By the time October arrives, the excitement of a new school year has started to settle. The new notebooks are no longer new, schedules have become familiar, and students are finding their rhythm. But for me, this is also the point when we should ask a bigger question: What are children really gaining from being back in school?
School should give children knowledge, but it should also give them the confidence to discover who they are and what they can become. Research from UNICEF continues to emphasize the importance of transferable skills such as creativity, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and resilience alongside academic learning.
Back to School Should Build Confidence
I know from my own journey how powerful it can be when someone believes in you before you fully believe in yourself. Becoming a skeleton athlete and eventually Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian did not happen because I simply learned information in a classroom. My journey required discipline, resilience, decision-making, courage, and the willingness to keep going when circumstances made the goal difficult. Children need opportunities to develop those qualities too.
For some children, especially those growing up with fewer resources, access to sports, mentorship, technology, creative activities, and other experiences can be limited. That means back to school should also mean access to experiences that help children build confidence and recognize their own potential.
Learning Should Connect to Real Life
A classroom can teach a child how to solve a math problem. Real-life experiences can teach that same child how to solve a problem when there is no obvious answer. That distinction matters. UNICEF identifies creativity, critical thinking, communication, cooperation, decision-making, and resilience as important life skills that help young people navigate school, work, and everyday challenges.
That is why I believe back-to-school should include opportunities to lead, create, compete, collaborate, and try something unfamiliar. A child who learns how to speak up, work with others, recover from failure, and set a goal is learning skills that can stay with them long after graduation.
Every Child Deserves More Opportunities
This belief is at the heart of why my wife and I founded Hope Of A Billion. We want children in underserved communities around the world to have opportunities that help them see beyond their current circumstances. Through sports, education, mentorship, and practical experiences, we want young people to develop the motivation and skills to pursue their dreams and become future leaders.
For me, back to school is a reminder that education should open doors, not simply fill classrooms. Every child deserves the chance to discover a strength, find a passion, build confidence, and imagine a future that once seemed impossible.
As a skeleton athlete, entrepreneur, and Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian, I founded Hope Of A Billion with my wife to help kids in underserved communities across the globe realize their potential and grow into future leaders through our programs.
I’m honored that our work has been featured on the Olympics’ official Instagram alongside legends and icons including Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, Magic Johnson, Billie Jean King, tennis star Carlos Alcaraz, and many more.
Help us send children back to school and create more opportunities for them to dream, learn, and grow. Donate now, then visit the Hope Of A Billion website to see exactly how we are helping kids build confidence, develop skills, and pursue their dreams.
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