Author: Parag Bhansali

Hmm.. here are few habitual sentences I hear from a lot of people;
‘Oh, I am too old to do it’
‘Damn, I am sorry ma’am I don’t think I can do it’
‘I am not so good at it’
‘Ugh…I Don’t know’
Sometimes, *Just silence*

The fact is, Brain is plastic! Wondering why I started mentioning about the brain all of a sudden?
Here is the connection. There are these so-called ‘Neurons’ where information is processed and then these ‘Synapses’ which allow that information to pass amongst neurons. This entire process is captured in pathways. Neural pathways are something which connect distant areas of the brain to the nervous system. Each pathway is associated with a particular action or behaviour. So, anytime we feel, think or do something, that particular pathway gets stronger and stronger. New thoughts and skills sculpt new pathways. Repetition and practice will strengthen those pathways.

Now, here comes the catch. We very well understood a little bit of how our brain functions. With this personal consciousness, we have gained the ability to ‘Rewire our Brains’ i.e., structure our thought processes. Neuroplasticity (Neuro= Brain; Plastic= Changeable) promises a new understanding of what it means to be a human, just by thinking.

“Depending on what they are, our habits will either make us or break us. We become what we repeatedly do.” said, Sean Covey. So utilize it, train your brain to be your Clover leaf. Learn a new language, paint a new picture, change your career, solve a new puzzle, watch a new documentary, step into a new environment and discover from it, exercise, don’t hesitate to seek support whenever necessary, be conscious of what you are saying and doing. You can always teach an old dog new tricks.

This article is for you and me, to empower ourselves with the true nature of education which will thereby make our career and future smart. Bear in mind that today’s world is aspiring for individuals who have such structured thought processes because those individuals are most dynamic in nature.

-Deepika Venkatesh

Bibliography

Facts captured from- Arden, John B. Rewire Your Brain. Wiley, 2010.
Facts captured from- Katsioulis, Evangelos. “Rewiring the Brain.” Rewiring the Brain, 2015,
https://www.katsioulis.com/rewiring-the-brain-infographic/. Accessed 05 10 2020.

In today’s world debating has become a rising modus operandi to resolve combative conflicts. Hosting such debate contests between educational institutions unleashes all the C’s of the 21st century skills, namely Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical thinking.The CROS’S’WORDS debate held on September 17th , 18th and 19th was one such lively and competitive Cambridge model debate , well organised and hosted by Glendale Academy International. I’m Yuvraj Boggaram, studying in Grade 9 IGCSE and this is my experience of the virtual debate.

This three-day competition consisted of participants from all over India and a few from abroad too. It was open to students from various syllabi- CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE and IBDP- where there were teams of three speakers to speak for or against the motion. Representing Ebenezer International school Bangalore, Arya Padiyar , Kshitij Nayak and myself Yuvraj Boggaram had taken part in this multiple round debate contest. This experience taught us that debating not only develops one’s communication and research skills but also benefits one’s argumentation strategies and the power to counterclaim.

I had an amazing first time virtual experience, learning the debate etiquettes and competing against the testing opposition, where my debating skills have been well enhanced. I gained much more information as I had spent time in thorough research about the topic and now I am better prepared for and more confident about counterclaims in similar occasions. I will be looking forward to taking part in more such combative debates.