Goal Setting Archives

News

August 30, 2019

Foundation for a Brighter Tomorrow

Free Trial, Goal Setting, Math, The Kumon Method

belleperez

Robert Bryan Yee did not have any plans of enrolling in Kumon. His mother just told him to join a 2-Week Free Trial at a nearby Kumon Center. What made him excited was when he found out about the topics per level and the level of difficulty for each. This was because he loves to take challenges especially the mental ones. From there, Bryan realized that math is not really a boring subject after all. What makes a big difference is how the topic is presented and how he deals with it.

Developing Skills in Kumon

Kumon developed Bryan in a number of ways. It taught him to be independent in his studies, manage his time properly, and gain self-confidence when it comes to academics. Kumon also gave him an upper hand in dealing with mathematics when he reached college. In fact, Bryan feels happy because through his determination, perseverance and hard work, he was able to achieve his goal.

It was easy for Bryan to understand mathematical problems, even the complex ones; thus, it gave him more time to focus on other subjects and activities. As a result, studying in school became less stressful for him and it gave him more time to cool off his mind.

“I was getting high scores in math particularly in college algebra, trigonometry, and calculus even if I did not make much effort in reviewing my lessons. Kumon had already instilled in my mind the mentioned topics before I went to college.”

Kumon also changed the way Bryan thinks. He became more analytical in thinking and he made decisions clearer and faster. In his chosen career as a quality assurance chemist, it is imperative to think fast and be analytical in approaching problems. From answering tons of problems, Kumon shaped him into a person with strong determination and passion.

“If there is something I would love to do, I would do it with passion and I am determined to finish it until the end. I may experience many failures in life; but for me, it is all right to fail. Failure is like a part of a jigsaw puzzle. The more failures I have, the more I will know what is right for me, which will complete the whole puzzle that is success. “

But most of all, because of Kumon, Bryan developed positive thinking in all matters. Whenever he faces a challenge, be it in life or school, he can calmly say to himself that he can make it through and there is no need to panic. He developed the kind of thinking that if others can do it, so can he.

Parental Support

Aside from financial support, Bryan‘s parents supported him by giving him space in studying. “After I came home from school, they would always let me do my own thing. It is hard to focus while studying for both Kumon and school as it demands great effort, so I think they understood the situation I had since they would avoid disturbing me or giving me chores until I was done.”

For visits to the Center, Bryan’s father would always make an effort to fetch him together with his brother even if he had work to attend to. He is thankful for his father’s unconditional love and support. On the other hand, his mother would always give him encouragement to achieve more. She would always tell him to do his best so that he can create a milestone. Also, because of her, Bryan took up the elective math levels in Kumon – Level X. “She told me that what I would learn would be relevant to me and the additional knowledge gained would be helpful when I reach college.”

This guiding principle led Bryan to become successful. He graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry. Luckily, he made it to the top 8 in the Chemistry Board Examination last October 2016. “I am very thankful for my mother’s continuous push for me to finish the program. She really is the wind beneath my wings that helped me to fly high, achieve my ambition, and pursue my dreams in life.”

Road to Completion

The advice that Bryan can give to those who are aspiring to become Completers and experiencing difficulties is never to think of giving up. Having this kind of thought could lead them to a dull mentality and it will be harder for them to think clearly.

“If you are having any difficulties, always remember that you did not reach that point if you did not understand the previous topics. Always be mindful of the basics when dealing with complex topics – that is the most fundamental rule when learning new material. If the topic still overwhelms you and needs extra effort to be analyzed, seek help from your instructor and vent out your frustrations to your parents.”

And most importantly, Bryan encourages aspiring Completers to enjoy the program.

“Continue to strive for greatness. Always remember that hard work, perseverance, diligence and dedication always follow success. Make that your motivation and you are good to go.”

Bryan’s inspiration to complete the program then were the Completers who came before him. When he saw the names and faces posted on the list of Completers in the Kumon Center, he said to myself, “I want to be in there, too.” He wanted to finish the program just like them, but he never thought that he could finish it sooner than they did. And miraculously, Bryan did achieve that – and so much more.

