Academic success and professional failure.

In 2019, Le Figaro étudiant published a study which retraced the career paths of 20 French personalities who had not (or had very little) education, and who nevertheless managed to make a name for themselves and flourish in their respective fields.

This new form of success seems to be in total contradiction with the historical image we have of the educational institution, always perceived as the sole guarantor of everyone's success.

Indeed, it is no longer a scoop for anyone: school unfortunately does not lead students to project themselves into the future , but to enter the predefined boxes of an established school and professional system.

Thus, students who are awarded the famous sesame at the end of their studies do not have the tools to understand the reality of the business world . Worse still, they are accustomed from a young age to operating according to the rules of a strict and elitist framework, which often leads to restricting individual talents.

Therefore, academic success and academic knowledge do not systematically rhyme with fulfillment in the world of work.

If we wish to successfully align academic and professional expectations, it therefore seems essential that the French school system distance itself somewhat from its historical objectives. Indeed, it is important to note that academic success has not always been, far from it, about preparing for professional life.

Since the Jules Ferry Laws (1881-1882), on the contrary, the aim has been to train good citizens who respect the values of republican democracy. This brings us back once again to this notion of conformity which limits young people's ability to dream, test and discover different fields, in order to have a wider choice of orientation.

Furthermore, the teaching staff, responsible for disseminating these universal values, but far removed from economic issues, trains good students to conform to the mold of a good employee in the making rather than to acquire the characteristics of a leader, or at least of someone who asserts themselves within the company. Because it is at this level that many difficulties appear.

When it comes to promoting their work and taking credit for it, many workers struggle.

Not to mention that these problems, frequently encountered in the professional world, almost systematically lead to a lack of recognition, synonymous with suffering for many of these young talents.

It would therefore be better to focus on working on personal ambitions, assertiveness, motivation and determination, which are essential to achieving everyone's dreams.

This is where the whole point of professional efficiency and personal development in general lies. This is an excellent way to fill the gaps in the "traditional" school system, particularly thanks to a model based on the development of collective projects, on exchange and the sharing of experience.

In this sense, it is about encouraging young people to think for themselves by allowing them to open up to the field of possibilities . Among the existing examples, the establishment of networks of establishments operating in cooperation around a common research or professional development program constitutes one of the avenues to be explored at the national and international level.

On a smaller scale, setting up discussion, coaching, writing, or public speaking workshops is undoubtedly one of the most sustainable solutions available. While it's never easy to find your way, these few elements are all avenues on which to build in order to guide young people towards fulfillment in the world of work.