Lack of curiosity and imagination can lead a student nowhere. Vinita Bajari asks experts how to develop these skills
In recent times, students have much appreciated the Harry Potter series (whether books or movies, for the sheer imaginative landscape under the umbrella of magic. An imaginative student community on Facebook is named Can you imagine if J K Rowling wrote “then Harry Potter woke up” as the last sentence! Students have the wildest and weirdest of imaginations when it comes to creating jokes, but the same are not applied in the classroom. Why is that? Well, let’s see what the experts say about being more curious and imaginative.
Open mind
Without an open mind, you are never going to see things differently and ask about them! If you think you already know everything, then you will never learn anything new. “Keeping an open mind is essential to have a curious mind. Be open to learn, unlearn, and relearn. Some things you know and believe might be wrong, and you should be prepared to accept this possibility and change your mind. Curious people always ask questions and search for answers in their minds. Their minds are always active. Since the mind is like a muscle which becomes stronger through continual exercise, the mental exercise caused by curiosity makes your mind stronger,” says counselling psychologist Chhaya Sheth.
Ask, ask, ask
A classic mistake we often make is taking things for granted. If you just accept the world as it is without trying to dig deeper, you will certainly ask no questions, and find no answers. “Seek and ye shall find” applies to those who first get curious to seek! “Never take things for granted. Think about the why, what, where, when etc and look for answers. The cost of knowledge is really low today, all you need is an internet connection, and you are there!” says skills trainer Geeta Sheshadri.
Learning is fun
Only with this premise will you be able to get a lot out of whatever you are being offered. Geeta advises: “Whenever you are given an assignment or homework, take it as an opportunity to learn something new and approach it with a positive mind. You will be able to put in more imagination in the homework than if you approach it in a drab way.”
Diversify your reading
First, to diversity your reading, you have to start reading! “Quit spending time over things that you know you can achieve like playing the same game over or watching re-runs of shows for the Nth time. Read. Get into another world. Don’t go to the same world again and again, take a look at other worlds through reading. This process will introduce you to the possibilities and excitement beyond what you already know, and spark your interest to explore them further. Try to pick a book or magazine on a new subject and let it feed your mind.
