musing about show+tell

I thoroughly enjoyed "Show and Tell" on Monday. Given the diversity of performances, it's an amazing display of talents we have in this year's class and what people can do.

At the end of the session, 2 questions popped into my mind with accompanying thoughts of different length. One of them is short, the other is rather long.

1) For those who showed stuff from their laptops, how would you have shared your video etc. if someone in the class didn't bring a screen and speaker?
How were you going to ensure that what you want to share from your laptop can be seen and heard by 40 odd people?


As for the long-accompanying-thought question,
2) Why is it that most (almost everyone) shared about things and ideas, but not about people?
I thought it is interesting, that except for one or two, no one talked about PEOPLE.

What do I mean by that and why is it interesting? Let me explain.

Almost everyone shared about things related to "ME". MY works. MY achievements. MY failures. MY learnings. MY aspirations. MY ideas. Me, me, me and me. It's as though as, to quote a former beauty queen, "It's about ME".



All these "ME" things - Is that the only things that defines us? Is that the only things that shapes us?

Isn't there people in our lives that shaped and changed us more so than all these "ME" things? In the process of having these "ME" things, aren't there people who played a crucial role which resulted in us having these "ME" things? Isn't there people in our lives that tell us more about us than these "ME" things? Isn't there people in our lives that inspire us?

So why is it that almost everyone did not show and tell about people then? Is it because it is touted as "a session to sell yourself", that we spend more focus on revealing only the "practical" aspects of ourselves? Or have we taken these people, who played a crucial role in those "ME" things, for granted, so much so that ME should be highlighted instead of them?

And the irony is that some of you have blogged about these people, or have made mentions about the presence of such people. Yet, some made claims that they have nothing much to share during show and tell. So what stopped you from showing us about these people then?

Of course I have to walk my talk. So here's my show and tell:

This watch has significant meaning to me, as it is given by my kids who are closest to me (yes I have 80+ kids. Not biological though. :P)They remind me why I chose what I do and why I want to do it that way. It affirms my choice and drives me in what I do.

Since I've known them about 4 years ago, they've remain an inspiration to me everyday. The reason why I have the same drive for life and optimism I have today, is because of them. The reason why I believe what I believe in today, is because of them. The reason why I can step on the path I'm taking today with full conviction and belief, is because of them.

Of course, this watch is too precious to me to wear it out (and they'll tell me it's very cheap). But I told them I will wear it from a specified special day, to remind me of them and how they've inspired me.

And so, this is my show-and-tell.