After watching the documentary Most Likely to Succeed, I found the concept fascinating and thought-provoking. The opening scene, where students sat in a circle struggling to share ideas, opinions, or reflections, felt like a very powerful representation of our generation. Looking at some of those students also even felt like looking at a mirror. It highlighted how traditional schooling often prevents students from practicing their decision-making skills and critical thinking. Too often, education is structured around black-and-white answers, leaving little room for freedom, creativity, or personal opinions.
This great documentary captured both the challenges and the potential of giving students freedom and autonomy. The striking growth shown by some of the students was spectacular. Although it was difficult to clearly see the traditional academic development they achieved, or whether the prerequisites for university were fully met for all, the film strongly portrayed the development of important soft skills in many of them. Watching students evolve from shy and hesitant to outgoing and well-spoken made it emotional to vicariously witness their growth.
It was also extremely relevant that the documentary highlighted statistics about how little students actually remember in traditional schools. Knowledge is often memorized for the exam and forgotten for life. This made the school in the film feel idealistic, eye-opening, and difficult to argue against.
After watching, I was left with the impression that all high schools should provide at least one year of this type of learning.
