SERENDIPITY IN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Holly Warren looks at how chance and providence create a unique and enriching learning environment in our schools.
The opposite of planning
We like to plan. We love to measure, but in the domain of education, particularly in international schools, chance and providence play a more significant role than is often appreciated. The red thread concept of providence rooted in Asian philosophy suggests that people are destined to meet and form significant long-term connections for a specific reason. In international schools, where cultural diversity, liaisons, and unexpected opportunities provide a rich providential mix, new ideas are almost bound to emerge. It’s a question of knowing the importance of something that has happened by chance when you see it.
As Issac Asimov remarked:
‘The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not ‘Eureka!’ but “That’s funny.”’
Being on the lookout
Serendipity, often described as a fortunate chance, manifests in various forms. It can occur through unplanned interactions, spontaneous collaborations, and unexpected discoveries that enrich the learning experience by nudging us to follow a different path, listening to inklings and revelations.
The term has an instructive origin:
By their very nature, international schools bring educators, students, and families from diverse backgrounds, creating a fertile ground for serendipitous moments. Chance conversations in the staffroom or teachers’ lounge might have greater significance than you think and if you apply Asimov’s maxim, you might end up somewhere interesting! It’s a question of being on the lookout.
The Red Thread concept
What is the Red Thread concept? The idea is of an invisible thread that connects people for a reason, which then becomes apparent. It suggests that certain people are destined to meet. As people move around, the thread tangles, gets knotted, stretches to incredible lengths but never breaks. It shortens when the connection takes place. This meeting might initially seem casual. Soon it reveals aha! moments of wonder and awe connecting the unthought to the attainable. Then a casual encounter becomes a thread that becomes woven into something important.
Where serendipity and the red thread meet in school
One of the most significant aspects of serendipity in schools is the unplanned interactions between connections, environments, students, and staff. These interactions, whether they occur in the classroom, during extracurricular activities, or in social settings, can lead to amazing realizations. For instance, a casual conversation between students from different countries might spark an answer to a question.
During collaborative, multi-perspective learning, serendipitous moments often arise and unexpected connection sparks minds to link previously learned materials to a current situation. And chance, unforced collaborations are often the strongest simply because they are natural, both enhancing academic achievement and also fostering a sense of global citizenship and mutual understanding.
Connections are made, knowledge arises and pieces of the jigsaw interlock during aha moments.
Threads, stitches, and fabric
International schools provide students with a global network of peers and mentors. The red thread of connection is woven into the fabric of these networks, as students often find themselves linked to individuals by chance who then influence their academic and professional journeys possibly for a lifetime. This global network can open doors to opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible. Like a thread that passes through the individual needle’s eye, it flows in and out stitching gaps, creating patterns that make thinking visible. Thinking threads lead to a tapestry of answers, ready to move on as the thread sews/sows further revelations.
String beans of possibilities
The converging perspectives formed through the red thread concept contribute significantly to personal growth at possibly unexpected levels. Students, teachers, and families learn to navigate diverse social dynamics, develop empathy, and build collaborations and resilience. These skills are invaluable in an increasingly interconnected world, where the ability to understand and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds is essential.
The invisible hand of serendipity, gently nudges students toward opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden. A casual conversation in the cafeteria might lead to a collaborative project; a shared interest in a particular subject could spark a lifelong friendship. These moments, though seemingly trivial at the time, can accumulate to create a mosaic of experiences that shape their intellectual and emotional development.
By embracing the unexpected from a global perspective, communities cultivate an environment in which curiosity and openness to new experiences are paramount. Serendipity, then encourages students to embrace uncertainty, to explore the unknown, and to find joy in the discovery of the uncharted. The red thread concept, in this context, becomes a metaphor for the continuous and ever-evolving journey of learning and growth, where each twist and turn holds the promise of new insights and connections.
Paradox
The merger of serendipity, the red thread concept, and the comprehensive educational provision of international schools create a dynamic and enriching learning environment where farfetched possibilities come together in unexpected ways. These elements work together to foster personal growth, cultural understanding, and the knowledge that what is unseen will surface when a connection is awakened and can be of life-long significance.
And here’s the paradox. You can plan for it, by cultivating a learning environment that values open minds and careful reflection.
That’s funny . . .
References
Isaac Asimov – the most exciting phrase to hear in… Available at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/isaac_asimov_109758 (Accessed: 11 February 2025).
David Levithan quote (no date) A. Available at: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/724022 (Accessed: 11 February 2025).
David Maraniss quotes. Available at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/david_maraniss_445988 (Accessed: 11 February 2025).
Further reading
There are many Red Threads.
What is the Red Thread, anyway, and how do you use it?
https://tamsenwebster.com/what-is-the-red-thread-and-how-do-you-use-it/
Brain Waves Synchronize when People Interact
The minds of social species are strikingly resonant.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-waves-synchronize-when-people-interact/
FEATURE IMAGE: by Ivan Rudoy on Unsplash
Support Images: by A. C. For Unsplash+ , Kateryna Shevchenko on Unsplash & Mario Verduzco on Unsplash
