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These were the words that I grew up hearing. I was told that as long as I study hard, things would be handed to me easily and I would go on to be successful in life. However, it could not be far from the truth. Life, as it gets even more complex each year feels less of a formula and more of an American Ninja obstacle course. Except that, this obstacle course keeps changing and no one has any idea what to expect. 

If you are not familiar with the American Ninja Warrior series, it is a reality show where people would train to complete a very physically demanding obstacle course. Once they have completed it, they will be entitled to win a cash prize. So what are the similarities? Education as it is may not be as physically demanding but it is demanding whereby every single obstacle completed would require the student to complete another demanding task, requiring a completely different skill set.  

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I remember clearly that when I was in primary school, there were only four choices to every question. This means that the chances of success is 25% no matter what happens. However, as I grew older, the multiple choice questions decrease. Soon, I was required to write essays and construct short sentences. No matter, I had teachers who could train me in the way to answer these questions. I was told that all I had to do was use some adjectives here, some complex words there and sentence connectors everywhere. I knew for sure, that there was always a right answer and a way of answering the questions. After I had mastered that way of tackling exams, things changed again and in universities, I am now required to write my thoughts and opinions on what I have learnt. 

This is particularly difficult because I was told that there was always a right answer in school. However, in university, all I had to do was justify my stand and be critical at everything as there is 'never a wrong answer'. After I have graduated, I found that not everything I have learnt can be applied in my work and thus, the learning happens again. 

All this,  similar to the American Ninja Warrior series, the contestants would train vigorously for a particular obstacle course. However, instead of completing each of the demanding obstacle course as seen in the series, the obstacle course could change, testing the contestants' ability to adapt to the situation. The course itself is demanding as it is, requiring stamina, strength and skills to clear it all. If the organizers were to change the obstacle course every episode and every season, there is no way that the contestants can possibly prepare for it. 

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This means that the people who are able to clear it would be greatly reduced. Those who are able to clear it though are either real Ninjas or rather skillful and lucky. So why draw this comparison you may ask? The reason is this, are we as a society, setting our students up for failure or success? Do we train our children in the skills to succeed in life or just the exams? 

I love watching American Ninja Warrior, especially when the actor from Arrow did the obstacle course. Any participant who is able to make it all the way to the end placed a huge amount of  effort in training. It is impossible to be ready in a week, but it takes far longer than that. Just like studying, it takes much training to pass all the exams in school and university. The problem with that is, should we be preparing our children for work or exams? It is rather astonishing to see that many successful entrepreneurs did not complete their education, so it is safe to say that what drives these successful individuals is likely their ability to be creative, critical and far-sighted. 

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I hope that the future teachers and education system would be so, preparing my child to be creative, critical and far-sighted. However, if that does not happen, I hope that I am able to inculcate these values in my child's lives and even my students' lives. I have started by telling my students that it is not the grades that matter, but the lessons learnt from it. I just hope that I am able to do the same when my child does not do well in the exams. 

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