I was a student in the early 2010s, right at the edge of a technological turning point in education. Laptops were entering the classroom. Suddenly, platforms like YouTube, Khan Academy, and Wikipedia were at our fingertips, offering an unprecedented opportunity: the sum of human knowledge, instantly accessible to anyone, anywhere.
That moment changed everything for me—and eventually shaped the vision behind Sora Schools.
For thousands of years, schools served a very clear function: they were the gatekeepers of knowledge. It was where the books were kept, where the trained experts lectured, and where students came to receive information. The system was designed around content delivery—standardized lectures, rigid classroom formats, and a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
But I hated this system.
I did what I needed to get by—kept up decent grades—but I felt uninspired and disengaged. My parents still talk about that time as a transformation from a happy, curious kid into a quiet, box-checking version of myself. School, as it was structured, was draining the life out of learning.
Then came ninth grade. My school handed me a laptop, and for the first time, I saw what learning could be. I discovered world-class lectures online. I found deep-dive videos and global communities of experts who shared my interests. I started skipping class—not out of rebellion, but because I could learn the material faster and better on my own. More importantly, I had the time and freedom to explore what truly fascinated me.
Ironically, it was the moment I began tuning out of school that I really started to learn. Despite this shift—despite the digital revolution and the AI explosion—most schools haven’t caught up. They continue to operate as if content delivery is their primary purpose. But in a world where students carry supercomputers in their pockets, this model is not just outdated; it’s harmful.
Schools should inspire students to learn by connecting education to their passions and goals.
Think of learning like working out—you only get results if you put in the effort. And effort comes from motivation. Schools today rarely ask students, What do you care about? What drives you? What do you want to build or solve? Instead, they hand out rigid curricula and expect students to grind through it.
At Sora, we’ve built a school model around meaning. We’ve left behind the traditional system of ranking, sorting, and test-prepping. Instead, we focus on helping students find their purpose, develop essential life skills, and learn how to learn—because that’s what they’ll need in the real world.
We integrate real-world projects, mentorship, and collaborative problem-solving. We empower students to design parts of their learning journey. And yes, we still make sure they’re hitting key academic milestones—but we do it in a way that respects their autonomy and humanity. The result is students who are not just more engaged—they’re thriving.
The role of AI in the new era of learning
AI is already reshaping education, whether schools are ready or not. With personalized tutoring, adaptive learning platforms, and creative tools, students can now get instant feedback and support that used to require one-on-one attention from a teacher. This is a massive opportunity—but only if schools are willing to rethink their role. Rather than compete with AI on content delivery, schools should complement it. They should become spaces for mentorship, for collaboration, for exploration. They should be communities that help students make sense of what they’re learning, challenge them to grow, and support them through failure.
In other words, schools should focus on what only humans can provide: emotional intelligence, context, connection, and inspiration.
It’s time to move on. The old model of education isn’t just broken; it’s obsolete.
It was built for a time when information was scarce and slow to distribute. That time is gone. Clinging to that system now only holds students back. We must let go of our obsession with content as the center of learning. Schools shouldn’t be test factories to rank students. Students aren’t mere vessels to be filled with knowledge; they are humans who need to be inspired.
About the author
Garrett Smiley is the Founder and CEO of Sora Schools
