What Time Is Right for Us to Step Outside Our Comfort Zone?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

How Would I Know That My Purpose, Timings and Motifs Are Right for The Choice That I Have Made for Myself?

Long before the evolution of computers and mobile gadgets in my life, books were the only source of imagination to me, and the very first book that I picked to read was J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. There are several life lessons that Tolkien introduces in this book series like friendship, empathy, emotions, care, courage and responsibility. However, one of such lessons that I always found in this series through which I can resonate with myself and my classroom is the importance of ‘stepping out from our comfort zone’. In LORs, there are characters about happy people named hobbits who live peaceful lives in the Shire. The main character Frodo Baggins is one of them, and he loves the comfort of his routine. He bases his entire life around that comfort zone. However, Frodo doesn’t know that he is about to embark on a journey that changes everything in his life, for which he might’ve not been ready at first. Continue reading “What Time Is Right for Us to Step Outside Our Comfort Zone?” →

How Important Is Family Involvement for Teenagers’ Growth and Development?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

The 2009 Hollywood Movie Blind Side Revolves Around a Struggling Teenager Who Was Desperately Waiting for a Miracle in His Life.

Last week, I watched the movie Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock and Quinton Aaron. This movie is the real-life story of NFL player Michael Oher and his rise out of the depths of poverty, neglect, and homelessness to become one of the NFL’s greatest athletes. The movie is all about inclusion, the benefits of hard work, and the importance of family. Sometimes, the viewer feels it shines over many of the challenges that Oher and his rescuer Leigh Anne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock) must have faced. I asked myself how significant family involvement is for teens to grow, develop, and strive hard to make their dreams come true?

The Story Line

Before becoming an All-American college football star, Michael Oher was a brawny-but-tender teen attending a Christian school in Memphis with no roof over his head or family to support him. In the movie, he’s soon befriended by S.J. and Collins Tuohy, children of wealthy fast-food franchise owner Sean Tuohy and his decorator wife, Leigh Anne. Continue reading “How Important Is Family Involvement for Teenagers’ Growth and Development?” →

The Addiction of Seeking Validation on Social Media

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Social Media Is Fun and Exciting as It Connects Us with Our Families and Friends Especially in Pandemic. But It Becomes Stressful When We Start Craving for more Likes and Shares.

Last week I was reading an article on ‘selfie syndrome’. It discusses why adolescents engage in behaviour where they seek validation on social media. This article reminds me of a recent talk I had with a parent where she worryingly shares about her kid’s routine and his ‘over-involvement with Instagram and Facebook. She revealed that her kid is so ‘addicted’ to these social media platforms that he shared his whole routine via posts and selfies. The parent was frustrated and wanted a working solution to this problem. But I was wondering what makes that teenager to engaged that intensely with social media platforms? Continue reading “The Addiction of Seeking Validation on Social Media” →

Why My Class Did Not Go as Planned?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Creating Successful Lesson Plans for Online Classes Requires More Than the Pedagogical and Technological Strategies

So, my class went really bad, and the students hardly participated in the planned activities. The thing that irritates me is not why students didn’t engage with the planned activities. Instead, this catastrophe happened now after spending more than a year teaching online classes. While reflecting on this class, at least clarifies one thing that a successful lesson plan, especially for online classes, requires more than the pedagogical and technological strategies that include a consistent course design that enables students to engage and make meaning out of the taught content. Continue reading “Why My Class Did Not Go as Planned?” →

Why Do Kids Need to Be Encouraged to Become Original Thinkers?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Researchers Believe That Originality Turns Out to Be Essential for The Kids in All Fields of Life, especially in a Time of Distress

Last week, a student waited for me after the class just to ask one thing ‘Do I have a unique mind?’ The question was spontaneous, which made me pause for a moment before replying to her question. I gently asked, ‘Dear, what made you ask this question?’ She replied, ‘Sir, I think I am a good student,” she explains thoughtfully, rolling her eyes, ‘but do I have the kind of mind where I can come up with a new and unique thought? Maybe I’m intended to be one of those people who spend their lives listening to what other creative people say.’ I smiled and replied, ‘Not need to worry, dear. Everybody feels that way. Even I sometimes feel that my thoughts are the copied ones, and that is okay. It doesn’t mean that I have a lesser value than any other human being on this earth.’ She smiled back convincingly, and after a bit of talk, we left our Zoom meeting. But this conversation left me with a question, does originality really matter when valuing ourselves or others? Continue reading “Why Do Kids Need to Be Encouraged to Become Original Thinkers?” →