If you were to ask me what I gained from my high school experience, I could list a bunch of amusing anecdotes. For instance, I learned the hard way to avoid drawing a cartoon titled “Super Potato” when the teacher was watching. I also discovered that cafeteria staff do not appreciate requests like “just a salad, hold the lettuce.” Additionally, I found out that accumulating three tardy slips results in an immediate detention. On a more personal note, my social studies teacher would turn a blind eye if I needed to leave class for “female issues.”
However, when it comes to actual academic knowledge, my recall is rather fuzzy. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with algebra for a million bucks and an afternoon with Chris Hemsworth. I vaguely remember dissecting a frog, but mostly because the scent of formaldehyde is unforgettable. And despite learning some Spanish, I can only confidently say, “Who cut the cheese?”—go figure.
I must have absorbed something since I graduated and received a college scholarship, but honestly, I left high school feeling ill-equipped for real life. Sure, we picked up a few life skills in health and home economics classes (like using a condom and turning off the stove), but given the number of adult responsibilities waiting after graduation, more emphasis on practical skills would have been beneficial. Here are a few lessons I wish I had received:
Cooking Basics
We may have whipped up some brownies and soup in seventh-grade home economics, but then we quickly transitioned to sewing pillows—skills I’ve never used. My college cooking repertoire consisted of instant ramen made with bathroom tap water. It took me ages to feel comfortable in the kitchen. My early marriage meals were largely dry chicken and boxed rice. To anyone who has joined me for dinner in the past: I’m sorry! I promise I can cook now—sort of.
Understanding Nutrition
There should have been a class titled “Enjoy Fast Food Now, Because Your Metabolism Will Slow Down After 30.” While they touched on the food pyramid, a realistic understanding of how nutrition impacts health and weight would have been far more useful.
Home and Vehicle Maintenance
Owning a house and a car seemed appealing, but I never considered the upkeep involved. Knowing how to change oil, tires, and basic plumbing would have been invaluable skills.
Sewing Skills for Everyday Needs
On the subject of fixing things, I wish I had learned more about sewing. Yes, I made a pillow once, but I could have benefited from skills such as mending missing buttons or reattaching limbs on cherished stuffed animals. If I had learned to hem properly, my son’s first Halloween costume wouldn’t have been a disaster (it was a bit long, okay?).
Laundry Fundamentals
As a teenager, laundry was simple: I handed it to my mom, and she returned it clean. Now, managing laundry for a family of six is a different story. I learned, often the hard way, that it’s not just about tossing clothes in the washer with soap. Familiarity with fabrics would have saved me a lot of money on ruined clothes, especially when it comes to shrinking, bleeding, or tackling stubborn stains.
Financial Literacy
In my day, we spent a week learning how to balance a checkbook and that was about it. While students today likely learn more, it still might not be enough to navigate the financial challenges of adulthood. With the endless credit card offers flooding college students’ mailboxes, a lesson on building and maintaining credit would have been useful. Even if I had zoned out during discussions on investing or retirement savings, a basic understanding would have been a plus. And taxes—those are inevitable (like death), yet some introductory knowledge about the process would have been helpful.
Budgeting Skills
Let’s face it, young adulthood might involve being broke or living on a tight budget. A class on how to stretch a dollar would have been practical, alongside seminars on extreme couponing or unconventional ways to make extra cash, like donating plasma or flipping garage sale finds.
Effective Communication
We spend a significant part of our lives engaging with others—from bosses and coworkers to family and neighbors. Knowing how to communicate effectively is crucial. I certainly could have benefitted from a class on negotiation skills and fostering connections, especially in social settings. A unit on healthy communication and constructive arguments with partners would have been beneficial too (although it might have prevented me from throwing a cheeseburger at my husband early in our marriage, which is now a funny story).
I like to think that if these classes had been offered, I would have been better prepared for adulthood. However, I might have just daydreamed through them, absorbing only enough to pass. After all, teenagers often dismiss the importance of skills they won’t need for years. I know I did, being too busy with “important” activities like doodling superheroes.
In conclusion, while high school offered some valuable lessons, it missed the mark on practical life skills that would have made navigating adulthood much smoother.