The number one thing we hear from entrepreneurs and artists and creatives when we ask them about their education is about how irrelevant it was to their story. Sure, some folks had wonderful educational experiences, but for many their experiences left them feeling ill prepared for life and their careers. So, we wanted to create a space for folks to share their experiences and ideas for how we can improve our educational system.

Natalie De Diego

Our school system is built on a binary version of success. You either pass or you fail. Failure defines you. It labels you and it stops your academic career in its tracks. There is no other way that failure is presented. Post-school, I have not found failure to be the nuclear bomb that I was warned about. It is a part of your journey in your career and in your life. The reality is that you’ll hear “no” more often than “yes”. And ultimately those failures don’t define you. Instead they provide the best moments of learning. Read more>>

Brittni Fontleroy

As a kid, I grew up in a tough neighborhood and had to travel to other areas to access resources and opportunities that weren’t available in my community. While my children have had access to programs that cater to their gifts, thanks to our intentional searches, I know it’s not as easy for everyone. It’s still difficult for many kids to find resources to nurture their talents, especially in underfunded areas. This lack of access is why I’m so passionate about creating opportunities for the next generation to thrive—whether they’re interested in beauty, the arts, or any other creative field. Read more>>

Wiseman Praise

To better prepare students for a fulfilling life and career, I’d focus on three key changes in the education system:

1. Integrate project-based learning: Schools should integrate project-based learning that engages students in solving real world problems. For instance, a basic physics lesson on electric current could involve students building a simple circuit to demonstrate how electricity flows. Such hands-on projects promote teamwork, critical thinking, problem-solving and innovation. Read more>>

Sharon Johnson

If I could change one thing about the education system, it would be to fundamentally shift its focus from simply memorizing facts and theoretical knowledge to the practical application of skills, with a strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurial thinking and adaptability. Read more>>

Laura Walker

I’d love to see an education system that leaves more room for the whole child—their pace, their personality, their emotional world—not just their test performance or ability to sit still and follow directions. Read more>>

Dice Mo

I think the traditional banking method of education leaves students at the mercy of the system. By that I mean, a system that values hierarchy over experience. I think we need to empower our students. A more collaborative educational model builds wider networks socially and intellectually.

Addressing our students as individuals, teaching them how to advocate for themselves and think critically, holding them accountable when they stray. This is how we can prevent gun violence and mass shootings. This is how we can bring our young folks back from the dark hole of social media consumption and nihilism. Read more>>

Nadia Finer

Being shy at school is a struggle.

It’s clear that schools were not designed for shy children. So many kids, so much chaos and hustle and bustle, so much pressure. And so much noise!

Shy students struggle to speak up in class, to get involved in activities, to make friends, to put themselves forward, to perform, to compete. They don’t share their work or ideas. They often don’t ask for help if they get stuck. They struggle to join in and to make friends. They shrink and hide at the back, or on the side-lines, listening and observing. They miss out on fun. They miss out on opportunities. They miss out on achieving their full potential. Read more>>

JOCELYN JONES

I am a teacher first and foremost; I teach actors, directors and writers about storytelling. How to create the lives and stories of compelling IMAGINARY characters.

But what is ANY life really, but the curation of a story? Your life—YOUR story. I believe there is an artist in everyone, and your first most important work of art—is your LIFE. I believe education should support the discovery of an individual’s deepest desires. And one of the ways to do that is to discover and honor what brings a person joy. Another way is to ask questions, and listen for the most truthful answer. Truth is easy to decipher because it’s visceral—it moves in you. Read more>>

Jacquie Chandler

I’m standing at the edge of the water with a Washoe elder, one of the original stewards of Lake Tahoe. The Washoe people lived here for over 10,000 years, leaving so little trace that many think they were named after Washoe County rather than the other way around. Read more>>

Chris Anderson

I’ll preface this by saying I began my career as a high school science teacher and have been a school improvement consultant for almost 10 years now; so I have some experience with not only how schools work but what goes on in the classroom. And I think there are three issues at play that keep our kids from consistently having a highly engaging and meaningful educational experience. Read more>>

Jessica McDevitt

One of the most frustrating aspects of our education system is its complicity in normalizing unpaid internships—often disguised as “for college credit” opportunities. This contributes directly to underrepresentation in so many fields. By requiring students to work for free in order to gain “experience,” we’re inherently excluding those who can’t afford to do so. The candidate pool shrinks to only those with the financial privilege to do so, and that’s a huge problem. The ask then becomes for college students to invest time into building your business in exchange for ‘experience’. Read more>>

Jason Nelson

I was really lucky to have a solid music education growing up. I did all the traditional stuff like school bands, private lessons, and an occasional jazz ensemble. I’m super grateful for that. But looking back, the path we were shown felt pretty limited. The focus was always on classical, jazz, world music, and the careers tied to that (jobs like becoming a school band director, playing in a symphony, or maybe going into audio engineering). No one ever talked about the kind of work I do now. Read more>>