read my blog, MATH should always be read in a loud GOD striking you down type voice... traditional male long white beard version of God please and TY).
Did you know that counting counts as math. Ya, counting as in 1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6.. I can do that! I do it really well, in a few languages, forward and backwards (that last part can only be done in two languages) Not to imply I can’t do other math.
And if you were heading to math in your brain (assuming it is not just my little inner voice) Google can help with that too.... I know because I've checked... often (in only one language. I've checked in one language, I am not saying Google is in only one language. I know Google is better than that. Notice that I've put Google with a capital G. That was not on purpose but how interesting. I put God with a capital G too... hum... )You can even get a little app on your phone to help you with day to day math like calculating tips. But here is the really really interesting point I was thinking about. Teachers always said how important group work was. EVERYONE, even social butterflies like me HATED group work. "It's important to learn to work as a team, it's important to know that you cannot do everything yourself and you will have to collaborate with others" I took that lesson to heart. What can I say, sometimes those teachers have a point. I figured I'll master one thing, get it down real good.
Mastering one skill and doing really well has been important for social progress. I have no f'ing idea how to build a house. Does it mean that I should not benefit from the skills of others and live in a house? No it does not.
As my skill I choose 'social butterfly' and then I collaborate and team worked the heck out of stuff like math and house building. I social butterflied my way from fail to pass.
I've done alright for myself with this skill. So now I use this blog to shake my head in a disappointed manner at my parents who followed the herd and made me feel bad at report card time. ...shake shake shake... (that was my head shaking - it’s not actually a shake, it’s more of a gentle sway, why do we say shake? If people actually shock their heads at each other they would look crazy, or dog like)
Let's take it one step further, just because we can.
If people with Math skills are (YOU FORGOT THE GOD VOICE... I even gave you the benefit of the doubt and waited two extra words before reminding you) willing to help me, what do I have to offer in return you ask. There is a simple answer to this. If we all mastered everything and I was as good at Math as Math people are then I would not need Math people. So my lack of Math skills (math is only an example because as we have determined with my above counting demonstration, I do have math skill.) creates a need for Math people. It gives them a place in society.
So it is not so much what I have but what I do not have that I have to offer. (if I indeed did not have this thing that I do have)
So to all the parents out there... stop gently swaying your head at your children when they come home with report cards that belittle them for mastering a skill that will be essential in determining the success they will have in their lives, in our society, be it math or butterflying. Stop blindly following the herd. Take them out for that ice cream and say... "do you want sprinkles with that?"
