Passing Exams or Playing with Words?

I want to start this newsletter by saying thank you so much to everyone who subscribed after reading my first newsletter. it meant the world to receive so much support and positive feedback.

I have just returned from a trip to Dubai where I had the pleasure of performing my poetry for three evenings at a Bottega Veneta event. Every evening guests gathered around the green majlis in the shape of a square and myself and other collaborators shared parts of our stories with them in the form of poetry, film, song and food. One of the poems I shared spoke about the first time I saw my Dad cry, at the end of the evening it was so great to experience the guests connecting with me and others by sharing their own stories of the first time they saw their dad cry. While reflecting on this I realised how happy being in creative spaces and connecting with others through the arts makes me.

During my educational years I tuned out a lot in classes mostly when I felt like a teacher wasn't explaining in a way that I could understand. Id fidget or talk to the person next to me. Some of my teachers fixated on my behaviour and grades and made a point to let my parents and I know that I will fail in life, While others focused on drawing out more of my creativity and personality and finding different ways for me to engage in class. Ironically I didnt fail in any of my subjects and left school with mostly B's a few C's and A's, but It wasn't till many years later that I realised everyday had been a battle, I was up against my teachers expectations. The education system wasn't designed for those of us with neurodiversties. There was too many tick boxes. Too many exams and assessments. and not enough exploring and playing.

What I love the most about writing poetry is that it allows me to play with words and trust that the audiences imagination will fill in the blanks. some of my poems are direct, while others are intentionaly writen in code so I only know what I am referring to. It gives me the freedom to use poetry as both a form of therapy and a tool to relay information.

The expectations the education system has on young people to pass exams, and make decisions about their life takes away the fun of learning and exploring. I guess the same could be said about target based places of work. id love to see what could be achieved if we removed most targets and allowed young people and employees especially those with neurodiversities to explore, learn and work.

I will leave you with this question, how do you feel the education system with all its exams and expectations hindered or helped you in your journey to being who you are today? Id love to hear about it in the comments section.

See you on the next Newsletter

Best Wishes

Asma Elbadawi