The meeting with the school psychologist began quietly, without any sense of urgency or concern. My mother sat across from a small desk as the psychologist laid out several pictures: potatoes, carrots, and beets. They were ordinary images, the kind you might see in a grocery store or kitchen. Then came a simple question: “What would you call these things together?” Without hesitation, my mom answered, “Vegetables.” It was the most logical response, clear and accurate, and it seemed to close the question as quickly as it was asked.
But the psychologist smiled and gently explained that the exercise wasn’t about testing knowledge. Earlier that day, I had been shown the same pictures and asked the same question. My answer had been different. I didn’t think in terms of categories or definitions. Instead, I talked about meals, gardens, and family dinners—how these foods appeared together in soups and home-cooked dishes. To me, the images weren’t just items in a group; they were part of a familiar story shaped by memory and experience.
What followed wasn’t a lecture or a concern, but a conversation about how people think differently. The psychologist explained that some minds naturally organize information by labels, while others connect ideas through feelings, images, or narratives. Neither approach is wrong. In fact, these differences often reflect creativity, empathy, and the ability to see connections others might overlook. My mom listened carefully, realizing that intelligence isn’t one-size-fits-all and that unique ways of thinking can be strengths, not shortcomings.
By the time the meeting ended, the atmosphere felt reassuring rather than serious. What started as a simple question about vegetables turned into a meaningful reminder: understanding matters more than correction. That day showed us that answers don’t always need to fit a single mold to be valuable. Sometimes, the most important insight comes not from naming things correctly, but from seeing the world through a different lens.