Confessions of a straight-A student: I loved learning, but hated school

I loved learning, but I hated school.

From kindergarten to my Masters Degree.

I had friends, I was popular, I had straight As.

I used to embarrass my parents a lot. They would brag about my grades to others all the time, but when people asked me if I loved school, I said the unthinkable at that time: “I hate school.“

I didn’t even care about my grades that much, but my parents seemed to, so I thought it was my job to keep delivering a perfect score.

I wanted them to be proud of me.

I was the kind of kid that stood out, too creative for my own good.

After earning my Masters Degree, I chose to leave a very secure career as a lawyer to pursue my true calling. I never looked back.

Here are the reasons for which I used to hate school:

Competitiveness

Competitiveness brings out the worst in people.

At least that is how it goes in our educational system.

They teach us in schools that we need to be better than everyone else in our class, to have higher grades, to win competitions, etc.

They think they’re raising winners.

In fact, they’re raising generations of bitter young people, that learn to “hustle” and do whatever necessary in order to get ahead. Even if that means stepping on others.

Helping others is not nurtured in schools. Working together is for losers.

Michael Jordan used to say that he is his only competition.

He worked harder every time, in order to give more than before.

He was striving to be better.

The others players were competing with him, but he was competing with the better version of himself. That’s why they were always a step behind.

If we encourage competition to young, sensitive minds in that way, we’ll have a generation of highly motivated and hard working people.

Mindsets matter.

Lack of good teachers

Let me tell you a story.

I kept my stellar report card all through my college years as well. I graduated top of my class at Law School.

Most of my teachers were more interested in listening to their own words, and having me recite them back, instead of asking for my opinions.

They didn’t challenge my mind.

They were concerned with my homework, with my essays and or my exams.

In college, they knew my grades and my last name, but not my face or my interests. They didn’t need me to debate their teachings, to brainstorm or come up with something new.

I was fortunate enough to have some amazing teachers along the way, though. I call them Dumbledores and think we all have some.

They saw the real me.

They fed my mind with possibilities, my soul with courage and gave me wings to fly.

Everything is a must

Not many people can work with that.

Especially not teens.

Think about it: we always learn FOR an exam. Not for ourselves.

Adding a higher meaning to everything, having practical advice and knowledge that you can apply later on in a career will change the way students relate to school.

Treating kids like humans, concerned with their personal growth and future development as better people & professionals, is the only way to go.