The Value of Conversation

Last night was my daughter’s Year 8 parent-teacher interview night. Although she’s doing well overall, I still wanted to meet all her teachers—to build a connection and better understand her learning progress.

Interestingly, two teachers emailed me earlier in the day saying I didn’t need to come unless I had concerns. Ironically, those were the very subjects my daughter had expressed some frustration about at home. So I decided to go anyway—and I’m so glad I did.

Each conversation turned out to be more than just a progress update. Four out of six teachers shared a similar insight: She tends to be a perfectionist, often too hard on herself. She sets high standards and sometimes believes anything less than an A is failure.

We ended up talking about mindset—how important it is to accept ourselves, enjoy learning, and not let grades define our worth.

This experience reminded me how valuable it is for parents and teachers to partner together in a student’s learning journey. When we share insights and keep the lines of communication open, we’re better able to support not just academic growth, but also emotional wellbeing. Let’s keep these conversations going—for the sake of our young people’s wholeness and confidence.

Yan Jin

College Counsellor