The video highlights the need for a shift in the educational framework, illustrated through personal stories that emphasize the struggles faced by students due to the overwhelming focus on academic performance. Dr. Imran Versi introduces Jason, a young man overwhelmed by the pressure to excel academically, which leads him down a self-destructive path. The narrative underscores similar pressures faced by a 14-year-old girl forced into a supportive role for her family, resulting in deteriorating mental health. These stories spotlight the immense stress students face from academic expectations and the lack of emotional and psychological support.

Dr. Versi argues for the implementation of holistic education, which addresses not only academic but also emotional, psychological, and physical needs. The video presents a vision of a more inclusive educational system, where learning environments are supportive and nurturing, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence in students. He emphasizes that such an approach can prevent psychological breakdowns and prepare students for future challenges by ensuring they have the right tools to succeed in a constantly evolving world.

Main takeaways from the video:

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Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. holistic [həˈlɪstɪk] - (adjective) - Considering the whole rather than just parts; comprehensive and integrated. - Synonyms: (comprehensive, integrated, inclusive)

holistic education is the comprehensive approach that enables somebody to enhance their emotional, psychological and physical and academic needs in an integrated learning format.

2. vicious cycle [ˈvɪʃəs ˈsaɪkəl] - (noun) - A sequence of reciprocal cause and effect events that only worsen the problem. - Synonyms: (downward spiral, loop, cycle)

And this vicious cycle of being able to and not being able to and not being able to perform only led him to be totally isolated, without any friends, unable to do anything at all.

3. burnout [ˈbɜrnˌaʊt] - (noun) - A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. - Synonyms: (fatigue, exhaustion, weariness)

Students face a lot of mental stress, anxiety and burnout.

4. coping mechanisms [ˈkoʊpɪŋ ˈmɛkəˌnɪzəmz] - (noun) - Strategies that help manage stress and difficult emotions. - Synonyms: (adaptation strategies, coping strategies, stress management tactics)

nobody to teach her coping mechanisms.

5. inclusive [ɪnˈkluːsɪv] - (adjective) - Not excluding any of the parties or groups involved in something. - Synonyms: (all-encompassing, all-embracing, comprehensive)

Instead of being partial and incomplete, we now need to be inclusive and holistic in our approach.

6. emotional intelligence [ɪˈmoʊʃənəl ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns] - (noun) - The ability to recognize and manage one’s own emotions and the emotions of others. - Synonyms: (empathy, self-awareness, social skills)

If schools are to produce future leaders, then these leaders need to have critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, creativity and resilience.

7. societal norms [səˈsaɪətl nɔrmz] - (noun) - Accepted standards or expectations within a society. - Synonyms: (social standards, cultural norms, social conventions)

to relearn practical and updated knowledge that would make a person thrive in a world where I information, technology and societal norms are constantly changing.

8. critical thinking [ˈkrɪtɪkəl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ] - (noun) - The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue to form a judgment. - Synonyms: (analytic reasoning, logical reasoning, problem solving)

They are more creative and responsible, and they have more critical thinking skills

9. self-destructive [sɛlf-dɪˈstrʌktɪv] - (adjective) - Behaving in a manner that is harmful or potentially harmful to oneself. - Synonyms: (self-sabotaging, damaging, harmful)

Dr. Imran Versi introduces Jason, a young man overwhelmed by the pressure to excel academically, which leads him down a self-destructive path.

10. intrinsically [ɪnˈtrɪnsɪkli] - (adverb) - In a manner that is inborn or essential; inherently. - Synonyms: (innately, inherently, essentially)

Instead, they would have that intrinsic motivation to wake up every day and go to school.

Why our schools should be more holistic - Imran VERSI - TEDxKitisuru

Jason, a 22 year old young man, came to me when he was at the brink of disaster. Jason grew up in a household where academic performance meant everything. Success was measured by how good your grades were. And yes, we have all attended school, and yes, it played an important role in shaping who we are today. However, education has changed from what it was to what it is today. Many schools are realizing that it's not just about a strong foundation in academics. It's not just about the academic performance, but a lot more.

I am Doctor Imran Versi, and I am currently in my final year of residency in the department of psychiatry at the University of Nairobi. However, today my focus is on a matter that is much more important, that is trickling down to challenges in psychiatry. holistic education is the comprehensive approach that enables somebody to enhance their emotional, psychological and physical and academic needs in an integrated learning format. It's not only about the academic performance, however, it's a lot more.

You see, Jason's brothers were all a students, and that meant Jason had big shoes to fill. And you don't want to go through a nervous breakdown when you are trying to learn. Your brain cannot be excited and start deteriorating at the same time as when you are trying to nourish it. With education in university, in order to live up to what was expected of him, Jason spent his entire time locked in his room studying 24/7 in the beginning; he needed lots of coffee to stay awake. After a while, the coffee wasn't cutting it. He needed something more, something else, something stronger. And so his research led him to somewhere else.

