I’ve Officially Wrapped Up the Bra Challenge
…And Here’s What I Learned About Low Expectations, Unlearning, and Why We All Need to Raise the Bar
I’ve officially wrapped up the Bra Challenge. If you’ve been following along, you already know it started out lighthearted—just me, deciding to clean out my drawer and wear a different bra every day for 30 days. But somewhere between the cheetah print and the nursing bra, something shifted.
And you were probably wondering: where is she going with all of this?
How are bras, grade inflation, and unlearning connected?
I’ll sum it up in two words: low expectations.
Not the loud, obvious kind.
The quiet kind.
The kind that sounds like, “At least they turned something in.”
The kind that lets things slide—slowly—until what used to be a standard is now just a suggestion.
It’s a quiet resignation to a system that serves no one.
We lower the bar because we’re tired, or disillusioned, or simply trying to survive in structures that feel immovable.
We do it subtly:
When we let Jose not write in complete sentences “because of his level.”
When we ignore broken feedback loops, toxic culture, or inconsistent leadership.
When we stop believing schools can be anything more than what they are.
And then we fall into place.
We tell ourselves to “just control what we can.”
We overcompensate.
We detach.
We survive.
But every time we lower the bar, we train ourselves—and others—to expect less.
Less from students. Less from schools. Less from ourselves.
The Bra Challenge wasn’t just about clothing.
It was about expectations.
It was about identity.
It was about recovering the part of ourselves that still believes in excellence—not perfection, but what’s possible when we stop settling.
We haven’t just lost our standards in our sock drawers.
We’ve lost our vision of what public schools were promised to be.
What Do We Do With That?
If you’re feeling the resonance in your chest right now (or maybe some resistance in your gut), here are 5 practical shifts you can make starting today:
1. Notice the “At Least” Language
When you find yourself saying, “At least they turned something in” or “At least I tried,” pause. Ask: Is this an actual win—or a lowered bar in disguise?
2. Audit for Aesthetics vs. Effectiveness
Just because something looks good (beautiful bulletin board, great test data, polished presentation) doesn’t mean it’s doing the job. Ask: Is this helping us grow?
3. Rebuild Your Internal Bar
If you’ve been operating from “good enough,” try defining what great actually looks like—for yourself, your classroom, or your leadership. Exemplar work starts with knowing the standard.
4. Name What You’re Unlearning
Identify one mindset or behavior you’re letting go of—and why. (Example: I’m unlearning the belief that silence = engagement.)
5. Choose One Drawer to Clean
Pick one system, routine, or practice to re-evaluate. Start small. But raise the bar. Let this be your first “bra.”
Excellence Isn’t Extra
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about refusing to perform success while quietly resigning behind the scenes.
We deserve better. Our students deserve better.
And it starts in our own drawers—literal and metaphorical.
So: what are you holding onto that’s no longer serving you?
And what will you choose to wear instead?
Oh, and if you are wondering:
Yes, I threw the nursing bra away.
I also threw away about 9 other bras.
Three are still under review.
Only 2 have made the cut.
I have been scouring the bin store for new options because WOW prices are high for quality. I suppose it’s much like trying to find a certified teacher these days. Maybe I’ll get lucky.
Read also:
