Starting Spiritual Practice
What can student clubs teach beyond academic coursework?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Clubs introduce things beyond textbooks, provide practice relating to people, and help discover interests. Grades are part of learning, but cooperation, expressing ideas, and talking with different people also need participation and gradual practice.
I studied chemical engineering and only later understood more clearly that I preferred literature and communications. I joined speech, debate, drama, and literature clubs, performed plays, and invested considerable effort. Looking back, these were important gains from student life and helped me know my interests.
Dao Xuan shared enjoying clubs and conversation as a student, with interpersonal skills later helping in foreign companies and large businesses. Dao Xuan said a school transcript is not the same as a future payslip. This was personal study and work experience, reminding people to engage with others and understand their activities as well as study.
When nurturing children, therefore, ask not only about scores but what activities they enjoy and what qualities emerge. Considering coursework alongside these experiences helps us know the child rather than only grades.
YOYO placed particular value on interpersonal learning in clubs: working with classmates, senior and junior students, judging appropriate limits, and cooperating toward shared goals. Clubs need not only develop one specialty; they can teach relationships with different people.