Rebekah Klassen is next author in 2016-2017 MLHS senior student editorial series
“Adulting”
After graduating from high school, many college freshmen fear “adulting,” or having the responsibilities of an adult. They find themselves suddenly in the real world, but lack many essential real-life skills, such as paying taxes, doing laundry, or writing a resume. As schools focus more of their classes and resources on core academics – math, history, science – instead of life skills – finances, domestic skills, and communications–fewer students feel ready for life. In order to prepare students more effectively for their future in the real world, schools need to include more life skills education in their curriculums.
In the first place, the adult world revolves around money, so students need to learn the vocabulary of finances and how to deal with money. When I asked what they felt least prepared for in the real world, most of my classmates included that they had no idea how to do taxes. Many also stated that they would like to learn how to balance a budget and pay bills before heading to college. Financial classes could be added to schools or more financial concepts could be incorporated into the current math curriculums. Providing students with knowledge about finances better prepares them for the financial responsibilities of adulthood.
In addition to more financial literacy classes, schools should also provide home economic classes. When teenagers move out of their parents’ homes, they need to know how to care for themselves, a home, and children. Cooking classes are beneficial because they teach students how to take care of their bodies properly. With a 67.3% overweight and obesity rate, unhealthy eating is a prevailing problem in America, according to the Global Nutrition Report, and I believe this percentage could be lessened by teaching students about proper nutrition. Additionally, while living in a dorm or an appartment, students need to know how to do laundry, wash dishes, and maintain regular cleaning. Another important domestic skill is child care; even if people never have children of their own, they will most likely have nieces, nephews, and children of friends, so they need to learn how to keep the next generation safe and healthy. All of these skills – cooking, cleaning, and childcare – should be taught in home economic classes to prepare students for domestic tasks as adults.
Just as domestic skills are important for students’ personal lives, they also need to learn to communicate effectively and connect with others to give them the edge they need in a competitive market. According to Carol Morgan from the Huffington Post, “When employees are asked about the most important factor in their decision to hire someone, almost always, communication skills are at the top of the list.” Written and verbal communication is vital to most jobs and all relationships so classes in public speaking, writing, and job interviewing would aid students in their personal and professional lives. Another aspect of communication includes social interacting; many of my peers said that they needed to learn proper etiquette, conflict resolution, and teamwork. This is why written and verbal communication, interview skills, and interpersonal education would all be extremely beneficial to set students up to succeed in the work force.
In conclusion, to prepare students for the real world, schools need to include classes that teach financial, domestic, and communication skills. While math, science, and history are good for students’ brains, life skills will help the next generation face the struggles of “adulting” with the proper knowledge to navigate the real world.