By being enrolled in both the Math and Reading Programs, Arselene was able to notice a significant improvement in two aspects of her work. First, she was able to improve on her carelessness and her tendency to commit errors in solving math problems; and second, she was able to develop her comprehension skills and a love for reading. Through the years, Kumon continued to play a big part in propelling her to success in school and in her chosen career. In fact, she was awarded as one of the Top Employees of BDO in 2014.

The pull to continue

Just like any other student, there were times that Arselene really wanted to give up. She can still remember the extra hours she spent in the Center with her Kumon Instructor just to finish my Math and Reading worksheets. There were times when she felt that she already knew how to solve a difficult problem in math, but the next problems got even more difficult. There were also times when she still could not understand a passage even after reading it a number of times.

“I was blessed enough to have two supportive mothers, my mom and my Kumon Instructor, Teacher Nelia. Both of them have always encouraged me to continue and finish Kumon. They would always tell me that once I finish, I will be able to see the benefits of all my hard work and effort. In fact, my mom would always remind me that there is always happiness and fulfillment after all the sacrifices.”

The push to complete

What really pushed Arselene to complete the program were three things: first, she was driven by her mantra of having to finish what she started. “I realized that if I just quit, I might develop the habit of starting things and not completing them.”

Second, she was inspired by how people saw her as a role model. “Relatives and family friends wanted their own children to be just like me – excelling in school and sharing the knowledge with friends. This made me realize that what I was doing then was a blessing to me and the people around me.“

Last, she developed perseverance and patience to work hard. When faced with the challenge of solving difficult topics in the worksheets, she learned to do her best. “All my efforts would be put to waste if I did not achieve the ultimate goal of completion. What really helped me get through it all was the support of everyone, especially my parents and Kumon teachers.”

The pull to be better

There are four things Arselene is most thankful for in her Kumon journey. One is her love for reading. She was not a reader back then; but through reading passages and borrowing books from the mini library every Center day, she eventually became a reader who reads and buys books whenever she visit the bookstore. “I even have a mini library at home filled with books from all genres. Throughout my journey, I have developed my reading comprehension ability and widened my vocabulary.”

Two is her preparedness for her academic life. Kumon helped Arselene be better prepared for entrance exams and for other academic responsibilities. She was an advanced student so she learned topics ahead of time – and these were the topics that came out in the entrance exams. She also developed mental calculation ability which helped me solve math problems faster.

Third is her value for patience and time management. “For patience, I learned that all things can be achieved in good time and with a lot of hard work. For time management, I learned that I must always keep my deadline in mind so that I avoid postponing my tasks to the next day and eventually end up with a long list of things to do.”

The push to do her best

In her career, Arselene has been able to apply certain practices that she used to do when I was in Kumon. She has been with BDO for six years, where she started as an Accounting Assistant in the Tordesillas Branch in Makati City. This position involved making sure that each and every transaction that the teller makes is correct and that the cash flow is balanced. If there are discrepancies, she has to go through and check all the transactions and documents to spot the mistake.

“In order to ensure that the transactions are balanced, patience and perseverance are needed when I work through the calculations– similar to how I answered and corrected difficult topics in Kumon.”

Recently, the area head got Arselene as her Administrative Assistant. Compared to her previous position, her current position calls for her to consolidate month end reports, requests, and requirements that the 27 branches under a certain area would need. “I make use of my time management skills to be able to cater to all the requests and to all other tasks that need to be done.”

Also, Arselene was lucky to be included as one of the Top Employees of BDO in 2014 (Smart Frontliners). In order to qualify for this award, one would need to have a high performance rating and be an awardee for 12 consecutive months. There is an awarding ceremony where all awardees are recognized on stage with the bosses, heads of departments, and other awardees in the audience.

Push and pull for other students

What advice can Arselene give to students who are aspiring to complete the program?

“No matter how difficult the worksheets may seem, always remember that you can do it! Don’t give up and never quit – it is not an option. You may think that your parents are unfair for making you do Kumon; but in the long run, you will be able to appreciate how Kumon has changed you, and you will be able to proudly say, “I am a Kumon Completer!” Keep in mind that Kumon is not only for the improvement of your academic skills, but it also molds your character and helps you develop life skills to eventually lead a successful life.”

Tag : Goal Setting