Are schools teaching us failure anxiety instead of how to embrace it?

To explain this, I take you with me, back in time:

In 1991, my dad and I sat on a bench in Barcelona, observing the scene:

Tour guides held small flags or coloured umbrellas, leading groups with - of course- old-school cameras.

The guide points left, and they snap pictures; points right, and they do the same.

The tourists, focused only on their guide and taking pictures, nearly causing accidents while crossing roads.

While observing them, my dad noted,

 'They'll develop these photos and realize some are ruined by backlighting. They'll wish they returned at 5 p.m., when the light was better.

I replied, 'Yes, but they won't find that building again since they blindly followed their guide. This was before modern navigation tools.

Reflecting on that moment, I saw how it mirrored students' experiences in schools today. The  teacher, like the guide, has a textbook and directs every step.

“If you follow me, you will perform well on the test.”

The teacher writes on the board, tells his story. The students focus on making sure they copy everything - taking their pictures.  

Students, like tourists, don’t learn to navigate on their own. Imagine if your job relied only on repeating your mentor, with no room for error or innovation.

At some point, they arrive at the test. 

During the test, they soon realize that the pictures alone aren’t enough to guide them through this challenge.

 It’s even worse when they get a job, where they need to apply what they’ve learned.

What they need, is the tour guide's experience. They need learning through experimenting and play, also known as play!

Self-directed exploration lets students:

→ Lead

→ face the unexpected

→ seek help as needed. 

These experiences stick, enhance adaptability, and strengthen problem-solving skills—essential for long-term learning and personal growth. 

They teach students to experience and, more important, overcome failure.

In contrast, when teachers say, “follow me exactly,” they offer a tightrope to balance on. And walking that tightrope leads to fail anxiety.

Do you think your school experiences equipped you to face failure in real life? Share your thoughts below.

Watch the video for more insights on embracing failure.