By Asma’u Yusuf,
Hey There, Let’s Get Real About School
Have you ever sat in class feeling like you just don’t get what the teacher’s saying? Or stared at your notes and thought, “I studied this, but now my brain’s a blank”? Maybe you’ve even felt left out during quiz competitions like Cowbellpedia, watching other kids answer lightning-fast, while you’re stuck trying to keep up. That sinking feeling of “I’m just not smart enough” hits hard, right?
Here’s the truth: Traditional learning isn’t built for everyone’s brain. And that’s not your fault.
What Is Traditional Learning, Anyway?
Traditional learning is the kind most schools use. It usually looks like:
Teachers talking and students listening
Writing down notes fast from the board
Reading textbooks and memorising facts.
Sitting still for hours
Tests and exams measuring how much you can recall
If you learn this way easily, great! But if your brain needs something else, traditional learning can feel like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
Why doesn’t traditional learning work for everyone?
It does not work for everyone because every brain is different. Imagine trying to watch a movie on the radio. The radio only plays sound, but you need pictures too. Or imagine trying to learn to swim by reading a book—no pool, no water. Sounds impossible, right?
Traditional learning mostly favours people who:
Can sit quietly for long periods
Read and write easily.
Remember what they see or hear quickly.
Work well with abstract instructions.
But what if your brain works better with movement, with sounds, or with hands-on experience? What if you get distracted easily, or letters jumble on the page? What if you need stories, colours, or games to make sense of things?
For many teens with ADHD, dyslexia, or other unique learning profiles, traditional methods feel like barriers, not bridges.
The Impact: Feeling left out and left behind
Let’s talk exams and competitions because they are big deal moments in school.
Maybe you’ve sat an exam where the questions make sense in theory, but when you read them, your brain feels like it’s scrambling. You watch classmates breeze through, and your confidence crashes.
Or picture this: its math competition time. You see peers answering questions fast, shouting answers like champions on Cowbellpedia. You want to join in, but you freeze, feeling “silly” or “stupid” because you can’t recall formulas under pressure, that feeling of not belonging is real and it stings.
These experiences can make you question your intelligence or worth. But here’s the key: Your brain is not broken. Your learning style just hasn’t been recognized or supported yet.
So, why are we still using traditional learning for everyone?
Because it’s what schools know best and have been doing for generations. Tests and exams are easy to standardise and grade. But that means lots of kids and teens who learn differently get left behind or feel like failures.
It’s like asking a musician to prove their talent by running a marathon. Both are skills, but you’d never expect someone to be great at both in the same way.
Real Stories from ‘The Learners’ Den’
At The Learners’ Den, I meet many teens who don’t fit the traditional mold but are brilliant in their own ways.
There’s the teen that can’t sit still during lessons but can solve complex problems by pacing and talking out loud.
There is one who struggles with reading but remembers every detail when it’s told as a story or a song.
Another who freezes during exams but shines in group projects and creative presentations.
These aren’t “weak” learners—they’re just wired differently.
What’s the Alternative?
Learning in your own way
Maybe you need to move while studying math or turn your notes into colorful diagrams if you’re a visual person. Or maybe you remember better when you record lessons and listen back, if you’re an auditory learner. Some learn best by writing and rewriting notes, others by doing and experimenting.
When you discover how you learn best, school stops being a battleground and starts becoming a place where you can actually win.
The big takeaway
You are not dumb, lazy, or less capable just because you struggle with traditional learning methods. You have a unique brain that deserves a unique way to learn.
Next week, we’ll explore exactly how you can find your learning style and use it to your advantage. No tests, no judgment—just a guide to help you unlock your power.
Remember: Learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. When you learn the way you learn, that’s when you truly shine.
Asma’u is a Dyslexia Interventionist, “The Teach with the Louding Voice” and Founder of The Learners’ Den.
