The first time I heard the word INQUISITIVE was in Junior High School 3—not during an English lesson or while describing a historical figure, but as a rebuke directed at me by my Headmaster: “Joe, don’t be INQUISITIVE.” One of my mates laughed. Even though I did not understand the meaning of the word at the time, I felt bad because of the atmosphere in which it was used to describe me, as well as the rebuke it carried.
From that day, I tried my best not to be INQUISITIVE. But one way or the other, I always found myself being INQUISITIVE. CHOLERIC is my main temperament, and how then do you expect me to do without INQUISITIVENESS? Questioning, probing, and challenging ideas are not optional habits; they are instinctive.
Ten years down the road, I have not stopped being INQUISITIVE, but rather I have undergone various trainings to become a professional in the domain of INQUISITIVENESS. Today, I am an Agricultural Economics researcher, and asking questions, linking ideas, and drawing conclusions from my INQUISITIVE adventures are what ensure that I get paid and make impact.
When you find a trait in a child—even when it is expressed or interpreted negatively—do not tell them to stop being who they are by nature. Rather, help them discover that nature properly and guide them to make the most of it. Sir Ken Robinson argued that we are born curious and creative, and that too often we grow out of it through education. Don’t kill your curiosity. If curiosity kills the cat, then choose to be a Lion.