Last year, Pakistan celebrated a historic moment as Arshad Nadeem, from a small village near Khanewal, stunned the world with a record breaking throw. His victory is not just a matter of national pride but a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
This journey is a powerful example of how experiential learning-the process of learning through doing and immersion-cultivates the very characteristics that made his victory possible. Understanding the importance of experiential learning is crucial to grasping how Arshad’s perseverance and success were forged.
Experiential learning is not attained as much through books as it is through the guidance of mentors. Mentorship is the key to unlocking the path of learning by doing. A mentor doesn’t just impart knowledge-they immerse you in the experience itself. They push you to act, to apply, to fail, and to learn from those failures.
While mentorship is a vital part of the journey, certain fields by their very nature force you into the realm of experiential learning. Athletes and artists are prime examples of this. These are areas where experience and practice are integral to success-where knowing is not enough; doing is everything.
The benefits of experiential learning are not confined to sports, arts, or spiritual pursuits. Once you adopt the mindset of learning through doing, this approach can be applied to any field, whether it’s engineering, business, or entrepreneurship. The discipline, focus, and resilience you develop through experiential learning in one area will carry over into others.
Knowing this reality-understanding that true knowledge comes not from words but from experience-forces you to act. It exposes the hidden constraints within you, such as procrastination or laziness, that often prevent you from realizing your true potential. When you embrace the philosophy of doing, you confront these weaknesses head-on. You can no longer sit back and passively consume ideas; instead, you are compelled to engage, to struggle, to grow. This active engagement is what leads to true understanding and mastery, unveiling the full spectrum of your capabilities and freeing you to become your true self.
And so, let us celebrate Arshad Nadeem’s victory once again; the journey, the struggle, and the doing. Let us reflect on his story and discover our path to similar glory by engaging more in sports, arts, and making our involvement in our profession more immersive.
In this way, we too can play our part in raising the flag of Pakistan on the global stage.