Category: Blogs

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.

Model United Nations is a fast-growing competitive activity for many students, but to many of us, it means much more. Model UN has helped us grow into leaders, discover our futures, become confident in ourselves, and form lasting friendships with people from all over the world. I remember my first MUN conference like it was yesterday. Standing before me were smart diplomatic people that made me feel scared and nervous.  When I got up to speak, I read off a piece of paper, I was shaking, and couldn’t make eye contact with anyone. I was so embarrassed about the lack of quality in my speech. However, I did not leave it there, I worked on it and today, I have grown as a delegate. Now I can speak with ease in front of large crowds. MUN has made me a more confident person in the committees, the classroom, and has helped my overall self-esteem.

This partner UNIMUN was organised and hosted by Universal School, Ghatkopar, on the 26^th of September, 2020. The committees included – Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee (SOCHUM), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), The Commission of Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) and United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). We had two representatives for each committee from EISB. Anjali Nair, Anuka Ragini Ganesh, Arpith Jinu John, Aryan Kudva, Ashith Kumar Reddy, Calvin Thomas Mekat, Chiranjith Pradeep, Cressida Mathew, Lekhana Kumar, Mihika Sankuratri, Mohammed Mahir, Nitish Adithya, Sanshray S and Soumit Rao, were the students who participated from EISB. We represented various countries like, China, France, Iran, Japan, Russia, Thailand, UK .

My co-delegate Anjali Nair believes that Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations. She calls it “an enriching experience”. Anjali and I were part of the SOCHUM (Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Committee) and the team’s agenda was “Ensuring the resilience of the poor and reducing their vulnerability to climate extreme events”. The topic provided a few challenges, as both the issues were addressed separately, but never simultaneously. Anjali says that, after 2 weeks of continuous research, she was finally prepared to argue for the agenda. On the day, the debates were heated with different perspectives coming to the forum. Everyone had a different idea and collating them into one resolution proved to be a difficult task. Fortunately, towards the end everyone worked collaboratively and a final resolution was passed unanimously. This year, even with the challenge of having an online MUN, the UNIMUN was a smooth experience with no major disruptions. Credit goes to the organizers and the chairs for making the UNIMUN an unforgettable experience for all of us, the delegates.