Have you ever stopped to question the way we think about education? The way we define success? The way learning should look and feel?

For a long time, I didn’t. I followed the path, checked the boxes, and did what I was supposed to do. But over the years, as a student, teacher, and now a parent, I’ve come to realize that learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. And the way we measure success? That might need rethinking too.

In this solo episode, I dive into the idea of ‘rethinking’ education – questioning the traditional learning journey and exploring what teaching, learning, and success really mean. I share personal experiences as a student, teacher, and parent, revealing the challenges of an achievement-driven mindset and how my perspectives have shifted over time. From struggling behind the scenes as a high-achieving student to navigating the education system as a mom, I explore the realities of school, the importance of feeling seen, and the need to rethink success beyond the traditional path.  

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Listen in as we talk about:

3:00 Success vs. struggle

7:32 The ups and downs of school

8:52 The invisible struggle of students

9:47 The magic of unicorn teachers

11:07 Redefining the “right” path

12:09 Seeing the whole story

14:11 Rethinking learning and success

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On the surface, I was the picture of academic success – high marks, awards, scholarships – but beneath it all, I was struggling. I spent hours trying to keep up, carrying a constant weight of anxiety. School felt like a never-ending cycle of proving myself, and while I found strategies to “succeed,” I never truly felt at ease. When I left home for an international school, the anxiety hit even harder, amplified by the loss of familiar support systems. It wasn’t until I started finding new ways to manage the overwhelm that things slowly shifted. Even as I moved through university, teaching, and eventually motherhood, those feelings of pressure and self-doubt followed me. But becoming a mom to kids in school? That changed everything. It made me rethink education – not just for them, but for myself too. Achievement doesn’t always mean understanding, and success doesn’t always mean ease. Sometimes, the biggest lessons come when we finally pause to question the path we’re on.

When school is going well, it feels easy – parent-teacher interviews are positive, your child is engaged, and everything seems to be on track. But when school is a struggle, it’s a different story. Homework battles, morning resistance, and emotional meltdowns can make every day feel like an uphill climb. As parents, we have to step in – not just to support our kids, but to advocate for them, even when it means having difficult conversations with teachers, partners, and sometimes even ourselves. A child’s success isn’t just about grades. It’s about feeling seen, supported, and understood. As parents, our role isn’t to fix everything, but to stand beside them as they navigate the challenges.

In a busy classroom, it’s easy to assume that quiet, well-behaved students are doing just fine. But silence doesn’t always mean success. Many kids who don’t speak up, cause trouble, or demand attention can struggle just as much as those who do – they just do it quietly. With so many students and responsibilities, teachers face real challenges in getting to know every child, but the reality is that some kids go through the school day feeling unseen and unheard. Just because a child isn’t raising their hand doesn’t mean they don’t need support. Every student deserves to feel noticed, valued, and understood.

Some teachers leave a lasting impact – not because of the lessons they teach, but because of how they make students feel. These “unicorn teachers” see kids for who they truly are, creating spaces where they feel safe, valued, and encouraged to take risks. Their classrooms aren’t just about achievement; they’re about belonging. And we appreciate them even more when we encounter the opposite – teachers who believe success only looks one way. When people reflect on their favorite teachers, it’s never just about the subject matter – it’s about the connection. The best teachers don’t just teach subjects; they see students. Feeling seen, safe, and supported can change everything.

“We are all different, we all learn differently, and our paths may not be up the linear ladder.”

The traditional school-to-career path isn’t for everyone, yet the message that it ‘should’ be is everywhere. As a parent and educator, I’ve felt the discomfort of realizing how deeply I’ve bought into this narrative especially when one of my own kids wanted to take a different route. It’s scary. We crave security for our kids, and stepping outside the norm feels uncertain. Social media only amplifies this, with endless posts about college acceptances and degrees. But the truth is, success doesn’t have just one path. It’s about finding the one that truly fits. The “right” path isn’t the same for everyone. Trusting our kids to find their way, even when it looks different, can be the greatest gift we give them.

There’s always more to someone’s story but not everyone is willing to listen. When our oldest was diagnosed with ADHD, I realized I had been struggling in similar ways my whole life. Suddenly, so much made sense. But when we tried to share our son’s diagnosis with his school, we hit walls. Because he was quiet and compliant, his struggles weren’t seen as ‘real’. At home, though, we saw the weight he was carrying. The same thing happened in hockey. Most coaches encouraged him, but one year, a coach sidelined him instead of understanding him. It was a painful reminder that without curiosity and openness, kids can be overlooked instead of supported. Every child has a story beyond what we see. Taking the time to listen and understand can make all the difference.

Watching my kids navigate school, both as a mom and an educator, has challenged everything I thought I knew about teaching and learning. It’s made me question why we place so much value on formal education while often overlooking the rich, meaningful learning that happens in other contexts. Not everyone thrives on the traditional path, and not all learning fits into a classroom. But no matter how or where we learn, one thing remains true: we all want to feel seen, heard, and understood. Learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. The more we embrace different paths, the more we create space for people to learn in ways that truly fit them.