"The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create."- Barrack Obama
Over the years, the methodology of teaching has progressed to a point where education is no longer about simply imparting academic knowledge to students, but also about encompassing larger aspects of life by including the holistic development of each individual. At ESCA, our vision is to develop students who are eager and motivated to engage in their learning journey and the developments of their talents with confidence, drive and professionalism.
Seeing as the ‘C’ in ESCA focuses on Culture, we pride ourselves on augmenting the student’s ESCA experience with a multitude of cultural activities such as Art, Dance, Music, and much more. Giving students the opportunity to participate in cultural activities ensures they can improve their academic performance, develop essential life skills and broaden their world views from a young age. Advantages of participating in cultural activities in school include:
Overcoming performance anxiety and building confidence
Cultural activities help students realise their own potential and overcome the fear of facing a crowd, allowing them to face challenges head on. Overcoming stage fright goes hand-in-hand with building a student’s confidence. In Art, we encourage students to work with their mistakes instead of erasing them and starting again. Mistakes are welcome as a regular part of the process. Students develop the ability to acknowledge their mistakes and find a better solution. The ability to accept mistakes and work on weaknesses also helps students develop a growth mindset which focuses on continuous improvement, rather than perfection. This process can help students develop confidence by making them aware that not everyone is perfect and that mistakes can, in fact, help you grow.
Gaining time-management skills
Time management skills are essential in both cultural and academic activities. Taking part in cultural activities helps students develop a solid understanding of effective time management. Understanding the importance of properly managing their time also emphasises the necessity of putting the proper planning and schedule in place.
Increased accountability
Art helps students learn a sense of responsibility for successfully completing the task at hand. Self-discipline is crucial for the embodiment of one of ESCA’s four core values - Accountability. With schools opting for traditional and online delivery, self-discipline is a great asset to have, as it ensures that students take responsibility to manage their resources constructively.
Improved academic performance
Allowing students to see their potential by expressing themselves creatively has a direct impact on their ability to stay focused on the task at hand, as well as their ability to work independently. Cultural activities also develop students’ critical thinking skills, and their ability to communicate effectively, by challenging them to tackle real-life problems while developing the appropriate tools to solve them.
Development of life skills
Students’ involvement in a diverse range of cultural activities automatically develops various life skills. Working in a space where students get to broaden their worldview and express their emotions, perspectives and ideas in a group setting aids the development of creativity, teamwork, leadership and social skills.
Freedom of expression
Students can use Art as a form of expression, allowing them to step away from the everyday pressures of academic excellence and giving them a creative outlet. This brief break from academics allows students to learn more about themselves, about others and the world around them.
At ESCA we aim to develop well-rounded students who will be able to meet the demands of the future world of work and life. Their generation will be prepared to effectively manage the complexity and uncertainty that will come with the increasing pace of development and progress.