Chess Enrichment at QPA

​Before I start singing the praises of this course, let me ask you a question. What comes to mind when you hear the words enrichment chess? I put the same question to Mr. Tyrell Harriott–he runs a related enrichment program, and directs the Kings of Queens chess club in Jamaica, Queens–and his response might surprise you.

“Chess is a way you can battle your friends,” he shared.

​“It can also help you develop patience, self-confidence and respect for others.”

 When I heard those words, I couldn’t agree more. I felt like one of the many people in a crowd who shout, “Yeah!” when someone says something true or insightful.  So I asked myself the same question. And the answer I came up with would get a round of applause from all the teachers I’ve known. Furthermore, I answered the question I put to you all today with the response: “A competitive learning experience.”

 But don’t get me wrong. Being a domino player myself I know what it means to be competitive. In fact, looking back on all the chess games I’ve played, It reminds me of how I felt. What choices I made. What I did to stay focused. What I focused on. And although dominoes is on its own podium, chess is an experience during which you can both create your own way of thinking and make rational decisions in a small time frame. Now, a chance like that is hard to come by, which pray-tell is why it’s an enrichment class to begin with. The chance to polish and sharpen the skill of making rational quick decisions is a valuable one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

 Mr. George Wallace, instructor of QPA’s Enrichment Chess program makes it his mission to ensure students understand the relationship between chess and the choices they make every day. “Chess expands your thinking and helps you plan steps ahead,” he claims. As he sees it, chess can relate to organizing how and when you do your homework, study for tests and prepare for exams. It’s like how you can always plan ahead and move your pawn on the chessboard to set yourself up for a bigger move.

For those who don’t know,

chess is a board game in which each player

has sixteen pieces that can be moved in their own, unique way.

​To win, you put your opponent’s king under an attack from which there’s no escape–

​​Checkmate; kill the king!

​Now, I’d never had the opportunity to play chess. So when I heard the game was being offered as an enrichment class, I immediately took the chance to join. And let me tell you, only knowing how to move a pawn is not a great thing when you’re starting your chess career.

 Some see losing chess games back to back as a problem. However, the difference between losing in a chess game versus any other board game is very self-explanatory. Losing a chess game is not a negative. Ya know why? Because chess is like life. When you lose a game of chess, you learn something new. Don’t get me wrong; you don’t want to lose a chess game on purpose. But let’s not forget that in life, with every mistake comes a learning experience, which also  applies to chess. According to Mr. Wallace, “Chess teaches you to live a meaningful lie. You make better decisions because you learn to plan ahead.”

 He believes being able to learn and self-reflect on your mistakes is what makes you grow and become a better chess player on the inside and on the outside. Just take a look at how teachers got where they are today. Do you think that when they get a bad score on a test they’re guaranteed to fail the next one? Of course not! Perseverance is the key that unlocks the door for us to walk in a room filled with all our future achievements.

 The enrichment class for chess was created to provide students with the opportunity to learn to make those quick, rational decisions to begin with. To expose students to things they never experienced before. Your golden ticket is in your hand. All you have to do is redeem your reward at the chocolate factory. Gaining knowledge from new experiences is one the many things that make you grow as a person. How does that Benjamin Franklin saying go?

 “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

​If you don’t think improving yourself is worth the time, fine. But think of it this way. The enrichment class chess can serve as a hangout spot to play chess with your friends, meet new people and create new memories.

 At the same time, you’re participating in the enrichment class, and creating a wonderful community that’s built on the bonds you develop as time goes by. So give enrichment chess a try. It wouldn’t hurt you. And remember, it doesn’t matter if you lose at this game, because like in life, when you fall, you don’t give up. You pick yourself up, brush yourself off, and keep moving forward.