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Deeper than the ocean – The world that lives in us: the ingredients of the ‘champion mindset’

I found this book when I was in Singapore with Ting and Tara. Once back in the US, I could not find it, even on Amazon. It seems that it was released only in Asia, Australia and Europe, but not in the US. Nothing astonishing here. In the US, trying to “breed a champion” from a child would get laughs or on the contrary, very animated push backs. Such is not the case in Singapore.

Looking at this simple fact reminds me the bewilderment that filled me when I saw how busy these kids were, there. From direct experience in the US, Europe and Singapore, I feel that the US are the more lenient with, with less hours, shorter classes, less pressure to perform. Even more serious of consequences, the range of attitudes includes dedication as an exception to the general disinterest and the other peer pressures that come in the way. This probably comes from the fact that education is not seen as an element of success. People succeed without it, all around their eyes. And be it a Paris Hilton, who keeps “talking stupid” and making millions (at this point, her inheritance will probably not even matter),  or the drug dealer around the corner, there is a certain disillusion in our kids minds, and this might waste a generation. To some extent, this despair has propagated to Europe, with the disappearance of the middle class and the consternation that even the kings highways like engineering schools only lead you at the bottom of ladder.

Such is not what I saw in Singapore.

at least till the bachelor (after there is competitive pressure from foreign students). My personal experience of school in France would set Europe as second, as I clearly remember longer days, longer classes, more homework, more abstraction, more demands in general (but less creativity and pragmatic discovery as a flip side). Now comes Singapore, heavy weight champion of education. I felt they bred champions like chicken lay eggs when I met Ting and her brother. She was accepted at Wellesley College after completing high school in Singapore, and decided to go to Brown for her MS, and her brother finished his MBA at MIT in a year or so… But now I understand. Kids are literally driven from school to after school, to artistic activities, to sport, to… well, that was a tad too much for me.

I guess this book aligns with this trend of intensity. but adds a dimension of humanity to this frenzy, which, in all honesty, does not seem to freak out the kids, because all these activities are made fun, entertaining, and as engaging as could be.

In a nutshell, I need to read this book, and you might want to as well. It covers not only the intellectual, but also moral and emotional development of a kid, inspires through great quotes, is well illustrated. I regret not buying it after reading it at the Singapore National Library.

On my search, I found MindChamps, which refers to the book, and could be full of good ideas for Tara. I also found a link at Singapore Polytechnic Library. It gives the publisher and ISBN 10 (9812613854) and 13 (9789812613851), which should be enough to place an order on Amazon Australia or something.

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