Hidden Intellectualism: The Importance of Non-academic Interests

Introduction

It is often assumed that what is learned inside a classroom is the primary determinant of intelligence, while everything else is not as significant. Many believe that street smarts do not equate to the same level of intelligence as academic learning because standardized tests are perceived to contain more useful material than non-academic content. However, activities that are not offered or are optional in schools have their own level of intelligence. Although subjects taught in a classroom setting encourage one type of intelligence, a range of skills can be discovered through following a desired interest. For example, photography has impacted society in various ways, yet most people don’t recognize the intelligence involved in this art form. From my personal experience, investing time in photography has helped me access a crucial form of intelligence, teaching me how to self-reflect, plan ahead, and change perspective.

The Role of Self-Reflection

In photography, I learned how to self-reflect by analyzing the photos I take. Proper self-reflection requires seeing things with a critical eye. In my opinion, having a critical eye means judging and analyzing details with reasoning. After uploading photos, it is important to scrutinize each one. This critical skill is essential because by recognizing mistakes and considering new alternatives, improvements can be made in future sessions. Being understanding towards flaws found in images can lead to improvement. However, schools do not teach this type of intelligence, as it is not considered to be on the same level.

Hidden Intellectualism: The Importance of Non-academic Interests

In the essay "They Say/I Say: Hidden Intellectualism," Gerald Graff discusses the importance of integrating non-academic interests into school learning materials. Graff (2001) explains, "the sports world was more compelling than school because it was more intellectual than school, not less" (p. 438). From Graff’s experience, he found that learning from sports allowed him to extend his knowledge significantly. In a photograph I took a couple of years back, I recall reflecting on the outcome. By being understanding of the matter, I calmly identified what I could have done better and what I couldn’t have changed. From there, I observed improvement in each session and the different shots taken. Self-reflection provides a reason to avoid repeating past mistakes and allows for further improvement. In general, the camera can be very unforgiving.

The Importance of Planning Ahead

Having the ability to plan ahead is a skill not typically taught in a classroom. A slight miss of a second can be the difference between capturing the ideal image or experiencing dissatisfaction. With preparation, distractions can be minimized, creating the best circumstances for a good photo. For a prom photoshoot, I had the opportunity to take pictures of students from another school. Since I was responsible for the location and time, I planned a couple of days ahead by looking at pictures of parks, checking weather reports, and ensuring my camera was set to the correct functions. I had instructions thought out, poses for the group, and areas of the park mapped out. In the moment of taking the photos, preparation and knowledge from past experiences played a crucial role. Just like with the camera, if we miss the shot for an event and our timing is off even by a little, it can potentially result in the loss of an opportunity.

Adapting Perspectives and Problem Solving

Figuratively, we face problems nearly every day, and at times, problem-solving can be challenging. However, by viewing issues from different perspectives, we can work through them. In subjects like math, solutions are often one-dimensional, whereas real-life problems require multiple perspectives. In my area of interest, I pursue skills that go beyond the basic concept of photography. I solve problems related to lighting, background conflict, or camera features. For example, when photographing birds in Hawaii, a challenge I faced was their constant movement. Capturing the right moment required focusing on a single spot amid a multitude of movements and adjusting my camera settings. Other factors affecting image quality can be altered by changing angles or positions. Turning the camera from horizontal to vertical is a simple change but shifts the perspective. In conflicts, we can apply these skills to work from another angle, take a few steps back, or use an obvious but overlooked solution. The ability to reflect, manage time by preparing ahead, and change perspective can be practiced through photography.

Conclusion

Generally, many are conditioned to believe that intelligence requires learning materials taught in classrooms, and one’s mental capabilities are determined by performance in those settings. However, by further exploring self-driven interests, students can develop valuable skills applicable outside of school. Without the progression brought by non-academic activities, students would remain in a black-and-white world.

References

• Graff, G. (2001). Hidden Intellectualism. In They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. W. W. Norton & Company.