One of the major goals at Andinet International School is to help students succeed. What does success mean and how do we attain it?

First, we have to begin with the question “What is success?” Is success earning loads of money or is it peace of mind? Or can success be defined as having a happy family and contributing to a thriving community?

 

We must develop students who think critically about these questions and have the courage to define the answers. Students must learn to think deeply, problem solve, explore solutions, develop strategies for solving problems, and communicate possible solutions across cultures. These skills will help children define success in the future.

 

Students must grow competent and develop the confidence to think outside of the box-to see the big picture. They have to feel free to use their creativity and to ask questions. It’s very important to ask why? When students ask why, we know they’re thinking and it’s our duty as educators and parents to help children explore the answers to their questions.

 

However, meaningful answers to serious questions can’t always be found in books. Sometimes we have to conduct research; we have to communicate with knowledgeable people, conduct research or search the internet and ask still more questions. The answers aren’t always easy to find and sometimes the questions can’t be answered, but they keep us thinking.

We must give our children the skills to explore the answers. In tomorrow’s world, it won’t be sufficient to memorize facts from textbooks. Our children must be able to use languages interactively and to access information using the web, electronic libraries, and e-books. They must be able to communicate competently in writing as well as in speech. 

It won’t be enough to only speak a language.

 

In tomorrow’s world, academics only won’t be enough. It will be the human relationships that will compliment academics. It will be our ability to live and work together and solve our conflicts peacefully. It will be how well we cooperate with others and how we care for others that will measure what kind of people we are. The ability to communicate with everyone and accept them is critical in building a peaceful tomorrow.

Critical thinking, strong interpersonal skills will help us achieve peace, which is one definition of success.