Level Up: Preparing for Challenges in Learning and Life

It's an exciting time of year for our high potential students. The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge is now in the judging stages, the Australian Mathematics Competition was held earlier this week, Round 2 of The ASX Schools Sharemarket Game starts next week, and the Maths Olympiad and The Tournament of Minds are well underway. In addition to these, my school also runs a Writing Experience/Competition and a Poetry Recitation Competition. 

Opportunities like these push students outside their comfort zone and help them discover that growth comes from facing challenges head-on. This is exactly what we want for them. 

But pause for a moment. Remember the last time you faced a challenge - the kind that made you wonder if you were out of your depth. That moment of uncertainty. That fear that you might not succeed. As educators, we are quick to cheer our students into the unknown, yet we can feel the same tremble when we're the ones stepping forward. Growth is hard, and sometimes hurts. So how we can better prepare both ourselves and our students to meet those challenges? 

Safe and Supportive Environment

We start by fostering a safe and supportive environment. One where all ideas are valued, errors are stepping stones, and that it's okay to say, "I don't understand." We help each other when we struggle, and  celebrate  questions that deepen our understanding. 

When we feel safe and supported, we are more willing to take the risks that lead to growth.

Motivation

We are not all motivated by the same things. Some students thrive on competition, others would rather avoid it. 

In 2024, I worked with a student on his passion project, creating a game for The Australian STEM Video Game Challenge. He lost interest after a month, claiming he didn't like competitions. All that changed however, when he went to PAX and saw what winning looked like: tickets to PAX and a hoodie featuring the winning game. He had found his motivation. I have never seen him so committed to anything before. We pushed through the tough days, where the trouble shooting seemed to go nowhere, and he learned far more than coding - time management, resilience, persistence. By the time he was done, his game was impressive and the complexity of the code blew me away. I was so proud of him when he pressed the "submit" button. For him, it was tickets and a hoodie. For me, it's personal growth. What is it for you?

If we are going to commit to something, it needs to have personal meaning for us. 

Understanding "How to Play"

A lot of learning happens the first time you try something new. This is true for us as much as for our students. In my first year with The Tournament of Minds, I read the instruction manual cover to cover, but it just didn't click until I actually saw it in action. I leaned on the advice of those who had done it before.

When I judged the Spontaneous Challenge in my second year, I saw how teams could work effectively to develop their responses. Additionally, when one of our STEM teams progressed to the state and then international finals, I could identify the skills that students needed in order to succeed: STEM knowledge, teamwork, and time management - all without teacher intervention.

When we understand the game, the rules, and what success looks like, we can focus on what matters most.

Practice

Once we know what's required, we need to practise the skills. For The Maths Olympiad and The Australian Mathematics Competition, I've found that spaced practice at home builds both familiarity with question types, and capacity for problem-solving. When students can grapple with questions without the pressure to perform, they develop strategies to calm their fears and to piece together a solution step by step. In class, sharing different solutions shows there's more than one way to answer, which frees students to find the process that works for them. 

When we have spaced practice to develop skills without performance pressure, we feel more confident and prepared when the moment comes.

Opportunities to Iterate

In the rush of the school year, we often skip the chance to iterate. One thing I love about the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game is that there are two rounds each year.

In the first round, students often work in small groups, just getting a feel for the market. By the second round, they are ready to race, sometimes even doing their research in advance. This year, when my students reflected on their experience, everyone wanted to return for Round 2. Their first attempt wasn't the end, but rather the starting point.

When we have opportunities to iterate, our errors become the launch pad to our success.

I'm sure this list is not exhaustive, but these are the things that stand out to me as I watch my students and reflect on the way I tackle challenges. The truth is, whether it's a STEM competition or a career step, the principles are the same: find safety, spark motivation, learn the rules, practise with purpose and try again.

What would you add?

AirPods, Pumpkins, and the Gift of Connection

From Awkwardness to Awareness

Lately, I have been leaning into the ideas and work of Vanessa Van Edwards. She was recommended to me by a friend when I shared a personal challenge: feeling unsure about how to confidently share my ideas. We talked about how frustrating it is can be when people with great ideas are overlooked, while those with more charisma (or Woo, as Gallup StrengthsFinder puts it) seem to rise to the top. Enter Vanessa Van Edwards. I think this is part of her life's mission! 

As a self-described "recovering awkward person" Vanessa has so many inspirational ideas to share - from understanding the cues that we use, to gifting others with feel-good hormones through our interactions. I can listen to her book (yes, I'm an audiobook person) or watch her Diary of a CEO appearances over and over, and still find a gem to take away.

An AirPods Experiment

One of her recent comments was about how AirPods impact our connection with others. This prompted me to consider whether wearing my AirPods (which I often do) could be getting in the way of meaningful interactions. I decided to put it to the test.

Today, while doing the grocery shopping, I left my AirPods at home and opened myself up to interaction. It didn't take long. 

As I reached for a pumpkin, I heard someone talking beside me. I looked up to see a woman, slightly embarrassed at being caught talking to herself. 

"You feel a bit crazy when you realise you're saying things out loud," she said. 

I chuckled and told her about the AirPods theory - and we shared a moment of laughter. A moment of connection. 

That moment became even more special when we both turned up at the same register, and she said, "You look familiar." Turns out I taught her son six years ago, back when he was in Year 5. She filled me in on how he's doing, which was genuinely lovely to hear.

What I Would Have Missed

I think we both walked away from that exchange with a bounce in our step. It was a moment of recognition and warmth that could otherwise have been missed, drowned out by a podcast or shielded behind the comfort of headphones. It reminded me that there are opportunities like this all around us, but we have to make ourselves reachable to find them. 

Vanessa's work is helping me think differently about how I show up in the world - how I communicate and how I connect. There are so many small changes I’ve been making lately — and they’re adding up. I’m starting to feel more confident, more open, even a little more charismatic.

Who knows… maybe I’m catching a little Woo after all.

Back to the Blog!

It’s been a while. 

Not because I stopped thinking, or learning, or questioning — but because life filled up in other ways. Teaching, family, reflection… all still here, just lived more privately for a while. 

But lately, I’ve felt the urge to write again. Not to declare expertise, but to share thoughts in progress. To raise some questions. To stay connected to the part of me that makes meaning through words. 

If you’ve found your way here, welcome. There’s no big campaign or relaunch — just me, returning to this space when I can, to capture what I’m learning, noticing, and wondering about. 

I'm sure there are some things that need revamping and cleaning up on this site, and hopefully I will get to those. But for now, I am here sharing what it is to be me.