Hidden Intellectualism: The Importance of Non-academic Interests

It is assumed that what is learned inside a classroom is relevant to determining our intelligence and everything else is not. Many assume that street smarts does not equate the same amount of intelligence as what is learned in school, because a standardized test contains more useful material than the content in a magazine. However, activities that are not offered or are an optional in school has their own level of intelligence. Although subjects taught in a classroom setting encourages one type of intelligence, a range of skills can be discovered from following a desired interest. For example, photography have impacted society in a variety of ways, and most people don’t consider the intelligence in this matter. Through my personal experience, investing time in photography helped me access a crucial form of intelligence, in which taught me how to self-reflect, plan ahead, and change perspective. In photography, I learned how to self-reflect from looking through the photos I take. In order to properly utilize self-reflection one must see things with a critical eye. Having a critical eye, in my opinion, means to judge and analyze the details with reasoning, and after I upload photos, it is important to analyze each of them. This is Ia critical skill to hone because by realizing mistakes and considering new alternatives, it can be carried over to the next session. Being understanding towards flaws that are found in the images can lead to improvement. However, school doesn’t teach the same type of intelligence in this way, because it is not considered to be on the same level of intelligence. 

Writer of the essay They say i say: Hidden Intellectualism, Gerald Graff goes into details on the importance of why non-academic interest should be integrated into learning materials for schools. In Graff’s essay he explains “...the sports world was more compelling than school because it was more intellectual than school, not less' (Graff, 438). From Graff experience he found that through learning from sports he was able to incorporate his knowledge into greater lengths. In an image I took a couple years back I recall reflecting on the turnout, but because I was understanding on the matter I was able to calmly pick out what I could’ve done better and what I couldn’t have change. From there I see improvement in each secession and the different shots that are taken. Self-reflection brings a reason to avoid repeating past mistakes and it allows one to further improve. In general, the camera can be very unforgiving. Having the ability to plan ahead is a skill, and not a subject taught in a classroom. A slight miss of a second can be the difference of having the ideal image or dissatisfaction. With preparation, you are able to minimize distractions and it makes time for the best circumstance for a good photo to be taken. For a Prom photoshoot, I was given the opportunity to take pictures of students from another school. Since I was in charge of the location and the time, I planned a couple days ahead by I was looking at pictures of parks, looking through weather reports, and also ensuring my camera were 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 role. Exactly how we are with the camera, if we miss the shot for an event and if our timing is off even by a little, it can potentially be the loss of an opportunity. Figuratively, we face problems nearly every day, and at times problem solving is rather difficult, however by viewing in different perspectives we are able to work through them. In a subject like math, there is often a one way solution, however real life problems are often looked from multiple perspectives. 

In my area of interest I pursue it by looking at the skills that go beyond than its concept. In photography I am able to solve problems with the lighting, background conflict, or the camera features. In cases where I took photographs of birds in Hawaii, a problem I had was the constant movement, having the ability to capture the right moment meant concentrating onto a single spot surrounded by a multitude of movement, and it also required me to change the functions on my camera. Other factors that may change the quality of an image can be from looking at a higher or a ground level angle, and moving in a different spot. Turning the camera from horizontal to vertical is a simple change, but it moves to a new perspective. In conflicts, we able to apply those skills and work with another angle, go a few steps back, or use an obvious but overlooked solution. The ability to be reflective, manage time by preparing ahead, and changing perspective can be practiced through photography. 

Generally, many are conditioned to believe being intelligent requires learning materials taught in classrooms, and one’s mental capabilities are determined from how well they perform on those terms. However, by further exploring a self-driven interest, students can grow valuable skills that can be engaged outside of school. Without the progression brought by nonacademic activities students would remain living in a black and white world.