There's a lot of truth in the old proverb "experience is the best teacher," and apparently it applies to all of us. The active, hands-on experience can be an immensely effective way of improving the ability of learning. The human mind is active from the day the brain cells are formed and starts functioning from inside the mother's womb. Definitely, there is a benefit to actual hands-on experience early in human development. I, as a child picked up the language, the habits and mannerisms by looking at my family around.

The process is quite similar to a seasoned batsman, who learns to anticipate where the ball will land on the pitch before it faces his bat.

As a student, I learnt better when I was challenged to find the answers myself. I gained a lot of knowledge and skills through group-work with my siblings. In the process, I enjoyed learning new aspects of life. It turned out to be a major factor in increasing my confidence level and enabling me to handle things on my own. The result of which is the 'Shahnaz Empire'.

Experience increases the mental ability and problem-solving capacity of the human mind. I learnt (and am still learning) more from everyday experiences, rather than from the books. They are permanently etched on your mind and are accurate. It is something that you can rely on - even with your eyes closed.