Do I really understand intelligence?

Although I was able to read discussions on intelligence and my classmates’ respective theories very late, I felt elated. That is because they were able to point out the positive aspects of it – that we can think out of the box and not only measure what we know to be the norm (cognitive ability) to determine intelligence – the beauty of one’s personality is not only attractive to the eyes but also to the mind it seems. One also pointed out that it is not too late to get to know learning or intelligence as a learned behavior to improve on it.

Their points of view have helped me step aside from the simplistic view of intelligence that I have. In my own analysis, I believed that intelligence is synonymous to completing (learning) tasks in expected pace or earlier than the set date despite what the context is or inner and outer turmoils the learner has. In its directness, it seems more to be an approach or method of learning than a theory of intelligence to me now. But I do hope that with the purpose of learning better, knowing that they can complete tasks and have access to genuine support and guidance from teachers, family, and friends help students in their own journey of positive and lasting transformation.

As an educator, I was often stumped and trapped by my preconceived notions of learning and intelligence. Thanks to the reading materials we have, I can get to know amazing experts who have made efforts to understand the values, behaviors, and abilities that go with them and shared them to us through their theories and scientific data. I may still misunderstand and continue to have perceptions that are not error-free but with my very own experiences, the evolving theories, and experienced teachers and supportive systems that we have in schools or governments, I can learn and accumulate “intelligence,” resilience, and turn-empathy-into-action philosophies to provide opportunities to students to learn and take ownership of their own understanding of the world and its wonders.

I understand that I will continue to make mistakes but I will also persist in learning from them. I will not let my fear of committing errors turn me into an unintelligent species. I will not neglect the responsibilities and challenges this powerful position as a teacher commands but strive to give my best now to the young minds needing the nurture, correct guidance, discipline, and wisdom knowing that I can also learn from them and through them.