More than 500,000 children will join the educational system this year in their first year of preschool. When these students finish their studies they will have spent at least 15 years, or more if they decide to go to university. We are talking about the years 2035 to 2040. And I wonder: what will the world be like then? The truth is that we don’t know. 

But what we do know is that the traditional educational system that uses the same teaching methods from decades ago with a society that advances exponentially requires another type of schooling. 

In his book The Element, Ken Robinson says that education needs transformation and not standardization, that it must be personalized and discover the talents of each and every child. The point where children’s natural aptitudes meet what they love to do is where their element can be found. Finding this point of convergence should become one of the main objectives of both parents and educators. When you work in your element, it fills you with energy, activates creativity and leads you to produce more and better. It is not uncommon to encounter adults who have jobs that do not make them happy, but who engage in other activities and hobbies that perhaps could have become their jobs if, as children, someone had helped them turn this skill into a strength that they could develop professionally. 

Among these children who are now beginning their schooling, perhaps we can find the next Steve Jobs (founder of Apple) or the next Larry Page (creator of Google). 

When Larry was asked what he thought had influenced his childhood and developed his capacity for innovation, he responded that having attended a Montessori school as a child made him very self-taught, with a great ability to think for himself and take initiative. The design of their offices also reflects that influence, freedom of movement, open spaces… 

They find their talents and put them at the service of society.

We don’t all have to be like Jobs or Page, since the main objective is to find what makes us unique and different. As parents and educators, we often want our children and/or students to obtain excellent grades in all subjects, supporting weaknesses and not strengthening talents, in order to achieve an excellent average, even if a lot of talent is lost along the way.

How do we discover our children’s talents? Paying close attention to what their interests are, observing what their main skills are and how they evolve, letting them try different activities that require different types of skills (sports, arts, science, mathematics, writing…). No pressure, just so they have a good time. During the childhood stage is when they usually reveal themselves, since it is when they have greater cognitive and linguistic development.

The process requires time and a lot of patience, as well as a lot of perseverance to ensure that through continuous practice, talent becomes a strength.