Today's "Normal" Child

We’re baffled at the amount of intelligence exhibited by today’s “normal” child. From their intuitive swipe of fingers against the oleophobic coated screen of Apple’s flagship device; iPad Air 2 to the “What-made-you-think-of-that?” look parents give to their wards upon certain questions their curious minds can’t help but ask. They’re just so good that scientists are betting the coming generation to make ground breaking discoveries in relation to air travels which will aid man explore the universe on his quest to answer the question, “Are we alone?”.

  Some videos have gone viral depicting what youngsters can do with little Alex from Spain being part of that most shared videos. This four year old girl’s IQ (last I checked) amounts to that of the Nobel Prize won scientist, Albert Einstein who forwarded theories on Photoelectric effects and some others which we still marvel at and use in our every day learning. Breath taking ain’t it? But then we may have over looked what this evolutionary impact might have brought looking at things from a different perspective.

  A sixth grade Science teacher Mrs Sampson asks her class, “Who can tell me which organ of the human body expands to 10 times its normal size when stimulated?”…… *takes a sip from a saucer supported cup of tea*

Nobody raises a hand and at such a moment no one will want to make eye contact with the teacher to avoid being called but then Mary was perhaps slow to have moved her gaze.  Blushing furiously as she stood up, she uttered, “How dare you ask such a question?!” I’m going to complain to my parent, who will inturn complain to the Principal and I bet you will be fired afterwards. Mrs. Sampson is shocked by Mary’s response but impervious, she asks the class the same question and this time Sam raises his hand.

Yes Sam?” says Mrs Sampson. “Ma’am, the correct answer is the iris of the human eye”. “Very good Sam.. Thank you”.

Turning to Mary, she spoke, “Mary, I have three things to tell you. First, its blatant you haven’t done your assignment. Secondly, you have a dirty mind and thirdly, I fear one day you’re going to be sadly disappointed.”

Undoubtedly, the kid sitting right next to you may at one point demonstrate such an act as Mary pulled in her science class. I guess she forgot that she was in a “Science” class afterall. He or she may have not upgraded to Mary’s level because you’re bringing him or her up just as the Holy Book instructed in Proverbs 22:6. (Click on this link to read Bible Verse à http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+22%3A6&version=NKJV )

The Coin of Ambition

  Solar powered airplanes, self driven automobiles like the ones developed by car makers Citroen? Thats cool. But to have the exoskeletal suite of Iron Man coupled with his sophisticated PA, Jarvis (a fictional character). Now thats C O O L!  .Every single piece attests to the dream which sparked something within someone to continue to do more so as to fulfill a feeling.  The likes of Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Mr. Dangote, Carlos Slim, Kanye West etc all had this inexplicaple driving force which continues to inspire them to do what they do best whiles proliferating their fortunes and simultaneously making life better for the human populace. Like Walt Disney articulated, "If you can dream it, then you can achieve it once you are guided by perseverance". I'd agree with Walt but in retrospect, could it be an  ambition? Most probably.

Indeed, from the Smartphone which I used in discovering this to the very pen used in drafting this précis before posting couldn't agree less with me pertinent to the fact that, ambition was key to their "existence". Lots of people may have their perspective pertaining the concept of ambition but depending on how it motivates one, leaves it to be adjudged as such.

  One of William Shakespeare’s popular books, Macbeth pellucidly portrays one side of ambition as a dangerous quality since it causes the downfall of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. According to the book, the lead character, Macbeth was given prophecies by some witches that he will become King. He believes them and the various prophecies are thus realized in the play. However, it is unclear whether these prophesies are preordained or self fulfilling. Macbeth’s ambition soon spirals out of control and forces him to murder again and again to cover up his previous wrongdoings. Macbeth’s first victims are the Chamberlains who are blamed and killed by Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan. Banquo’s murder soon follows once Macbeth fears that the truth could be exposed. Ambition has series consequences in the play: Macbeth is slain as a tyrant and Lady Macbeth commits suicide. Shakespeare does not give either character the opportunity to enjoy what they have achieved – perhaps suggesting that it is more satisfying to achieve your goals fairly than to achieve them through corruption, Reading to the end it can be realized that Shakespeare’s masterpiece illustrates both the negative and positive effect of ambition in the different ways his character handles it.

 One could say it is good to be ambitious in life as this could enable us to fulfill what we always wanted but the fret will be how do we get to know when this ambition is considered “too much”. I guess the suitable answer to that inquiry will of course, be the moment we go beyond our human conscience which enables us to being insulated against the life draining grips of ambition. Just like the character Macbeth, who found himself of being its victim.