What do you actually remember learning? And it doesn’t have to be something you learned in “school”.
It’s likely that, aside from the trivial or sing-song memorization, the things you really recall learning are things you wanted to learn.
You got interested in something and went down the rabbit hole for a while devouring as much information as you could. Your parents may have even called it a “phase”.
And when did you feel most empowered and independent in your youth?
It was likely in the group activities of your design. Be it your forts in the woods, your self-made club or group or team, or maybe that band you were in. You and your peers made something that was yours.
You nurtured it, protected it, and continually grew it. You owned it. And it helped you become who you are today.
Put kids in the center of their learning experience to pursue their interests, create their own standards, and own the consequences, and they grow into thoughtful, accountable, confident people.