Image Source:Artificial Intelligence
Hi everyone, Shalom Aleichem!
Good evening GanSist everyone! 
Welcome back to the Supergirl Series, a series that discusses how teenage girls aged 12–18 years can grow into strong individuals from various sides, namely physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. In previous series, we have discussed many things about teenagers.
On Supergirl SeriesIn this 17th, we will discuss something that is often misunderstood by many people, namely intelligence.
In school, grades are often used as a measure of success. On social media, people who answer questions quickly are considered smarter. In the surrounding environment, there is an opinion that smart teenagers will definitely be successful. However, is it true that being smart only means having high grades or a large IQ? The answer is certainly not that simple.
Intelligence is indeed an extraordinary gift from God. However, without good wisdom, intelligence can actually turn into arrogance, a tool to humiliate others, or even become psychological pressure for its owner.
For this reason, in this thread we will use a simple acronym so that it is easy to remember, namely MAUDY, which is inspired by the artist Maudy Ayunda. Not just to remember the name of the artist, but as a reminder of how to look at intelligence more holistically.
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M: Making Intelligence a Gratitude to God, Not to Please Others
Many young girls study very hard because they want to get praise. They want to be praised by teachers. They want to be considered smart by their friends. They want to make their parents proud. All of that is certainly not wrong. However, if the main goal of learning is only to seek approval from others, one day this motivation will easily collapse.
Why? Because humans cannot always get praise. There are times when values go down. There are times when other people are greater. There are times when our efforts are not appreciated. If our entire identity depends on other people’s judgments, our self-esteem will also rise and fall according to their opinions.
On the other hand, if intelligence is seen as a form of gratitude to God, the orientation changes. Learning is a form of responsibility for the talents that God has entrusted to us. Good grades are no longer just a trophy to show off, but rather the result of loyalty in developing the abilities that have been given.
This kind of perspective makes a person more humble, less arrogant when they succeed, and also less easily discouraged when they fail because the measure of success is not just human applause, but their sincerity in using their talents responsibly.
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A: Think of IQ as a Tool for Empathy, Not as a Tool for Competition
When they hear the word IQ, many people immediately imagine a race. Who is the smartest? Who is ranked first? Who understands the lesson the fastest? In fact, intelligence has a much broader function than just winning competitions.
Intelligent people have a greater opportunity to understand other people’s difficulties, can provide learning motivation to stupid friends (without cheating), are able to find solutions when conflict occurs, and can think about various points of view before making a decision. In other words, intelligence can be a tool for doing good.
Research in the field of psychology also shows that success in life is not only influenced by cognitive abilities, but also by the ability to work together, understand emotions, and build healthy social relationships. This means that people who are really smart are not only able to answer exam questions quickly, but are also able to make other people feel appreciated.
Imagine there are two teenage girls. The first one always gets perfect grades, but likes to make fun of stupid friends. The second gets equally good grades, but is willing to motivate his stupid friends without having to cheat. Who brings more benefits to the environment? The answer is of course clear.
Intelligence combined with empathy will produce a much greater impact than intelligence that is only used to compete.
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U: Change Identity, Don’t Just Change Schedule
Many teenagers make study schedules. Monday studying Mathematics. Tuesday learning English. Wednesday studying Biology.
Schedules are important. However, research on habit formation shows that the most lasting changes in behavior don’t start with schedules, but with self-identity.
For example, instead of saying that you have to learn English, it is better to say that it is not you who is reluctant to learn English. The difference seems simple. However, the impact is big. The first sentence only talks about activities. The second sentence talks about who we are.
When someone changes their identity to become someone who enjoys learning, learning no longer feels like a punishment. Learning will become a part of him. Likewise, when Sista says that Sista is a disciplined person, it will be easier for Sista to do her assignments on time. Not because you were forced to, but because that is the identity you want to maintain.
Changing identity is much more powerful than simply making a list of activities that are often forgotten.
