Start with WHY

Start with WHY, Simon Sinek’s 2009 TED Talk is the 3rd most watched ever. Sinek helps businesses find their WHY. I believe his concept is even more important in education.

School is not about WHY. Students seldom get a meaningful answer when they ask why they all need to learn how to factor polynomials on the same day. School isn’t even about preparing students for life beyond school. It’s about doggedly meeting a set of well-intentioned but prescribed, age-based standards, set by people who spend their lives in education, to qualify students for another level of education.

If the focus of education was to help students find their WHY, then build the knowledge, skills and character they will need to successfully live their WHY lifelong, students, teachers, parents, business and community partners would LOVE school, and the world would be better!

Even very young students care passionately about issues. And unless learning is linked to issues students care about, at least somewhat, it doesn’t “stick” for long. Among issues even elementary students care about are: climate change and greening the planet, threatened animal species, bullying, truth and reconciliation, injustice and unfairness, pollution, safety, racial discrimination, poverty, hunger, homelessness. If you don’t believe me, have a respectful, supportive, encouraging conversation with a five year-old about the issues s/he cares about. Don’t be reluctant to share what you care about.

Every child’s WHY will be unique, but the earlier we hear children testing statements like the following, the better. “I’m here to ……”

• help rid the world of plastics.”
• be the best rapper ever.”
• alleviate pain and suffering.”
• make sure AI is a force for good.”
• lead people to God.”
• build a happy loving family.”
• help the lost and homeless.”
• discover worlds beyond earth.”
• reduce our carbon footprint.”
• discover a cure for cancer.”
• make peoples’ last years good ones.”
• make art that touches people’ souls.”

When young people begin to discover their WHY unimaginable potential is ignited in their remarkable adolescent brains. Passion, engagement, and grit follow when students discover their WHY. Truthfully, we need to unleash the potential of adolescent brains to solve the BIG problems we adults seem incapable of solving.

There are great movements afoot in education to:

• convince more young people, especially girls, to consider STEM careers
• enhance social and emotional learning
• transition to personalized, project-based learning
• shift from a focus on acquiring knowledge to acquiring competency
• enhance career and labor market information
• improve graduation rates, especially in rural and economically challenged areas
• reduce bullying and behavioral issues
• enhance student engagement and achievement
• engage parents and community partners

These are worthy, highly desirable goals, but they are not WHYs. Even being able to name an occupation goal (I’m going to be a ….) is not a WHY for students. It’s a how. As students, teachers and parents become increasingly clear on students’ WHYs all of these goals become more reachable.

Until students discover their WHY, trying to convince them to choose STEM options, digest career and labor market information, consider a career in the trades, seek volunteering and service learning opportunities, consider learning pathways other then university, do internships, or even do their homework wholeheartedly may be hard sell. As they begin to clarify their WHY and interact with adults already pursuing similar WHYs, their eyes open to all viable pathways open to them.

Why am I here? I’m here to help young people find their WHY. That’s why I’m so passionate about working with like-minded visionaries to build Transitions Canada and the National Career Development Coalition.

Why are you here?