Deschooling Yourself
RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS LIKE YOU’RE STILL AT SCHOOL?
When we've grown up in a schooled society, we've often been left with a whole bunch of unhelpful conditioning (and trauma) which stops us from working and running our business in a way that truly works for us.
Whilst education and learning is fundamental to the human experience, schooling is built on oppressive systems (think colonialism, patriarchy, capitalism) and there's a whole hidden curriculum you've internalised that you might not be aware of.
This might show up as feeling like there's one right way to do something, that you need a bazillion qualifications before you can take yourself seriously, or that you can't trust your own instincts. All of this is schooled thinking and most of us are still carrying it around without even realising because it's baked into everything around us.
If you're neurodivergent, queer, or if you've ever felt like an outsider, you probably picked up that school wasn't meant for you pretty early on. Many of us have been left feeling like we’re too much, not enough or that we constantly miss the mark.
Deschooling is the process of unlearning the beliefs and conditioning that school (and wider society) handed us. It's about finding your way back to trusting yourself and doing things your way.
In this workshop we'll explore:
What deschooling actually is (and why it matters so much for how we work)
The hidden curriculum: all the stuff school taught us that was never on the syllabus
Where schooled thinking impacts your business and life
How to start trusting and listening to yourself instead of waiting for external permission
Practical ways to embrace self-direction and autonomy
This is for you if…
You feel guilty the moment you stop being productive
You feel like you need permission or validation to work in ways that work for you
You struggle to trust your own judgment despite being experienced and objectively knowledgeable
You feel like an outsider and are tired of contorting yourself to fit frameworks that were never made for you
You're ready to prioritise your autonomy and do things differently
What people have said about the workshop:
"Just wanted to comment to say that this session is still coming back to me and I'm still noticing shifts and finding it hugely supportive. It's really been quite transformative for me."
"It was SUCH a great session - the folks in NYB are still talking about it now! Thank you for running it and making it such a safe, welcoming space!"
The details:
📅 Wednesday 13th May 2026
🕚 11am - 12.30pm
💻 Online via Zoom
💸 £25 | £35 pay it forward
Can't afford it? Just email me at gem@gemkennedy.com No questions asked
This workshop won't be recorded, but it will run again. Sign up to my newsletter to be the first to hear about future dates.
What to expect:
This is a consent-based space. You're encouraged to manage your own participation throughout; have your camera off, snack, fidget, be cosy, move around, whatever you need. Contributing via chat is given equal weight to speaking out loud and you won't be put on the spot.
Essentially, this is not a schooled space and you won’t be treated like a pupil!
About Gem
Gem Kennedy (they/them) is a transformational coach, facilitator and speaker who has supported over 360 clients across four continents. As an AuDHD solo parent who has been home educating for 10+ years, Gem has spent the last decade deschooling themselves and is dedicated to an ongoing deschooling practice. Gem is a former Co-Lead at The Cabin & The Lodge, a self-directed, consent-based learning community for young people. This isn't just theory for Gem, it's something they live and breathe.
RUNNING YOUR BUSINESS LIKE YOU’RE STILL AT SCHOOL?
When we've grown up in a schooled society, we've often been left with a whole bunch of unhelpful conditioning (and trauma) which stops us from working and running our business in a way that truly works for us.
Whilst education and learning is fundamental to the human experience, schooling is built on oppressive systems (think colonialism, patriarchy, capitalism) and there's a whole hidden curriculum you've internalised that you might not be aware of.
This might show up as feeling like there's one right way to do something, that you need a bazillion qualifications before you can take yourself seriously, or that you can't trust your own instincts. All of this is schooled thinking and most of us are still carrying it around without even realising because it's baked into everything around us.
If you're neurodivergent, queer, or if you've ever felt like an outsider, you probably picked up that school wasn't meant for you pretty early on. Many of us have been left feeling like we’re too much, not enough or that we constantly miss the mark.
Deschooling is the process of unlearning the beliefs and conditioning that school (and wider society) handed us. It's about finding your way back to trusting yourself and doing things your way.
In this workshop we'll explore:
What deschooling actually is (and why it matters so much for how we work)
The hidden curriculum: all the stuff school taught us that was never on the syllabus
Where schooled thinking impacts your business and life
How to start trusting and listening to yourself instead of waiting for external permission
Practical ways to embrace self-direction and autonomy
This is for you if…
You feel guilty the moment you stop being productive
You feel like you need permission or validation to work in ways that work for you
You struggle to trust your own judgment despite being experienced and objectively knowledgeable
You feel like an outsider and are tired of contorting yourself to fit frameworks that were never made for you
You're ready to prioritise your autonomy and do things differently
What people have said about the workshop:
"Just wanted to comment to say that this session is still coming back to me and I'm still noticing shifts and finding it hugely supportive. It's really been quite transformative for me."
"It was SUCH a great session - the folks in NYB are still talking about it now! Thank you for running it and making it such a safe, welcoming space!"
The details:
📅 Wednesday 13th May 2026
🕚 11am - 12.30pm
💻 Online via Zoom
💸 £25 | £35 pay it forward
Can't afford it? Just email me at gem@gemkennedy.com No questions asked
This workshop won't be recorded, but it will run again. Sign up to my newsletter to be the first to hear about future dates.
What to expect:
This is a consent-based space. You're encouraged to manage your own participation throughout; have your camera off, snack, fidget, be cosy, move around, whatever you need. Contributing via chat is given equal weight to speaking out loud and you won't be put on the spot.
Essentially, this is not a schooled space and you won’t be treated like a pupil!
About Gem
Gem Kennedy (they/them) is a transformational coach, facilitator and speaker who has supported over 360 clients across four continents. As an AuDHD solo parent who has been home educating for 10+ years, Gem has spent the last decade deschooling themselves and is dedicated to an ongoing deschooling practice. Gem is a former Co-Lead at The Cabin & The Lodge, a self-directed, consent-based learning community for young people. This isn't just theory for Gem, it's something they live and breathe.