2026 International ACAC Conference Session Proposal Form

Are we helping students thrive—or simply perform? Grounded in research on student well-being, engagement, and achievement, we explore the growing connection between joy, purpose, and academic success. As stress and performance pressure rise across grade levels, the evidence reveals a clear pattern: achievement without joy leads to disengagement, and pressure without purpose leads to burnout. Do academic excellence and well-being truly sit in opposition—or is joy, in fact, a powerful driver of sustained performance?