Looking back at our school days, there are a few things we’d love to have changed... Luckily for today's students, they can find the support we craved.
We’ve all been there: staring at a textbook with no idea where to start and praying the teacher wouldn’t call on us, or burning the midnight oil because no one actually taught us how to study. Now that we’re older (and wiser?), it’s clear – the system just wasn’t built for real, messy, and wonderful brains like ours. Here are five things we wish our teachers knew back then… and where today’s kids can find the help they need.
1. “I’m nodding along – but I’m completely lost”
That gut-wrenching moment when the teacher asks “Any questions?” and the entire class stays silent – not because we get it, but because we’d rather drown in confusion than risk looking stupid. By the time we admitted we needed help, we were already three chapters behind.
What we needed was a tutor who could spot our glazed-over eyes and follow up, rather than taking our silence as a sign to move on. Not only that, but we needed someone to ensure a safe space existed for our “silly” questions.
2. “My brain doesn’t work like a textbook”
Some of us spent years convinced we were “just bad at maths” until a tutor showed us how to make sense of it all by expressing equations in doodles. Others struggled with focus, wishing someone had taught us study methods that worked with our wandering minds, not against them.
Turns out our brains weren’t broken – they just needed someone to speak their language. What would’ve helped? Teachers who’d turn history timelines into comic strips and chemistry study notes into colour-coded maps; educators who’d adapt to neurodiverse learners who think in colours, stories, or patterns. And above all, mentors who emphasised progress over perfection, who shared in our educational victories instead of obsessing over rubrics.
3. “Summer is for fun, too, not just catching up”
Nothing killed July joy faster than “catch-up” workbooks thicker than the actual textbooks. What if teachers had known balance was key? Rather than soul-crushing cram sessions, teachers should emphasise the kind of strategic prep that builds confidence before the new school year begins.
Summer prep shouldn’t feel like punishment. It should be a time for building up our skills so we could start the year without panic (while leaving plenty of time for beach days and brain breaks).
4. “I didn’t need more pressure – I needed a win”
The constant pressure to “do better” often backfired. Being told we weren’t reaching our potential only made us feel worse. What we craved was someone to point out where we were going wrong and show us how to fix the issue – not to mention someone to tell us what we were doing right, and celebrate when we finally grasped a concept, no matter how small. Those tiny victories could have kept us motivated through the tougher lessons.
5. “I had no idea what any of this was for!”
And honestly? We had no idea why any of it mattered. Memorising historical dates and the periodic table felt pointless without understanding how they connected to real life. Someone who could show us the bigger picture – like how learning about structuring an essay could improve our overall ability to communicate with others, or how algebra trains problem-solving – might have made all the difference.
The support we wish we’d had
Hindsight is 20/20, of course. But today’s students don’t have to wish like we did. Founded by Jerome Barty-Taylor (who went from dysgraphia struggles to Oxford), tutorial centre Barty Education & Development (BartyED) represents exactly the revolution we needed, offering the combination of:
- Tutors specialising in international curricula (IBDP, IGCSEs, A-Levels)
- 1:1 psycho-educational support that adapts to how each student learns – whether they’re neurodiverse, transitioning between curricula, or prepping for university
- Long-term mentorship (some students start at age 10 and stay through uni admissions!)
The results speak for themselves: each year, of the 20 or so perfect 45-point IB graduates in Hong Kong, 3 to 4 of those are BartyED students. BartyED’s personalised university consultancy also gives consistent Oxbridge/Ivy League placements.
This summer, BartyED is offering what we truly needed back then: Pre-IBDP Bridging Programmes before Term 1 stress hits. A rigorous but fun introduction to IBDP’s skills and content, the programme replaces pre-diploma anxiety with genuine confidence. With BartyED, today’s students will look back with far fewer “I wish they’d known” moments. And that’s progress.
Phone number: 2882 1017 / 5721 5831 (Whatsapp)
Address: Barty Education & Development, 17/F, Methodist House, 36 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
This post is in partnership with Barty Education & Development.
