OG Achieved his Goals: Interplay of Learner and Input

In the first month in the school, OG did not understand a word as to what was going on. He blindly followed others. In the first monthly test, he failed in all the subjects except Hindi. The reason was not the lack of knowledge but it was lack of understanding English language, as the medium of teaching and learning was English.

OG (means Olive Green) is the colour of the uniform of the Indian Army. It is also referred to an army person who tries to live and work by rules. Once upon a time, when OG was not OG (OG got his name as OG in 1968, but this is the story of 1964 when OG got an elevation by qualifying to study in a newly established Sainik School). Till then OG had studied in his village Government School in Hindi medium.

OG has now and then also had the talent of being a strategic. He devised strategies to ensure that he achieves his immediate goal in the next monthly test. His two signature talents: Input and Learner came to his rescue. He commenced learning and writing in English without caring much for the grammar. Studies were based on factual details. He also read the same chapter of Science, Geography, History, General Knowledge and other subjects in Hindi as well. This ensured total comprehension of the subjects and various topics. Since, all examinations were written, he practised writing factually correct in as near as possible in grammatically correct English. These talents became strengths and in the next monthly test he cleared all the papers except English. He got promoted.

                Real tipping point came after a year of investment in his talents that really became his strengths. It was the subject of geography. He knew that there will always be at least one question from the climate of the world. Besides, working hard on other topics, he put is additional hours on the climates of the world like Equatorial, the Monsoons, Mediterranean and Sub- Tropical types.  OG considered the geography teacher as the strictest and very conservative in awarding grades and marks. In a question of equatorial type of climate, OG got 19 out of 20 marks. He could not believe his eyes. For him it was like getting 100% in mathematics. In the same session he got 100% in mathematics. He also passed in English language paper. The tipping point was that he equalled in marks with the colleague who used to be topper in the class till then. Thereafter, there was no looking back.

An analysis of OG’s activities reveals that his objective was to be the topper in his class. He set a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time Specific) goals. The first step was to pass in all the subjects and then to be the topper. He worked out the strategy to write down all answers in English without caring much for the grammar. His answers were factually correct. He understood lessons by reading a book in Hindi on topics which he could neither understand in the class not by reading the text/library books in English. He got the Input from the competent and respected teachers, library and books that he possessed. His Learner talent became strengths and was successful in achieving his objectives----- thus the achievement came due a simple strategy with the interplay of Input and Learner.

Note: OG’s Signature themes are:    Learner! Achiever! Strategic! Arranger! Input

Objectives :  Strategy

Achievement = Investment x Input x Learner