The system we educate our children in is failing us. As someone who has taught preschoolers, middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adults, my perspective on education spans across ages and cultures. Beyond teaching, I’ve been a nanny, an au pair, and even a soccer coach. Across all these roles, I’ve observed recurring patterns: limiting beliefs and conditioned ways of thinking that block us from reaching our full potential as humans.
In our society, we’ve normalized looking outward for answers, seeking truth in others rather than ourselves. We’ve lost our innate connection to the wisdom within. This disconnection isn’t just something I notice in my students; it exists within me as well, as I am a product of the very system I critique. From a young age, we are taught to live in fear and scarcity. We’re told that happiness lies in going to university, earning a degree in a “practical” field, landing a high-paying job, and settling down into the ideal life.
But for so many, this path leads to debt, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction. Students find themselves studying subjects they’re not passionate about or never were. They follow the advice of well-meaning parents and teachers, yet these guides often lack the tools to help students connect with their own truths. They don’t encourage us to tune into our bodies, discover our soul’s calling, or pursue what success and happiness uniquely mean for us. Instead, we chase goals that aren’t ours, leading to burnout and emptiness.
I can speak to this because I once walked that path.
Lost in the System
When I went to school, I studied business with an emphasis on fashion. I adored fashion, the magazines and media convinced me that dressing well and looking good would bring happiness. I believed it wholeheartedly. My life revolved around appearances, and while there was a spark of creative expression in this, much of it stemmed from unhealthy patterns and a lack of self-love.
I didn’t truly value or accept myself. I focused on how others perceived me, hoping that external validation would fill an internal void. In college, I felt profoundly out of place. I wasn’t passionate about my studies, I disliked my surroundings, and I struggled to connect with my peers.I tried to change myself to fit in. Before my freshman year, I dyed my hair jet black because it was trendy, dark hair, inspired by the Kardashians, was all the rage. I thought it would make me more desirable, more lovable, or more accepted. But instead of finding love, I lost touch with who I was. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t recognize myself. I sought comfort in food or numbed my feelings with alcohol, but nothing filled the void.
Finding My Inner Compass
Amid this chaos, I began a slow journey inward. I stopped drinking alcohol. Suddenly, I no longer shared common interests with those around me. Parties in basements lost their appeal. I spent time alone, drawing an image of the person I wanted to become, a confident, smiling girl with long blonde hair, a camera around her neck, and a spirit of adventure. She was a world traveler, someone deeply connected to herself. I started writing lists of dreams and places I wanted to live, experiences I wanted to have.
One of the first steps was applying to the Disney College Program. It was the first decision I made entirely for myself, without anyone else’s influence. Getting accepted was a turning point. It empowered me to trust my intuition. I found myself surrounded by inspiring people, living in sunny Florida, and finally feeling a sense of connection and belonging.
This experience opened my eyes to the world and to my potential. It showed me that listening to my inner voice, not the expectations of others, could lead me to a brighter, more authentic future. I met like minded people and some of my most cherished friendships, I interacted with people from all around the world and suddenly the world felt small and my dreams didn't feel so out of reach. Since then I have slowly been finding my way back to myself, trusting my intuition as it has guided me to move across the world and lead me to find the healing community, friends, and partner that support me in this journey of healing and discovering my truth. The most valuable thing have learned is to listen to my heart instead of logic, to become aware of the feelings and sensations in my body. It may not always make sense in the moment but I have developed a deep trust in myself and this guiding force is always looking out for my highest good.
The System’s Hidden Truth
Our education system is designed to make us look outward, keeping us disconnected from ourselves. When we believe we aren’t enough as we are, we’re easier to control, sell to, and manipulate. Society thrives on the idea that we must be better, different, or more.
But this isn’t the truth. The truth is that everything we need is already within us. When we reconnect with our innate wisdom, we find our unique purpose. Living from this place of authenticity allows us to contribute our gifts to the world while embracing the collective understanding that we are all interconnected.
We are each uniquely different and yet beautifully the same. Our presence, purpose, and truth lie in embracing this paradox and living as our authentic selves.
It is my deepest desire and purpose to guide those who have fallen into the trap of society, to help them reconnect with themselves and rediscover their own unique truth. Through breath work, women’s circles, retreats, and other healing practices, I aim to create spaces where individuals can break free from limiting beliefs, tune into their inner wisdom, and step into the most authentic, empowered versions of themselves.
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