For the most part, schools train us to Fail in the Real World or at least fails to prepare us for life. Instead of learning critical life skills, we are mostly taught to memorize information. This is helpful in the process of learning, but not at the cost of not learning critical life skills.
Now, some argue that these “life” skills should be taught by parents but not all parents are qualified to teach these lessons, and many assume that school is “enough learning.” Adulting isn’t as easy as it seems, especially when you don’t have the tools to succeed.
#1 Mindset and Mental Health – People underestimate mindset. If you are feeling and thinking very negative right now, know that someone put that thought in your head. It could be your family, friends or your environment. Know that you are in control. Most of our decisions today are primarily driven by other people’s opinions. The truth is, you don’t have to do that and just keep pursuing what makes you happy.
Other skills can be mastered after first building your ability to endure challenges, being aware of your needs, and responding appropriately to trials. Other relevant skills here are self-awareness, perspective, empathy, and patience.
#2 Communication - Effective communication is vital to ensuring success in all areas of your adult life, and it takes practice. You can start by becoming a better listener with people close to you. There are many aspects of communication that you can choose to learn such as public speaking, negotiation, learning to recognize and articulate your thoughts and feelings to name a few.
#3 Sales – The irony is that the first thing we are required to do after we leave the education system is to sell ourselves (Getting a Job). A half-day seminar on CV/resume writing or mock interviews is not enough to build this skill, takes repetition and whole lot of rejections. This is also one of the best ways to get used to rejection and learning from failure as well.
#4 How to Handle Money - One of the taboo topics of society is money (I think it's number 1 and 2nd or 3rd place is either politics or religion). The importance of handling money responsibly is obviously valuable. Accounting, finance, and business classes do explain accounting procedures, financing arrangements, and business structures, but do not focus much on personal finances, saving or investing. The job of these classes is to prepare students for working environments, and not necessarily for managing their own finances.
Being self-reliant entails being financially responsible and stable, topics under here includes: Investing, Insurance, Healthcare, Taxation, Paying-bills, managing debt, budgeting, basic financial terms & procedures, avoiding scams and fraud and more.
#5 Basic Law and governance – Tax and taxation is an example of something that we are required to face and figure out by ourselves after we leave school. Keeping up-to date to amendments and new laws is important and how it affects us (Example: Tax Reform).
Can someone be arrested for not paying a debt, such as a credit card? What rights does someone have who has just been arrested? Given the real-life and potentially grave consequences of breaking the law, the law should be taught to students, who can then act accordingly. As they say, ignorance of the law excuses no one.
You don’t need to master all of these as becoming our best selves is always a work in progress.
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Vernon Joseph Go is an RFP®–Registered Financial Planner | Licensed Real Estate Broker | Content Creator | Podcast-on-the-go Producer & Host