056: Rethinking Education with Tiana Fech
Have you ever stopped to question the way we think about education? The way we define success? The way learning should look and feel?
For a long time, I didn’t. I followed the path, checked the boxes, and did what I was supposed to do. But over the years, as a student, teacher, and now a parent, I’ve come to realize that learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. And the way we measure success? That might need rethinking too.
In this solo episode, I dive into the idea of ‘rethinking’ education – questioning the traditional learning journey and exploring what teaching, learning, and success really mean. I share personal experiences as a student, teacher, and parent, revealing the challenges of an achievement-driven mindset and how my perspectives have shifted over time. From struggling behind the scenes as a high-achieving student to navigating the education system as a mom, I explore the realities of school, the importance of feeling seen, and the need to rethink success beyond the traditional path.
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Listen in as we talk about:
3:00 Success vs. struggle
7:32 The ups and downs of school
8:52 The invisible struggle of students
9:47 The magic of unicorn teachers
11:07 Redefining the “right” path
12:09 Seeing the whole story
14:11 Rethinking learning and success
Connect with Tiana:
- Website: https://tianafech.com
- LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
- Instagram: @tianafech
- Facebook: @tianafech
- Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course
On the surface, I was the picture of academic success – high marks, awards, scholarships – but beneath it all, I was struggling. I spent hours trying to keep up, carrying a constant weight of anxiety. School felt like a never-ending cycle of proving myself, and while I found strategies to “succeed,” I never truly felt at ease. When I left home for an international school, the anxiety hit even harder, amplified by the loss of familiar support systems. It wasn’t until I started finding new ways to manage the overwhelm that things slowly shifted. Even as I moved through university, teaching, and eventually motherhood, those feelings of pressure and self-doubt followed me. But becoming a mom to kids in school? That changed everything. It made me rethink education – not just for them, but for myself too. Achievement doesn’t always mean understanding, and success doesn’t always mean ease. Sometimes, the biggest lessons come when we finally pause to question the path we’re on.
THE UPS AND DOWNS OF SCHOOL
When school is going well, it feels easy – parent-teacher interviews are positive, your child is engaged, and everything seems to be on track. But when school is a struggle, it’s a different story. Homework battles, morning resistance, and emotional meltdowns can make every day feel like an uphill climb. As parents, we have to step in – not just to support our kids, but to advocate for them, even when it means