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D: Push Yourself to Be Not Only Smart, but Empathetic
In the modern world, information is very easy to obtain. Artificial intelligence is able to answer questions. The internet provides millions of articles. Learning videos are available for free.
If so, what differentiates humans? One of them is the ability to care. Empathy cannot be replaced by machines. Empathy makes someone love fellow humans as they love themselves. Empathy makes someone understand the sadness of others. Empathy makes someone help without having to be asked.
Teenagers who are smart but lack empathy may become academically successful. However, he does not necessarily become a person who is loved by the environment.
On the other hand, teenagers who combine intelligence and empathy will find it easier to build cooperation, be trusted by many people, and become respected leaders.
It is not surprising that various leadership studies show that the ability to understand other people is an important factor in effective leadership.
So, don’t just ask how Sista gets smarter, but also ask how Sista’s intelligence makes other people’s lives better.
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Y: Be assured that Sista is DEFINITELY wise, not because you are smart, but because you are human (A wise man) who received a call from God to be wise
This is the most important part. Many people think that wisdom equals high IQ, but this is not the case. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge correctly in life. A person can have an extraordinarily high IQ, but make the wrong decisions. On the other hand, someone with ordinary intellectual abilities can make very wise decisions.
Why is that? Because wisdom does not only involve logic. Wisdom also involves empathy, moral values, experience, humility, the ability to control impulses, and a willingness to learn throughout life.
As a human (A wise man), we have different abilities from animals, namely the ability to empathize, learn from experience, and reflect on our own actions. It is this ability that allows us to grow in wisdom.
This means that every Sista has the opportunity to become a wise person. Not because you have to be top of the class. Not because you have to have a very high IQ. Not because you have to beat your friends. But because as humans, we are called by God to use empathy and self-control as a form of that Man is a personal image of God.
When intelligence is combined with wisdom, you not only ask whether you are able to do this, but also whether this is the right thing to do. This second question is what often differentiates intelligent people from wise people.
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Intelligence Is a Means, Not an End
In life, intelligence is only one of the provisions. There is still empathy. There is still discipline. There’s still mental health. There is still the ability to work together. There is still spirituality. There is still integrity.
People who only pursue intelligence will probably become members. However, a person who develops all aspects of his life will become a whole person.
As a teenager, you have a huge opportunity to grow into a person who is physically strong, mentally healthy, socially wise and spiritually faithful.
That is the spirit that continues to be built in the Supergirl Series. Being a strong girl doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. Being a strong girl means continuing to grow into the best version of yourself, while bringing benefits to others.
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CLOSURE
If shortened, being a smart teenager can be remembered through the acronym MAUDY, which was inspired by the artist Maudy Ayunda.
M: Making intelligence a gratitude to God, not to please others.
A: Think of IQ as a tool for empathy, not as a tool for competition
U: Change identity, don’t just change schedule
D: Push yourself to be not only smart, but also empathetic
Y: Be assured that Sista is DEFINITELY wise not because you are smart, but because you are human (A wise man) who received a call from God to be wise
Hopefully after reading this thread, Sista will no longer chase intelligence just for the sake of grades or praise. Make intelligence a means to thank God, serve others, grow in faith, and use humanity wisely. Because, the world not only needs intelligent people, but also needs people who are wise, humble and empathetic.
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SOURCE
One Hundred Percent Male Y*ut*be Account (but adapted for women)
Aristotle. (2009). Nicomachean Ethics (W. D. Ross, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (The original work was published around the 4th century BC).
Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
James, W. (1983). The principles of psychology. Harvard University Press. (Original work published 1890).
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Sinek, S. (2009). Start with why: How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Portfolio.
VanderWeele, T. J. (2017). On the promotion of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 114(31)8148–8156.
Walton, G. M., & Wilson, T. D. (2018). Wise interventions: Psychological remedies for social and personal problems. Psychological Review, 125(5)617–655.
World Health Organization. (2021). Adolescent mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-s…-mental-health
