Honing their memory skills
The Minds Competition aims to improve mental literacy among Malaysians.
WITH his only grandchild in tow, 69-year-old Lee Boon Kian was as steady as a rock when he signed up to join the Minds Competitions 2017.
Held at the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Sungai Long campus last Saturday, the full day competition aimed to improve mental literacy as well as raise awareness about it among Malaysians.
The contest, organised by UTAR, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), and the Malaysia Mental Literacy Movement (MMLM), comprised three main categories, namely Memory, Mind Mapping and Mental Calculation Competitions.
The main categories were then sub-categorised into Random Words, Numbers, Letters of the Alphabet, Dates and Events, Note Making, Note Taking, and Mental Calculations in addition and multiplication.
The educational activity also served to boost participants’ brainpower, creativity, intelligence quotient, emotional intelligence and memory skills.
A total of 89 institutions from across the country took part in the event, while nearly 800 participants registered.
Lee took up Random Words, Note Making, and Mental Calculations to accompany his eight-year-old granddaughter Michelle Shan Lok Yee, who took part in the same challenges.
The loving grandfather said the event was a good experience that helped him and Lok Yee “grow together in education”.
“I believe memory is a powerful tool that can be used throughout our lives,” said Lee, who was practising mathematical formulas he got off the Internet two hours prior to the Mental Calculations test.
He added that he hoped to see more young people utilise their brain power properly.
“My memory is deteriorating as I age. It would be nice to see the younger generation appreciate what they have while they still have it,” he said.
Granddaughter Lok Yee, a pupil from SJK (C) Tun Tan Cheng Lock, said she liked the competition as it helped her pick up memory skills.
“I’m trying my luck this round, but I believe I may be able to win,” she said as she hid behind Lee.
Her mother, Felicia Woo, 40, said she enrolled her daughter for the competition to expose her to the mind mapping method.
“I found that with mind mapping, a one year syllabus can be shortened tremendously, making it easy and fast for young children to understand,” she said.
SJK (C) Chung Hwa (P) pupil Tan Qian Hui, 11, woke up at 6am to prepare for her challenge of the day.
Qian Hui, who took part in a few categories, said she was nervous in the beginning.
“But as the competition progressed, I relaxed because I felt a surge of confidence that I could conquer the papers,” she said.
The hardworking pupil, who does memory exercises everyday during her spare time, added that memory skills are important in studies because it helps her effectively absorb what was taught in class.
“It was easier for me to understand my subjects after I started this,” she said.
Qian Hui’s memory coach, Dr Justin Wu, 33, said, he found that expanding students’ memory skill helps with their studies.
“It shortens learning time and benefits them in every aspect of life, not only in their studies,” said Dr Wu who used to lecture at a university.
He added that the Minds Competition is a positive event that creates awareness on the importance of memory and brain power.
Muhammad Firdaus Ghouse, 16, a student from the Royal Military College, represented his institution in this contest for the first time.
“I wanted to test my brain capacity and test my limits.
“I find the tests interesting because it challenges our brain capacity,” said the student, who was in uniform. He joined the Random Words and Random Letters sub-categories.
He added that the event helped people realise the benefits of exercising one’s memory.
“It increases our capability to memorise and understand facts at a much faster pace,” he said.
Also a first timer at the competition, Nareesh Kumar Balakrishnan, 14, joined all the categories and found them to be quite tough.
“It was more difficult than I expected, but still manageable,” said the St.John’s International School student who entered the event to gain experience.
He said he went online to practise with some sample questions prior to the event.
“Even if I don’t, I will come back again and perform better next year,” said the determined student.
Meanwhile, it was Wan Mohd Ridzwan Wan Razalli’s participation in the Mind Competition for the second year running.
The 12-year-old pupil from SJK (C) Damansara Tropicana, said he signed up again because he believed that he has improved from the previous year.
“It was a good experience, even though I did not win the last time.
“I wanted to challenge myself to become better, so here I am,” said the confident pupil who chose the Memory and Mind Mapping categories.
The hardworking pupil said he is disciplined when training his memory and does it everyday with some coaching from his mother, Cheong Siau Ling.
“Training memory skills makes my mind better and fresher.
“I found that I performed better in studies after I started memory training two years ago.
“Everything I’ve read seems to just seep into my brain quicker and easier,” he said.
Participants stand the chance to win a share of the RM60,000 prize money. Winners will be announced in the middle of the year.