And the adverse effects of this was that he ended up bunking school, bunking classes. He was either not able to get there on time or not at all. And this vicious cycle of being able to and not being able to and not being able to perform only led him to be totally isolated, without any friends, unable to do anything at all.

Students face a lot of mental stress, anxiety and burnout. All of us come from different walks of life, and we have expectations of our own as youth. However, sometimes family expectations can become a ball and chain on our ankles. I remember a 14 year old young girl who came from a broken family background, and she was expected to perform very well academically. She was expected to have the best of grades so that she could financially support her mother's extended family side.

Now, you see, this girl is facing a problem of her own and now has to bear the burden of the world on her shoulders. I will come back to this young girl's story in a few because we need to realize it's not just about academics, and this stress is just not a problem in education. But somebody can lose their lives. Is academics on its own important in this case? Is it just about the grades? If the teacher's job is just to teach math and physics and chemistry, which, by the way, they do very well, but then why is it that students cannot cope emotionally? Or is there something more important than just academic performance?

Of course, this young 14 year old girl's grades became C's instead of a's. Sadly, at that moment, there's nobody to confide in the who, do you talk to? There's pressure at home, there's pressure at school, nobody to teach her coping mechanisms. And then you end up in that same vicious cycle of feeling worthless and unable to do anything.

Elvin Toffler once said, the illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. In the past, being literate simply meant the ability to read and write. But in today's time, literacy is a much broader concept. It encompasses the ability to learn new things, to unlearn outdated information, and to relearn practical and updated knowledge that would make a person thrive in a world where information, technology and societal norms are constantly changing.

Instead of being partial and incomplete, we now need to be inclusive and holistic in our approach. holistic learning has so many benefits. When you incorporate physical and mental development, when you incorporate social emotional learning on top of the core curriculum, you end up having students with less mental health issues. They are more creative and responsible, and they have more critical thinking skills.

If this was the case with this young 14 year old girl, she would have the coping mechanisms to deal with her parents situation. She would be able to confide in a teacher and share the problems she was facing, how her friends would be a support network for her in her time of need. With holistic education, she would not be where she was.

I want us to look at all of you very well dressed, ladies and gentlemen, here today. You're all very well dressed. I mean, all of you look like bachelors, or at least most of you, as you are trying to prepare for this event. You may be prepared for this event today. Or maybe last night you opened your cupboard and the first thing that came to your mind was, I need to wear this shirt or this dress and pair it with this trouser as it makes a flawless match. The colors fit perfectly. Or this blazer with these shoes.

How is it that when we think about our food, our dress, our clothes, our houses and rooms. We are very holistic and try to match and complement everything so that it makes one perfect fit. But when it comes to our education, if the foundation is strong, then that child or that student will be emotionally, physically, and psychologically capable throughout their lives instead of only focusing on grades and whether or not the student is in perfect uniform or exactly on time.

If we were to make a school so good and inclusive and holistic, you know what would be the greatest advantage? The greatest advantage would be that when that student wakes up in the morning, he or she would be wanting to, willing to, and waiting to go to school. That school would no longer be a burden for them. Instead, they would have that intrinsic motivation to wake up every day and go to school.

You know, when you look at statistics of young boys and girls, teenagers and students, check the who and the CDC statistics, you would be shocked. The results are surprising. But how is this possible when we have the best infrastructure in school? How is this possible that clever, smart, a star students end up having issues and challenges with their physical and mental health? How is this possible when we have state of the art labs and libraries?

How is this possible when we have the most qualified teachers teaching math and physics and chemistry and biology so well? You know why? Because we only focus on teaching math and physics and chemistry and biology. And that is a problem.

You know, my mentor once told me, and I'll never forget this, he said, focusing just on academics or just on grades is like going to the gym and just working out on your left arm. Imagine for seven years, you just go to the gym and use one dumbbell on your left hand. After seven years, your left arm would look like that of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and your right bicep would look like, well, mine, maybe.

I'm sure many of you have watched scent of a woman, and if you haven't, please do watch it. You could have young boys and girls, their arms torn out, their legs ripped out, but there is nothing like the sight of an amputated spirit. There is no prosthetic for that.

If schools are to produce future leaders, then these leaders need to have critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, creativity and resilience. And we have such individuals like this today. I'll give you three examples at the top of my head. Technically, you know, it's not at the top of my head because, you know, we memorized this script before coming here. But because it's TEDx, we have to show how smart we are.

Raise of hands. How many of you have used or heard of Aliexpress? Alibaba. Wow. 80. What are you guys buying online? 80%. Okay, thank you. Most of you have heard of Aliexpress. So you have heard of the founder, Jack Mayoune. But how many of us know of his struggles? Raise of hands. How many of you have an iPhone? Wow, that's like 70%. Great.

