Before I moved to Canada in 1995, I completed the first half of my elementary education in Bosnia and Croatia. Looking back, the contrast between that experience and the Canadian school system was stark – and it sparked a realization about how we are taught to think and express ourselves.

The “All or Nothing” Approach

In my early schooling abroad, “multiple choice” and “true or false” were nonexistent. Every assessment required detailed, written explanations. You either knew the material, or you didn’t. There was no room to guess your way to a passing grade.

Beyond writing, we were frequently tested verbally. Standing in front of the entire class to answer history questions or solving complex math problems on the chalkboard was routine. It was intense, yes, but it was also formative.

Why the Difference Matters

When I reflect on the Canadian education system, I often feel it approaches learning differently – and perhaps, in some ways, less effectively.

In my experience, the reliance on structured, pre-fed answers like multiple choice can inadvertently discourage critical, independent thought. When you are conditioned to select an answer rather than articulate one, you become accustomed to having the information presented to you rather than seeking it out yourself.

This is where the fear of speaking up takes root. If you aren’t challenged to defend your ideas or explain your process out loud from a young age, the prospect of doing so later in life, as an adult, in a boardroom, or in a public forum becomes daunting.

The Lesson of the Chalkboard

That terrifying moment of standing in front of your peers to be tested offered something invaluable: resilience. By being exposed to that level of scrutiny early on, we learned a few crucial life lessons:

• Vulnerability: We realized that no one is perfect. You learned that the classmate who excelled at math might struggle with history, just as you might excel in geography but stumble in literature
• Perspective: We saw that we all have our strengths and our gaps. It dismantled the idea that you have to be flawless to be capable
• Agency: Most importantly, we learned that we are in control of our own narrative. You couldn’t hide behind anything; you had to step up, own your knowledge, and just do it

Shifting the Perspective

I believe we need to bring more of that “verbal and detailed” rigor into how we think today. Whether we are parenting, mentoring, or simply living intentionally, we should be asking ourselves: Am I choosing the easiest answer, or am I articulating my own truth?

I’ve learned that confidence isn’t about being perfect; it’s about the courage to stand in front of the “class” and share your knowledge, knowing that you are capable, in control, and constantly growing.