“To discover who you are is the journey all of us have to take”, Sir Ken Robinson professed on stage at the Davos Congress Center, home of the annual World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
While the future of the fast paced world of education may be uncertain, students ultimately hold the key to creativity. In fact, students are the driving force to foster a creative environment; we as youth should make a conscious effort to apply imagination to our everyday lives and transcend conventional academic boundaries.
Sir Ken Robinson, an international leader in the development of education, creativity, and innovation, gave the keynote speech at the Global Student Leaders Summit this summer. His TED Talk is the most viewed talk in history, seen by an estimated 250 million people in over 150 countries.
During the keynote and press conference, I was fortunate enough to ask Sir Ken Robinson questions about the future of education and advice for students.
When I asked Sir Ken Robinson what he would tell his high school self, he gave an inspiring response. He underscored the idea that students must channel their individual passions and talents, noting that “I think often people feel that they failed the system and in my experience, it’s more accurate to say that the system failed them… people learn at different paces, they have different strengths and interests.” He continued to say that, “I would reassure my 15 year old self that it’s not me, this is a phase and it gets better... have confidence in yourself”.
Students can apply creativity to their lives and learning experiences by pinpointing their successes and embracing individuality. This is related to the future of education because as technology and classrooms advance, creativity will have a larger influence on the community. Sir Ken Robinson declared that in order to effectively learn, “You have to look inside yourself… the answers are inside you”.
When I asked Sir Ken Robinson how to energize and revitalize the educational landscape so that more students make a difference in the world, he encouraged inclusion and inspiration. He mentioned that “most people do want to get engaged but often fear holds them back”. It’s important to “work with the people who are engaged and want to do something” and “talk to people who are withdrawn” to inspire as many people as possible. Ultimately, Sir Ken Robinson believes “every person has their own story” where individuality and creativity meet.
This mindset would undoubtedly impact what students learn inside and outside of school. By channeling creativity, students would innovate education and explore endless academic opportunities.
It was a true honor to hear from Sir Ken Robinson. After gaining an insight into the world of creativity, I am inspired to transform the educational landscape across the United States. We are the next generation of student leaders that will change the world. The opportunities to revitalize education are endless.