I’ve been studying for 17 years, but I’ve been living life for 21, and I finally find that the four walls of the classroom cannot teach me everything I need to know about "the real world." Everyone keeps talking about this real world that we need to prepare for when I graduate college, but isn’t the world I’ve been living in real? I’ve gained friends, insights, and weight. I’ve broken my own heart, one of my left toes, promises, bad habits, and electronic devices. I’ve watched basketball games, plays, public catfights and sunrises. I’m sure you have, too. Yes, the world has been very real, and it has been my classroom. Besides, no one remembers half of the things they study in school, but everyone remembers how they lived their life.
My last year of formal, tertiary education… and my real world education goes on…
1) Reading rocks.
Read everything and every time you can. Read books, magazines, newspapers, posters, flyers, labels, websites, blogs, road signs, manuals, instructions, captions, nutrition facts. You absorb so much relevant, interesting and useful information. You improve your vocabulary. You exercise your brain without letting it know that it’s working. You meet new people, travel to new places, understand new concepts, formulate opinions, and learn new things.
2) Being independent doesn’t mean being alone.
I’ve always believed that everyone should learn how to stand on his or her own two feet. However, standing on two feet doesn’t mean kicking away all the other pairs that come your way, especially when they’re scurrying toward you to see how you are. Independence prepares you for life in case you find yourself stranded on an island. It’s not supposed to turn you into one.
3) You have to know when to be nice and when to be mean.
Everyone loves the nice guy, but nice people do finish last when they’re perpetually nice. It’s definitely okay to put one’s foot down when the situation calls for it. Learn how to say no. Learn how to insist on what you want. Learn how to stand up for yourself. Learn how to point out people’s mistakes and weaknesses. Learn how to criticize constructively.
4) Act your age.
You’re only your age once. Literally. Don’t waste your life aspiring to be older or younger than you are. Take life one year at a time.
5) Everybody changes.
My dad hates it when he hears someone say, "Don’t change!" It’s true – no matter what, everything and everyone changes. Your best friend from kindergarten is probably not the same best friend you have now. While your high school barkada might still meet up, none of you are the same people you were back when you were still in uniforms. You might even laugh at the way you yourself used to think or act. I’ve seen too many friends lose each other over time because they stubbornly cling to the past. Allow some room for change and growth in your relationships. You don’t have to change your friends just because they change. Let them be, and let them grow.
6) Prufreading yor own work is hrad.
Often, when I proofread my own work, I tend not to see any mistakes because my mind already knows what I mean. I end up reading right through typos, grammatical and syntactical errors. It always helps to get a second opinion. A new perspective brings things you couldn’t see before to light.
7) Most people love talking about themselves.
This is one thing I’ve learned in several social situations – if you find yourself in an awkward moment with people you don’t know very well, one sure way to get out of it is to ask them questions about themselves. (It’s so much better than asking them about the weather or politics.) You don’t put too much pressure on them on giving "right" answers. Talking about themselves puts people at ease. You’ll find out so many things about people by just listening to them talk about themselves. I’ve had people pour themselves out to me by just asking the right key questions.
8) Reserve one special talent to impress and show people.
Everyone has to perform in front of others at least once in his or her life. If you can sing, always have one song ready that you can belt out in front of others. If you can play an instrument, prepare one song you can play in front of others. Otherwise, learn how to do a headstand or make quick caricatures or balance a pencil on your nose or something similarly interesting. I’ve learned how to whistle through closed hands.
9) Eye contact is an amazing thing.
Don’t underestimate the power of your eyes. We live in such a fast-paced world that we forget to really look at people, and when we do it’s amazing at how disarming it is. This shows people that you’re taking them seriously and that you’re listening. Look people in the eye when they’re reprimanding you, when they’re telling you how they are, when they’re giving a presentation, or when you tell them hello.
10) Better to be honestly clueless than cluelessly pretending.
No one can possibly know everything. If there’s something you don’t know – whether it’s the latest chismis or the name of the person you just met five minutes ago to how China’s economy has been over the last couple of years to who Zidane is – don’t pretend to know. I don’t care if I seem apathetic, naïve, or baduy; it’s better than being pretentious. Anyway, when I realize how clueless I am, it’s a steppingstone for me to learn more about whatever that is.