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.

LaTayvia Brown

If I could change one thing about the education system, it would be to embed social-emotional learning into the core of the curriculum—not as an afterthought, but as a foundational part of how we teach and support students. Understanding how to manage emotions, build resilience, and develop self-awareness is just as important as learning math or science—if not more. Read more>>

Tia Justice

If I could change one thing about the education system, I’d make real-world knowledge and practical survival skills as important as standardized tests, because life doesn’t care what you scored on the SAT when the sky turns green and the sirens go off.

In Indiana, severe weather is part of everyday life, but so many students graduate without knowing how to identify a real hazard versus what Hollywood sells them. We need to teach kids how to read the sky and the radar. What does a wall cloud actually look like? How do you know if you’re in the path of a tornado? Where is the safest place to shelter, and why does it matter? Why you never wade or drive through floodwaters, how to stay warm when the power’s out in January, or how to keep cool during a heatwave when the AC fails… These are simple, practical lessons that save lives, yet we barely touch them in most schools. Read more>>

Delia Li

For this question, I’ll refer to the educational system as post-secondary institutions — specifically, colleges, universities, and music conservatories.

I believe all music schools should restructure their teaching methods to place sports and performance psychology at the core of their curricula. In addition, I’d love to see institutions encourage students to embrace their finely honed skill sets and explore how those abilities might translate to non-musical fields.  Read more>>