Weeding Out?

There was a great story on NPR yesterday about how Harvey Mudd College is addressing the gender gap in Computer Science. I'd nominate their skateboarding president, Maria Klawe, as an educational arsonist. 

"A lot of universities have this kind of weed-out class," says Kate Finlay, a student at nearby Scripps College who's taking Lewis' course. "The first class you take is a weed-out class, and they are shocked by the fact they don't get any women at the end. But the only people at the end are the people who have been in computer camp since they were 5."

My father told me this happened to him at medical school. And my colleague and fellow instigator, Bryan Willson, said he was told when he started engineering school: "look to your right, look to your left... by the time you graduate, only one of you will be here."

Which got me to thinking... what would the start of a "weed in" program look like. How might a program introduction be more inclusive... and less intimidating. 

A start would be “look to your right, look to your left… these are colleagues… you are responsible to help each other thru the program, which won’t be easy, but will be worth it. Together you will explore what has come before you, and imagine what will come in the future. Then you will build it, together. The history of humankind at its best is not just a history of competition, but of cooperation and collaboration. We value and admire all 3 of these qualities, and by selecting you to be part of our program, we think you do too.”

The next step might be to say “look to your right, look to your left… who is missing? Why? As you embark on your education, remember how fortunate you are to be here, and consider whether you feel you have an obligation to fill another seat by reaching out to help others prepare for their education. We have a multitude of programs where you can work with younger students, mentor…. How will you define success during your academic career? Will it be based on building knowledge in your own head and capability in your own hands? or will it extend to building knowledge and capability in our larger community?”
Hugs would, of course, be optional.

Picture (of) a Startup

I have been using this diagram recently, since I think it captures the ideal of a startup visually. The original idea came from Damien Newman, who used it to illustrate the messiness of the creative product design process. Last year, the 5 Whys blog added Steve Blank's customer development milestones. My "contribution"? The bubbles.  

Gifted.

This post was spurred by an article about my son, Peter, who has been high lining for seven years. But these feelings can be triggered by watching anyone who does something amazing. Where you pause and marvel at their grace and apparent ease in doing something difficult. They do things that were beyond imagination a short time ago.

Too often, we use the words "blessed" or "gifted" to describe these people. I think that is a mistake, and drives self-defeating behavior. In my observation, these aren't gifts- they are the results of hard work + passion (often bordering on obsession) + other experiences (often related) they bring to bear. And imagination. Sure, some people have more genetic predilection than others, but I have lived long enough to see these comets burn out. They may get a head start, but they rarely keep their lead if they don't have these qualities. None of which are inherited, and all of which can be learned, or at least chosen.

But rather than focus on the "gifted," let's focus on how we react to them. Do they make us jealous and resentful? (I admit I have felt this way more than once.) Or competitive? Or grateful and humble? When you see them, do you give up, knowing that you will never be that good? Do they fire your competitive juices? Or do you try to learn from them, hoping that they can help you perform better, even if you never reach their heights?

Next time you find yourself thinking that someone is gifted (your friend, competitor, colleague or kid), think about how hard they must have worked to make it look so easy.  These talented people can inspire you to try harder, or provide the reality test that you may be better suited to other work.

The real gift of the "gifted" is that they can make you better, either at what they and you do, or at something entirely different. Perhaps, their gift will help you find the last piece of the puzzle that you need. The ease and power of an athlete, the use of color and space by an artist, the use of dissonance and improvisation by the musician, the surprising story of a writer.

So, what would you want to be gifted in? And how are you going to do that? Who should you read... watch... listen to... talk to? What is their gift to you? How will you use it?

And who might that help?