My journey began at the tender age of nine, a pivotal moment when I was placed into the lower stream of grade 4, infamously known as “the dumb class.” Struggling with a speech impediment and reading difficulties, I felt unseen and underestimated, despite an inner conviction of my potential.
Finding myself adrift in the traditional academic setting, I gravitated towards sports. It was on the field and in the water that coaches recognized my determination. Their unwavering belief in my capabilities nurtured a self-assurance that propelled me toward extraordinary achievements.
By the time I entered university, I had risen to the national level in kayaking. Just three years later, I proudly represented Canada at the Olympic Games. Surrounded by athletes I had long admired, I realized that reaching the pinnacle of global success was within reach, even for the girl once relegated to “the dumb class.”
Immediately after the Olympics, life took another turn as I welcomed my first son, Oscar, followed by Max and Phoenix. Navigating life as a single mother with young children presented financial challenges. To make ends meet, I ventured into graphic design and website development.
By 2006, my web development firm had garnered two Webby Awards, and by 2008, I had established a company that became Google Apps’ first North American Premier Partner for Enterprise clients.
In 2010, a concerning discovery regarding my son Max’s reading abilities emerged. His teacher informed me that he was significantly behind expected reading levels and would face considerable difficulty catching up. In my quest for solutions for Max, I uncovered a widespread issue: declining literacy rates across North America had reached alarming lows, with countless children feeling unseen and unsupported in their learning journeys.
Driven to understand the root cause, I spent six months immersed in classrooms, observing and learning from educators. It became strikingly clear that many children were disengaged from their education. The scarcity of innovative and effective educational tools for our children was deeply concerning.
A profound conviction took hold: we had to strive for better. This became my driving mission: To provide exceptional education to all children through the power of engaging games.
Shoelace Learning is born from this very mission, deeply ingrained in every aspect of our approach.
More to come,
Julia
