
When I was 21 years old, living alone in a Brooklyn apartment above the State Farm office where I worked as a receptionist, our boss gave us a Kolbe Index Strengths Assessment. I scored high on 'quick-start" and low on "follow-through." I clung to these results like some do with their horoscope, believing the test had some cosmic understanding of me that I wasn't privy to. Over the years, I've proven to myself over and over that I am just as willing to try new things as I am to give them up, and experience has shown me that giving up is usually worth it.
Life is often framed as a series of achievements and victories, where perseverance is held up as the ultimate value. We are taught to push through obstacles, never quit, and to "keep going" no matter the circumstances. But what if there's power in knowing when to let go? What if, in certain situations, giving up is not an act of failure but an act of purpose, growth, and openness to new possibilities?
Have you read Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn? In it, Kabat-Zinn makes the argument that by staying open and adaptable, we can remain connected to our true purpose and mission, even as circumstances evolve. Similarly, knowing when to give up—when to let go of a fixed idea or an outdated approach—can be the key to unlocking new opportunities, allowing us to embrace what is genuinely in alignment with our values and goals.
One of the biggest shifts I've experienced in my life was when I realized that stepping away from the traditional educational system and creating my own microschool was not giving up but rather pivoting in order to stay true to my core purpose: to provide a meaningful and personalized education for children. This decision wasn't made lightly. It involved recognizing that the traditional public school model, with its rigid structures and standardized approach, was not aligning with my deeper mission of fostering children's unique interests and talents.
Leaving the classroom wasn't about abandoning my career or giving up on my mission as an educator. Instead, it was about redefining what it meant to serve that mission. I needed to create an environment where children could thrive in ways that the conventional system simply couldn’t provide. And that's how my microschool, Lucas Literacy Lab, was born.
In my experience, the ability to customize the learning experience is one of the most profound benefits of a microschool. Unlike in traditional classrooms, where students are often taught using a one-size-fits-all curriculum, my microschool offers customized lesson plans for each child. This approach acknowledges that every child is unique and learns at their own pace and in their own way. By aligning the lessons with their interests, strengths, and challenges, we foster a deeper connection to the material and to the process of learning itself. The most rewarding thing has been witnessing children feel the safety of our small learning cottage, away from the hamster wheel they were used to, and calmly try new, difficult things.
Another key advantage of our microschool is the small class sizes. This allows for more individual attention, better student-teacher relationships, and the flexibility to cater to each child's needs. It also fosters a sense of community and collaboration as children work closely together in an intimate, supportive environment. Perhaps most importantly, our school embraces child-led learning. Our students explore subjects that ignite their curiosity, follow their instincts, and dive into areas that captivate them. As educators, we provide guidance and structure, but we leave room for children to shape their own educational journeys.
When I left the public school system to create this microschool, I was embracing the concept of flexibility and purpose. It wasn’t about abandoning my love for teaching or my desire to help children succeed. It was about remaining true to my purpose in a way that felt right for me—and for the children I serve.
In doing so, I also learned the importance of staying open to the unexpected. Just as Kabat-Zinn suggests in Wherever You Go, There You Are, flexibility allows us to remain open to new possibilities. Life often doesn’t unfold as we expect, and sometimes the path we thought we were supposed to take leads us to a dead end. That’s when knowing when to give up—knowing when to release a rigid attachment to a single vision—becomes essential. The key is to trust that by letting go of what no longer serves us, we make space for something better to emerge.
The beauty of knowing when to give up is that it doesn’t mean abandoning your purpose. In fact, it can be the very thing that keeps you connected to it. By remaining flexible and adaptable, we allow ourselves to follow the natural flow of life, adjusting our course as needed to stay aligned with our deeper mission.
For me, creating a microschool that centers on child-led learning, customized education, and flexible schedules has allowed me to remain deeply connected to my purpose—helping children learn in ways that are meaningful and true to their individual needs. This is not a rigid path but rather an evolving journey that requires openness, mindfulness, and a willingness to pivot when necessary. Through this flexibility, I've been able to create an environment where children are empowered to explore, grow, and learn on their own terms.
Sometimes, the most powerful decision we can make is to give up—to let go of a plan that no longer serves us, and to open ourselves to new possibilities. In education, this can look like creating spaces where children are seen for who they are rather than who they are expected to be. By fostering an environment that values the unique strengths, interests, and abilities of each child, we create a more dynamic, inclusive, and meaningful learning experience.
Whether in education, career, or personal growth, knowing when to give up is not about defeat. It’s about moving forward with clarity, purpose, and openness to whatever the world has to offer. Because wherever you go, there you are—and with the right mindset, that place can be full of infinite possibilities.
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