Our Future Beyond Textbooks by Eva

Our Future Beyond Textbooks by Eva - September 2025 Scholarship Essay

When I think about education, I see our reality, sitting in classrooms for seven hours a day listening to lectures. However, when I think of the future I hope for education to become less about memorizing the “correct” answer and more about learning how to think, connect, and create. Over the next ten years, I would love to see classrooms that celebrate curiosity and collaboration. Education should not be a cookie-cutter process. Instead, it should recognize that every student learns differently and should aim to help each student explore their unique strengths and passions. Just as the book Ikigai by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles teaches. It stresses the journey of finding fulfillment that comes when people discover the intersection of what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what they can contribute. Education should guide students toward finding that balance in their own lives.
I imagine schools where creativity is as valued as test scores, where theater, sports, and service work are understood as essential ways of learning leadership, empathy, and resilience. I’ve learned just as much on the volleyball court, on stage, and volunteering with children as I have in traditional classes. For example, while mentoring young kids at Shake-A-Leg, a nonprofit that offers sailing and water programs for children with disabilities, I realized that helping them navigate challenges required patience, adaptability, and empathy. These are skills that can’t be graded on a test but are crucial in life. These experiences show how education can help students discover their ikigai—their purpose—through hands-on learning.
Another change I hope to see is greater access. Every student, regardless of background, deserves an education that feels meaningful and one that inspires them. It shouldn’t be determined by wealth, resources, or opportunities. Every student deserves the opportunity to learn and grow, and I hope to see this kind of inclusivity well before ten years from now. While technology can help close some gaps, it is the human connection, guidance of caring teachers, and the support of strong communities that help students to thrive.
In the next decade, I hope education shifts into something that feels less like a system and more like a journey. A journey that empowers students to discover who they are, what they value, and how they can contribute to the world. By helping students uncover their passions and strengths, education can guide them toward their own ikigai. That’s the kind of education I want to be part of shaping.