It was summer, the heat of the air mingling with the excitement of children playing in the alley. Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass shattered the silence! Their soccer ball had hit our house window, breaking a pane approximately 30 by 40 centimeters. Such incidents were more or less common in summers, but this time, it was to teach me an unforgettable lesson.

I was the top student in school and had won the top prize in the regional mathematics competitions that year. After inquiring about the price of the glass, my father came home and asked me: “Calculate the price of the glass so the glazier doesn’t overcharge us.”

The problem seemed simple to me. I measured the glass and began calculating. Minutes later, the glazier finished his work, pulled out an old calculator, and quickly gave the price. I was still calculating! My father looked at me and said words that still echo: “If you can’t even calculate this, why are you going to school?”

I felt crushed. I had expected praise, maybe even a gift, but instead I heard that. Sadly, I replied: “Do they teach us glazing in school?” He answered firmly: “I don’t know what they teach you, but if school can’t teach you these simple things, you might as well not go.”

Months later, when tutoring a boy on the concept of area, the memory returned. I re-measured the same glass and solved it in minutes. I realized the glazier had overcharged us nearly threefold. Why couldn’t I do it that day? That question stayed with me.

Years later, at university, a strict professor gave us a long economics problem. Students filled the board with formulas, only to be told “Wrong.” When my turn came, I wrote a simple multiplication. The professor slammed the desk: “Bravo! Correct.” It wasn’t about the math itself, but its application—the same lesson my father had tried to teach me years before.

Now, every Nowruz brings mixed feelings: pride in a father who taught me life lessons beyond school, and sorrow, because he passed away on the third day of spring. For me, Nowruz is no longer just renewal, but a reminder of his absence.

Analysis: Applied Learning and Lifelong Lessons

Pedagogical Insights

• Applied vs. Abstract Learning: The story highlights the gap between abstract school math and real-life problem solving.
• Discovery Learning: Solving the glass problem independently created deeper understanding than rote learning.
• Facilitator’s Role: The father acted as a facilitator, posing challenges instead of giving answers.
• Lifelong Learning: Education extends beyond school; life itself is a classroom.

Psychological Insights

• Emotional Impact: Shame and inadequacy became motivation for growth.
• Motivation: Intrinsic motivation proved more powerful than external rewards.
• Self-Efficacy: Successfully solving the problem later boosted confidence for future challenges.
• Memories: Emotional memories shape lifelong learning attitudes.
• Emotional Intelligence: The father’s calm but firm tone modeled constructive guidance.

Conclusion

This narrative is more than a personal memory; it is a lesson on the importance of applied learning, discovery, and the emotional dimensions of education. It reminds us that true education is continuous, practical, and deeply human.