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Why Curiosity?

As Albert Einstein famously said: “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious."

Curiosity isn't just a word to describe a childhood book character or to explain what happened to a cat. Curiosity makes our brains stronger, reinforces, and motivates a mind to learn and can build confidence regardless of age.  Curiosity is the key to creating a passionately curious, creative, and confident next generation.

Keys to Curiosity

  • Key 1: Observe
    Key 1: Observe

    Observe

    • Become an observer and wonderer
    • "Ask Why?"
    • Be Aware of your surroundings
    • Listen

     

  • Key 2: Develop
    Key 2: Develop

    Develop

    • An openness to novel experiences and ideas.
    • Engage with and communicate with an open, friendly environment.
    • Enable people to think critically, to express their thoughts, and to formulate their ideas

     

     

     

  • Key 3: Value
    Key 3: Value

    Value

    • The pursuit of knowledge
    • The search for knowledge for self-interest is a tool for persons to pursue together with their academic studies, as well as during personal exploration.

     

  • Key 4: Build
    Key 4: Build

    Build

    • Research competency
    • The investigation into and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions

     

  • Key 5: Seek
    Key 5: Seek

    Seek

    • Pursue persons of expertise and recognize peers' expertise

    • Peer-to-peer mentoring is one of the successful tools in igniting curiosity in both mentors and mentoring.

    • Peer-to-peer mentoring cannot only provide knowledge but emotional support

     

  • Key 6: Challenge
    Key 6: Challenge

    Challenge

    • Conventional thinking
    • The ability to live within the world and view problems and questions from different vantage points is what spurs curiosities forward.
    • Asking why and taking the time to look at your world and see it through your eyes, and others is how curiosity becomes the key to breakthrough creativity.

     

  • Key 7: Illustrate
    Key 7: Illustrate

    Illustrate

    • Self-efficacy or confidence is nurtured and developed through life’s experiences.
    • You may have the ability, knowledge, and talent to do something but lack confidence.
    • Confidence can be ignited by the encouragement and guidance from peers, educators, and your sense of self. (your own self-image)

     

     

  • Key 8: Reinforce
    Key 8: Reinforce

    Reinforce

    • Intrinsic motivation and self-determination.
    • Intrinsic motivation is defined as performing an action or behavior because you enjoy the activity itself.
    • Self-determination is the freedom to live as one chooses or to act or decide without consulting another or others.

     

  • Key 9: Teamwork
    Key 9: Teamwork

    Teamwork

    • Teamwork and interpersonal skill are valuable problem-solving skills and builds defining character traits.  
    • Learn to cooperate with others.
    • Interpersonal skills help build the ability to effectively communicate with others. They encourage understanding and compassion and help to build relationships with peers and adults.

     

     

  • Key 10: Practice
    Key 10: Practice

    Practice

    • Practice growth mindset" and resiliency
    • The belief that you are in control of your own ability and can learn and improve is the key to success.
    • Hard work, effort, and persistence are all important, but not as important as having that underlying belief that you are in control of your own destiny.