Why does the spark in students fade just weeks into the school year?
Jun 26, 2025Why does the spark in students fade just weeks into the school year?
Because school teaches them to chase grades… not meaning.
Last week I was in Oslo with the team at Agora Linjen — a department I’ve helped set up & guide for over 2 years. It’s now thriving inside Heltberg Akademiet.
And one question keeps coming up:
👉 What are we actually promising our learners when they walk through the door?
For me, it’s two things — and they are not equal:
1️⃣ That we’ll support them to become joyful, lifelong learners — because they have a life ahead of them without us.
2️⃣ That we’ll ensure they earn their diploma — on time, with pride.
But here’s the difference:
We start with the first.
Because when schools start with the second — like most do — they start with requirements.
Rules. Tests. Checklists.
We start somewhere else:
- With joy
- With purpose
- With them
Because when you start with control, you train students to perform.
When you start with purpose, you build motivation.
And when motivation is solid, persistence follows.
At Agora Linjen, learners shape their work around three layers:
💡 Dream projects — fueled by curiosity and passion
🎯 Strategic projects — connected to their goals, studies, and diploma
📌 Must-do projects — the “yeah I know I gotta do it” topics, even when the spark is missing
This isn’t just a system. It’s a philosophy.
Because if you start with control, you’ll need to manage motivation.
But if you start with dreams? Motivation manages itself.
That’s how joy scales. That’s how resilience compounds.
That’s how you build learners who don’t quit — even when it’s hard.
So I’ll ask you this:
Where do your learners begin?