Thank you. 70% of you have an iPhone. How many of us know where Steve Jobs first started writing his codes from? We've all heard of Michael Jordan, but how many of us know of his struggles before he became the famous Michael Jordan? You think their lives were not filled with failures and struggles before they became successful?

When you have an upbringing that is holistic, you then have the necessary equipment to become successful. What does the future hold if our education becomes a holistic learning experience? What would the future look like if we can make changes today? What would the future of that student look like who has a teacher that is an inspiration to them, that rope to guide them into the light?

What would the future look like if parents, teachers and school admins make changes to accommodate for holistic learning? What if schools have peer support groups that provide a safe space for students to talk about their challenges and the problems that they are facing? It doesn't necessarily have to be a physical platform. VSS virtual safe space is an online platform that has professionals that help students who go through these challenges.

What would the future look like if teachers were trained not on what to teach, but how to teach, how to connect with their student? Just not and beyond the classroom, not just confined into the walls of the classroom? What if teachers were to incorporate critical thinking skills by stimulating discussions in their classrooms? What would the future look like if parents play an active role in their child's life? What if instead of driving to school, you take a walk to school?

If it's close by, that walk might not be a very long walk, but the connection built between a parent and their child during that time invaluable. Envision a school which promotes regular physical activity and nutrition education as part of their curriculum to show the importance of a healthy lifestyle. You would end up having students who are not only mentally, but also physically capable.

I know what most of you are thinking now. It's ironic how I am talking about physical fitness and nutrition because clearly. But you know, don't take me as a benchmark for this. How awesome would it be for the future of our students and children if parents were to have one meal with their children every day, just one meal to connect with them emotionally, to break that barrier of communication between a parent and their child so that that child can then open up to their parents.

I present to you hash oMt. Those who are writing it down, please write it down. Hash omt. One meal together. Just one meal. And by the way, if this gets viral, then I claim copyright.

Envision schools with on site counsellors and psychologists who would be able to help students who are undergoing mental trauma. What if schools were to organize workshops and seminars, bringing in mental health professionals who would teach their students stress management and positive coping mechanisms? What would the future look like if schools were to train their staff members to become mental health first aiders to be able to identify the red flag signs and symptoms in their students?

What would the future look like if teachers understood the art of connection with their students? I grew up in Tanzania. I had a classmate in standard seven who used to witness domestic violence at home. That boy couldn't focus in class. Headaches one day. The other day, tummy aches. The third day headaches. Any excuse to go back home. Because he couldn't focus in class, his mind was somewhere else.

Teachers, instead of helping him, some of them used to taunt him and punish him and scold him. And they used to use sarcastic remarks whenever he used to come to school.

Oh, the mighty king has finally arrived after three days of sleeping at home, would his excellency like a cup of coffee? But there was this one teacher who held him when he was down, who understood the art of connection with her students. Instead of taking lunch with her co teachers, she used to sit and have lunch with him until he would end up confiding and trusting and building that connection with the teacher.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have told you three stories tonight. And each of these stories has a common ground. All of these stories have one similarity. You remember Jason at the beginning, who was at the brink of disaster. He was brought to me at the psychiatric outpatient department by his teacher. You remember the 14 year old young girl who was overwhelmed by stress. She had self cutting marks. It was this one teacher who recognized that this student is going through something, and she got him her the help that she needed.

And my classmate of standard seven, it was this one teacher who held him when he was down and got him the help that he needed. And today, he is one of the most successful businessmen in his country. Teachers play a very important role in shaping future leaders. So what can we do to advocate for holistic learning? What can I do? What can you do as parents, as teachers, as staff members, as older siblings.

You know, in a famous narration, Jesus, peace be upon him, was one day walking in a graveyard along with his disciples. Along the way, they came across a dog. One of the disciples exclaimed, what a foul smelling dog this is. Jesus, peace be upon him, immediately responded and said, but look at the intensity of the whiteness of its teeth. Meaning, yes, this dog might be foul smelling, but still it has one characteristic you don't have. Its teeth are whiter than yours.

Ladies and gentlemen. Similarly, we all have our own set of skills, talents, and abilities. What if parents were to use their skill set to improve the art of connection with their children? What if teachers were to use their expertise to improve the art of connection with their students? What if school administrators were to sit and think as to what changes can be made to the curriculum so as to enhance the social, emotional, and psychological well being of their students?

holistic education builds character. Don't destroy it. Protect it, embrace it, nurture it. And if we are able to do that, then one day these future leaders will make us all proud. Thank you so much for giving me your time and have a lovely day. Thank you.

Education, Holistic Learning, Mental Health, Inspiration, Innovation, Leadership, Tedx Talks