sMarT oR stUpiD ?!

We’ve already heard some of our teachers and professors say “Walang taong bobo”. But whether they do mean it to be true or use this only as words of encouragement, it's hard to tell. But is there really such a classification as smart and stupid? Maybe it depends on what can be comprised under the two concepts.

When I was younger, I’ve always thought that a smart person is one who can easily grasp new ideas, one who can learn and think fast, one who can analyze and give an answer despite an incomplete information. A stupid person then is otherwise. Indeed, that’s how these two adjectives can be understood under the realm of the academe.

But can you accept the idea that our Creator would create stupid people? I think not! We are just given varied skills and talents. Doing poorly in academics does not mean that you are already stupid because surely there’s a particular area where one excels and can beat all his other classmates. May it be music, sports, arts, acting, writing, analyzing, computers, or many others…each one of us can be considered as smart.

So does that mean that the words “bobo” or “stupid” are meaningless? After all, no one is created that way…No, I think not! I believe there’s still a classification of smart and stupid persons. But my conceived idea is different from the concept with which most of us have been brought up. These two adjectives still exist but there’s a big difference between them. In addition, being smart or stupid is not inherent; it's a choice.

A smart person makes use of his talent. He knows how to hone it and he strives to be the best in that area. And yet, he uses it not only for his personal gain but also to help others. A stupid one, on the other hand, waits for luck to knock in his door and ask him to show what he’s got…which he will then realize is not enough because he is not working on it.

A smart person knows how to FOCUS. He can keep himself away from distractions and temptations while a stupid person would even work or study in an environment surrounded by these temptations. II've always thought it's about having different environments, but no...it’s about knowing how to control one’s actions given those environments.

A smart person knows what he has to do, how to do it and why he must do it. Through this, he is able to accomplish tasks effectively and efficiently. He does’t have to do everything the way others do it, he does it in a manner that would enable him to maximize his time and learning. A stupid person, on the other hand, would do certain things because he was instructed to and exactly in the way he was trained to him and without really knowing its purpose.

A smart person has goals narrowed down to Specific-Measurable-Achievable-Relevant-Time-framed objectives that could guide him on his tracks. A stupid one may not even have a vision and mission in mind.

After some careful reflection, comments that I'm smart have all drifted away because I realized that I've been the latter for most part of my life.

But it's never too late to change and be smart...and make Him proud of His creation.