Education Heuristics

Part II: Perspective & Attitude

Chapters

Part 1: Knowing Oneself
Part 2: Perspective & Attitude
Part 3: Learning vs Studying
Part 4: Going Beyond
Part 5: Start Teaching

We find what we are looking for in life

Perspective is key; it can either make or break your learning journey. 

Perspective is simply the way we see or understand things. It's our point of view or attitude about something, which can be influenced by our beliefs, experiences, and values.

If you view learning as a tedious chore, you’ve already set yourself up for failure before even beginning. Constantly telling yourself that a subject like math is difficult will likely lead to discouragement, and in turn, poor performance or even giving up altogether. This phenomenon, known as a self-fulfilling prophecy, is a common occurrence in the academic realm.

IDENTIFYING YOUR SWOT

A) IDENTIFYING YOUR SWOT

A simple and common method to identify your SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) is to take diagnostic assessments. These can be a series of tests provided online or by an education provider, and they can be general or subject-specific. For example, Berleaf Education offers a free Math Aptitude Diagnostic for students seeking a comprehensive analysis of their math skills and advice on how to improve them.

B) IDENTIFYING YOUR SWOT

Maintain a record of your mistakes by documenting them in a book, referred to as the Book of Mistakes. Review this record to identify patterns and understand your weaknesses.

C) Seek Regular Feedback

We don’t always know ourselves the best. Therefore, regularly checking in with a teacher or mentor for feedback is crucial. This is a primary channel that helps us better identify our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT).

D) Plan Ahead

Planning ahead can lower your chances of missing golden opportunities. Knowing your desired outcomes and the steps needed to get there, whether for short or long-term goals, will enable you to identify and seize opportunities when they arise.

MANAGING YOUR SWOT

Simply identifying your SWOT is not enough. It is crucial to manage them effectively to ensure that this information is not rendered useless.

Build on Your Strengths. Challenge yourself to enhance your strengths. There might be a more efficient or quicker way to solve a problem, so never settle for the status quo.

Learn from Mistakes. The ‘[Book of Mistakes]‘ serves as a constant reminder to prevent repeating errors. This is particularly helpful for exam preparation.

Use Post-it Reminders. Keep your goals visible by leaving small post-it notes around your study area. Label opportunities in green and threats in red.

OUR "SECRET"

EDUCATION HEURISTIC is a methodology used by Berleaf Education educators. It helps students realize their potential and achieve academic excellence. The complete methodology is detailed in a five-part series:
[Check out Part 2 Here]

CAREER

  • Educational Mentor & Coach, Founder (Berleaf Education)
  • Co-founder, The Orijean (theorijean.com)

QUALIFICATIONS

  • BSc. Economics and 2nd Major in Law (SMU)
  • Associate of Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore (CSIS)
  • Real Estate Sale Person (CEA Reg No. R062858E) (Propnex)  
  • Diploma in Law & Management (TP)

ACCOLADES

  • Singapore Academy of Law Gold Medalist (Top Student) [2010]
  • Director’s Honours List [2007 – 2010]
  • Rajah & Tan Academic Achievement Award [2008]
  • Tito Issac & Co LLP Academic Achievement Award [2007]
  • National Health Board Photography Competition Runner Up [2004]