My mission

The word “education” originates from the latin word “educare”, which means “to draw out” and can be interpreted in such a way that education should be about bringing out the best in each student. Unfortunately far too many students never discover their strengths and abilities during their time at school and leave with a broken self image and low level of confidence.

For this reason I set myself the goal to bring self-empowerment and personal development into schools. I believe that all students should have the opportunity to discover and activate the genius that lives within each one of them.

In my opinion education should be about more than just learning certain skills and accumulating knowledge. It needs to keep pace with the advancements taking place in society. A recent study by Oxford University showed that over the next 10 years, about 45% of the jobs we know today will be gone, which could mean that the knowledge students’ accumulate in school may become obsolete when they finish school. This development calls for independent and creative thinking and therefore it can be assumed that the school policy that has prevailed both in Iceland and abroad, where the main emphasis is on submission, follow-up and on theoretical preparation rather than practical, is no longer a good preparation for life. I trust that young people will be better equipped to deal with the great social changes that lie ahead if they know how to tap into their own strengths and abilities, if they know how to cultivate their own creativity, adapt an attitude of taking responsibility, and know how to process their feelings.

I also believe that it is important that young adults learn how to create their own prosperity and happiness. This is especially important as depression and anxiety are on the rise among young adults and there is a great shortage of resources. Prosperity and happiness are not to be found in worldly possessions, money or fame and fortune as many young adults believe, these are our society’s illusions of happiness. Our happiness and well-being lies within us. It is tied in our self-awareness, how we relate to others, it is tied in our values and our attitudes towards ourselves and the outside world.

My mission is that self-empowerment, self-knowledge and emotional and social intelligence become part of the main curriculum in schools as I cannot think of anything more important than that to prepare young adults for life. I have taken the first step towards this goal and offer now workshops and seminars, both for students and teachers.

The goal of the teachers’ workshops, which my colleague Ingrid Kuhlman (thekkingarmidlun.is) and I have designed together, is that teachers receive tools to ignite intrinsic motivation and bring out the best in each and every student. The goal with the student´ courses is to discover and activate the power that resides within each one of them. When you truly know yourself, you are better equipped to get a job where your strengths and abilities can be utilized and you are also you know your strengths and abilities you are better equipped to get a suitable job and you are better prepared to create what you want in your life.