Praise Diverse Talents

In the heart of every Nepali household, there is a familiar story. It starts with the pressure of the SEE, the weight of being a "topper," and the silent hope of parents that their child will one day wear a white coat or carry an engineering degree. Our society has built a narrow pedestal for success. If you can solve a complex equation or master a physics formula, you are seen as a genius. But if you struggle with numbers, if you hesitate while calculating change at the local kirana shop, or if math feels like a wall you cannot climb, the world quickly labels you as "lazy," "weak," or "careless." We need to stop and ask: Is it really a lack of effort? Or are we judging a fish by its ability to fly?

For many of us, the problem isn't laziness. It is about a concept called numeracy. Most people think numeracy is just simple addition or subtraction. In reality, it is a deep-seated cognitive skill. It is how our brain understands time, measures distances, manages money, and recognises patterns in the world around us. Just as some people are born with a natural gift for languages, others are born with a brain that processes numerical data differently. This isn't a choice, and it certainly isn't a sign of low intelligence. 

We may often mistake "rote learning" for actual intelligence. We may celebrate the student who can memorise a textbook but overlook the one who can compose a beautiful song, lead a football team to victory, or paint a masterpiece that captures the soul of our mountains.

When a student struggles with science or mathematics, they aren't just fighting the subject; they are fighting a battle against shame. They are tired of being called "slow" or "dumb" by teachers and relatives. This constant blame creates an emotional wound that lasts far longer than any school term. It destroys self-confidence and breeds an anxiety that makes learning even harder.

If you or a friend finds it hard to navigate these specific areas, know that you are not alone. These are not signs of a "weak mind" but of a different way of learning: Difficulty in understanding the order of numbers or quantities, struggling to remember basic math facts even after hours of practice, getting confused with time management or counting money, finding it hard to estimate distances or measurements and feeling a sense of panic or "brain fog" when faced with a numerical task

These challenges should be met with support, not punishment. If a student cannot learn the way we teach, perhaps we should teach the way they learn. Your talent is your superpower. Nepal is a country built on diverse talents. From our world-class artists and musicians to our innovative entrepreneurs and athletes, very few of them reached the top because they were experts at trigonometry. They succeeded because they found their own "special gift."

Intelligence is a vast ocean, and mathematics is just one small island. If you are a student who feels "weak" in science or math, please listen: You are not a failure. Your brain is wired for something else, something perhaps more creative, more empathetic, or more practical.