When we picture the future for our children, most of us don’t dream of perfect test scores or straight A’s. Instead, we imagine them as successful, kind, capable, and resilient human beings and young adults who can thrive in the real world.

But here’s the real question: How do we get them there?

For decades, schools have focused on grades, benchmarks, and standardized testing. And while academics are important, they only tell part of the story. Increasingly, research and real-world experience show that it’s soft skills not test scores that truly set students apart.