How Embedding Purpose in Learning Is a Game Changer for Students, Educators & Parents

As a lifelong believer in the importance of developing purpose, I was incredibly honored to speak at The Alice Smith School in light of their new purpose statement: “Spark courageous exploration to inspire a better world.”

I deeply relate to this and I loved sharing my own journey with Year 10 students, educators, and parents. Taking a page out of their purpose statement, this is how I believe embedding purpose in learning changes the game for everyone:?

• Students are encouraged to “explore different paths with courage and curiosity” and empowered “to make an impact as their best self”?

I do what I do at OWN Academy because I know what it was like to feel lost as a teenager, not knowing there were alternative paths I could possibly thrive in.?

Purpose is not found but developed through trial and error. Giving students the freedom and the support to explore, fall, and learn from their experiences will set them up for a fulfilling career early on. It will build their resilience and give them a competitive edge in the real world.?

• Educators “work together to push the boundaries” and “lead learning for an ever-changing world”

I applaud The Alice Smith School for going beyond traditional learning and recognizing that education needs to evolve to equip students for the real world.?

When we understand that purpose plays a critical role in a student’s development, we open the door to diverse avenues of growth that are more than simply numbers in a report card. When we equip students with the core competencies and real-world experiences that employers are looking for, that is how they can be truly future-ready.?

• Parents help their children “find their own true north”??

I had the most touching dialogue with parents at the school who are keen to connect with their children. Some said they saw their kids in me and my teenage struggles. I recognize that these are not easy things to say and I’m honored to hold space for them at that moment.?

It’s incredible how unveiling the school’s new purpose statement paved the way for such honest, vulnerable conversations. This is exactly what we need in our culture where we are often expected to live up to high expectations. We need to listen and to understand each other so that we can achieve our full potential, be successful on our own terms, and live a fulfilling, impactful life.?

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Huge thanks to Sian May FCCT , the Head of School and one of my dearest friends who has been a big champion of OWN Academy in every school she’s been with. I met with Sian and the board of directors at The Alice Smith School for the first time at the East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) Leadership Conference last year. It’s very much a full circle moment to speak at their school about a lifelong passion of mine.?

If you are also an educator looking to embed purpose in learning, I would love to chat and help you achieve your mission. Leave a comment below or email me at [email protected]

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