School Studies Are Not the Only Thing That Determines Your Future: What Kind of Learning Is Needed in an Era of Change

Introduction

"If you don't study, you'll have trouble in the future."

This is a phrase that most of us have heard at least once when we were children.

Of course, studying is important.

Reading, writing, arithmetic, and understanding how society works form the foundation of life.

However, on the other hand,

just because you are not good at school studies does not mean your life will be a failure.

In fact, once you enter society, there are many situations where skills not taught in school become necessary.

Especially in recent years, social change has accelerated due to the development of AI and the internet.

Jobs that did not exist ten years ago are also increasing.

In the coming era,

"how much knowledge you have memorized"

is not the only thing that matters;

"how you think, act, and create value"

is becoming important.

In this article, we will consider the reasons why school studies are not the only thing that determines your future.

Will children who are not good at school studies have trouble in the future?

When interacting with children who are truant or have developmental characteristics,

"I am worried about the future because they are not good at studying."

I often receive consultations like this.

Certainly, academic ability is important.

It is sometimes necessary for advancing to higher education or obtaining qualifications.

However, in society,

you are not evaluated solely by test scores.

For example,

• people who can cooperate with others

• people who can come up with ideas

• people who can take on challenges

• people who can persevere

• people who can consider the feelings of others

Such individuals are also highly valued.

In other words,

school grades are not the only thing that determines your future.

The skills required in society are changing

In the past,

good school

↓

good company

↓

Working until retirement

was the common path.

However, that is not the case today.

Work styles are diversifying.

Freelancing.

Side jobs.

Sole proprietorships.

Entrepreneurship.

Remote work.

There are various options available.

What is required in this environment is

the ability to adapt to change.

The ability to learn on your own.

The ability to think.

The ability to take on challenges.

These cannot be acquired from textbooks alone.

An era where your passions shape your future

In the past, it was common to separate hobbies from work.

However, today,

more and more people are turning their passions into their careers.

Video editor.

Designer.

Illustrator.

Social media manager.

Web developer.

YouTuber.

Streamer.

For most people in these jobs,

it all started with something they loved.

You learn because you love it.

You keep going because you love it.

You grow because you love it.

That accumulation of experience leads to a career.

There are skills you cannot learn at school

At school,

Japanese

Math

Science

Social studies

English

and so on.

This is very important.

However, in society,

there are other necessary skills as well.

For example,

The ability to communicate

The ability to convey your own thoughts.

The ability to plan

The ability to think of new ideas.

The ability to take action

The ability to actually take on challenges.

The ability to improve

The ability to learn from failure.

The ability to cooperate

The ability to work together with others.

These are often acquired through practice.

What you can learn from a small-scale entrepreneur experience

At Enlavit, we conduct small-scale entrepreneur experiences that anyone from elementary school students to adults can participate in.

The term 'entrepreneur' might sound difficult.

However, the content is simple.

Think about what to create.

Think about who to deliver it to.

Think about how to communicate it.

Sell it.

Improve it.

In this process,

skills that are difficult to learn in school are naturally developed.

What the experience of selling teaches us

When you create and sell products or services,

you gain many insights.

"It's not selling as well as I thought"

"How should I communicate this?"

"How can I make them even happier?"

Such trial and error arises.

This is truly society itself.

And,

when a product sells,

when you are thanked by someone,

children gain a great sense of accomplishment.

The social skills fostered by the Children's Cafeteria Support Project

At Enlavit, we are also working on a project to support children's cafeterias.

There,

we value the experience of acting not just for oneself,

but for the sake of others.

Feeling connected to society.

Being appreciated.

Being useful.

These experiences,

nurture self-esteem and social skills.

Even if you are truant or have developmental characteristics, your future can expand.

There are children for whom school is not a good fit.

There are children who struggle with group life.

There are children who are not good at studying.

However,

that does not mean they have no potential.

Rather,

they may possess unique sensibilities and strengths.

What is important is,

not to look only at what one is bad at,

but to develop what one is good at and what one likes.

What parents should know

When thinking about a child's future,

it is easy to focus only on their studies.

However,

there is growth outside of academics as well.

The experience of challenging oneself with something they love.

The experience of being thanked by someone.

The experience of seeing something through to the end.

These experiences are also valuable learning.

There are learning options outside of school

Ways of learning are diversifying now.

Online learning.

Inquiry-based learning.

Community activities.

Work experience.

Volunteer activities.

Free schools.

School is not the only place for learning.

It is important to find a way of learning that suits the child.

What Enlavit values

At Enlavit,

video editing

design

social media posting

web skills

small-scale entrepreneurship experiences

children's cafeteria support projects

and more,

we value learning that connects your passions to the future.

What we are aiming for is

not just the acquisition of skills.

It is about having confidence.

It is about taking on challenges.

It is about connecting with society.

It is about the future that is uniquely yours beyond that.

Summary

School studies are important.

However,

school studies are not the only thing that determines your future.

In society,

The ability to think.

The ability to take on challenges.

The ability to express yourself.

The ability to cooperate.

The ability to persevere.

These are also necessary.

Children have infinite potential.

Rather than evaluating them solely on their studies,

isn't it important to also look at each individual's strengths and interests?

Author of this article

Shisa Aida

Representative Partner, En-Tsumugi LLC

Operates the online school "Enlavit," based in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture.

Drawing on personal experience with mumps-related hearing loss in the right ear, provides support for those facing difficulties in life, such as school non-attendance or developmental characteristics. Through video editing, design, social media outreach, small-scale entrepreneurship experiences, and support projects for children's cafeterias, provides learning opportunities that connect "what you love" to the future.