10 Things You Need for Adult Life but Don’t Learn in School
A quality education needs to involve learning various life skills that a person can take with them after their college years. These essential life-skills help people navigate careers, relationships, and ensure they are a successful and well-rounded individual.
Even though the majority of high schools and colleges are excellent at teaching numerous valuable skills, the current academic curriculum doesn’t teach very many aspects that are necessary to not only succeed but also thrive in life. Some components that aren’t taught in traditional learning institutions include financial responsibilities and
investments, and how to think logically and retain information, rather than just memorizing it. Another skill that is often left out of the normal school curriculum is how to apply these abilities in real-world scenarios that are bound to take place.Chances are you have been in a situation in the past where you don’t know what to do. For example, you can’t make your own budget to ensure you can pay all your bills, or you don’t know how to effectively remember all the offerings your business provides to customers. The fact is, common sense skills are a necessity for people; however, very rarely taught in traditional learning environments.
Are you ready to know 10 of the main adult skills you need to have that you don’t learn in school? If so, you have found an excellent source of information to help you out. Our list ensures you know what you need to study and do on your own to ensure you are a successful adult.
10. Personal Finance
Ideally, all schools (both high schools and colleges) would offer courses in personal finance. The curriculum needs to include topics such as credit ratings, credit cards, interest rates, retirement accounts, and why everyone needs to begin saving money each week so they have a nest egg when they reach retirement age. After all, compound interest basically runs the planet; however, many people don’t know anything about it until they are in their mid-twenties.
Now, you may wonder why personal finance topics are so important. There are several reasons a personal finance education is needed early in life, including:
- $15,000 in credit card debt is what the average American family has.
- Because more than 36 percent of Americans who are working have absolutely nothing saved for their retirement years.
- The majority of people – even after an expensive college education – don’t know how to properly manage their money.
There is no question that financial illiteracy is a huge problem. After all, if the society is full of individuals who constantly purchase stuff they don’t need and can’t afford, retire with no savings what-so-ever, and are sick of not being able to pay for healthcare, this hurts everyone in the long run. The sad part is, this is what is going on right now. Millions of people waste their money, don’t put back, and don’t save, resulting in serious consequences for not only people on an individual level but society as a whole.
9. Relationships
Have you ever really thought about the relationship skills most people possess? This doesn’t just mean on a personal level – it includes professional and casual relationships, as well. If this course was offered in school, it would include teaching individuals how to communicate their feelings without judging or blaming one another, how to identify manipulative behavior and stop it, the importance of personal boundaries, how not to become a pushover, how to discuss sexuality in an adult and honest manner, and how sexuality relates (or does not relate) to love.
Basically, everything that the majority of people learn when they experience their first breakup, or continue experiencing breakup after breakup.
This is important because when you are lying on your death bed, you don’t think about the history or math lessons you learned while in high school or college. You are thinking about the ones you have loved and the ones you have lost. There are many things that may make you happy in life, but there are few that have as much impact or influence as your relationships with others.
This education teaches you how to express your emotions and feelings of intimacy properly. It would also teach you how to handle conflict at work, and take responsibility for your own problems and emotions without dragging everyone along with you.
Humans are social animals; you don’t exist in a vacuum. The social bonds you form make up the very fabric of your life and learning how to develop strong and lasting relationships is a must.
8. The Art of Conversation
Take some time to think – when is the last time you had a long, meaningful conversation with another person that didn’t involve some type of electronic device? For most people, this is something they can’t recall. With the world becoming more and more tech-advanced, the art of the good old-fashioned conversation is being lost.
The ability to converse with acquaintances, neighbors, spouses, friends, dates, loved ones, bosses, coworkers, etc., all require a certain level of boundaries and social norms that are fully understood and observed. This includes give and take, as well as mutual respect. This is true regardless of if the conversation is over the phone, face to face, on social media, or through email.
The younger generation has received the nickname the “silent generation.” This is because they mainly communicate via mediums that don’t require any actual speaking to another person. This results in a person’s normal communication skills being hindered. In the long run, this can result in no learning from other’s mistakes and experiences, reduced social development, and social isolation. All of these adverse effects could result in a type of barrier that minimizes the potential for the individual to achieve rewarding careers and meaningful relationships.
The ability to connect with other people, feel empathy, when to listen and when to talk, and other similar factors are crucial in interpersonal relationships, as well as in the workplace. Conversation is a skill that is dying, which is why schools need to highlight its importance.
7. How to Make it Without Certain Types of Technology
With the increasing popularity of e-readers and smart phones, books and mechanical watches are becoming much scarcer. Many people don’t even understand how to read a single-hand watch. These watches work in a unique manner, that most members of the older generation understand, but this is not something that is passed on to the younger generation. After all, it was only the very first pocket watches that were designed this way.
Even though these watches are now considered “antique,” it is extremely beneficial to know how to read them. After all, if they are properly cared for they can last for hundreds of years and never require a battery.
One of the benefits related to reading paper books is that older books are available. These are typically not offered on the modern e-reader. You can trade these books, borrow them from others (or the library), and even give them as gifts. They don’t ever need a charge and you can annotate and sign them. There is no type of update ever needed and you don’t have to worry about file-type incompatibilities. Many people are even worried that the increased popularity of e-readers is going to mean the demise of traditional books, which means you may eventually find you are completely cut off from your ancestors. This is not a future that most people want or need. This is why it is so important for high schools and colleges teach students how to use older versions of items, rather than relying on technology.
6. Basic Home Repair Skills
At some point, a person in high school, or college, is going to “break out” and live on their own. Knowing what to do when something breaks is essential to keep a home in good, working order. The fact is, calling a repair person for every small break that occurs can get pretty expensive. This is why it is so important for a person to know how to repair basic systems and components around the house.
However, this is yet another skill that is needed, but not taught, to kids in school. Skills such as electrical work, carpentry, plumbing, and painting (as well as many other skills) are all necessary to maintain and repair any home, regardless of if a person owns or rents it.
The fact is, this is where the person is going to store most of their valuables and where they are going to send most of their lives. Knowing how to make certain repairs and various improvements is always a valuable skill to have. In addition to knowing how to make the right repairs, it is also necessary to know what tools are needed to ensure the repair and improvement jobs go smoothly. Skills such as knowing how to read a measuring tape and ruler go a long way when making home improvements; however, this is a skill that many people simply don’t have.
In addition to making home repairs and improvements, it is also wise to understand how to maintain the flower beds and yard to improve curb appeal. This can help to increase the value of the home, intrinsically and monetarily.
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