What If Learning Was Never Meant to Happen in School?

Do you feel a knot in your stomach when back-to-school season comes around?

Even as an adult, I still remember the unease. New teachers, new classmates, new routines. For me, school was not excitement—it was dread.

As a highly sensitive kid, I hated the spotlight. Tests, group projects, even being called on in class felt like standing under a harsh spotlight with no place to hide. My mother used to say, “These are the best years of your life.” I remember thinking: If this is the best, I don’t want to see the worst.

I wasn’t “lazy” or “unmotivated.” I was overwhelmed. I daydreamed to cope, tuning out of classes that drained me instead of fueled me. Math and science lectures blurred into white noise. Meanwhile, my nervous system was working overtime just to endure the daily pressure.

But here’s the twist: leaving “school” was when real learning began.

Like Mark Twain, I’ve learned not to confuse schooling with education. Once I discovered that my sensitivity wasn’t a flaw but a trait, I started to study myself with genuine curiosity. Books, lectures, conversations—all became tools for self-discovery.

And that shift changed everything. The more I learned about who I was, the more confident I became. Self-knowledge gave me clarity. It revealed not just how to cope, but how to thrive.

Now, learning isn’t a burden. It’s freedom. It’s my way of choosing growth on my own terms.

So here’s my challenge to you:
Don’t let back-to-school anxiety—or old memories—define your relationship with learning. Ask yourself: What fascinates me right now? What would help me understand myself better?

Then, take one small step today. Read a page. Listen to a podcast. Journal your thoughts. Join a class that lights you up.

Because the truth is—learning doesn’t belong to schools. It belongs to you.

What do you want to learn next?

If this resonated with you, someone you care about might need it too. Don’t wait—share it with them now. A few words at the right moment can make all the difference.