When we're kids, we're told that going to college is almost crucial. We're also told that we are going to learn the skills that we need to survive as young adults in the real world. As I reach the end of my college career, I'm starting to realize how my higher education has not prepared me for the start of adulthood. The common sense things, the things that are essential to living on your own, are not things that I have specifically learned in college. Here are a few things that we should all know, but we did not/will not learn in college.
1. How to cook
I realized when I moved into my own house that I had little experience cooking for myself. When I finally figured out that I was going to be doing this every day, I decided it was time to master the art of cooking. Why don't we ever study cook books in class? I think this would be beneficial.
2. How to fill out tax forms
I mean, honestly, those things are confusing. I hope to one day not have to rely on my parents for help when I fill out my tax forms. But until that day, I will continue to confuse myself looking at them and then asking my mom to lend a hand.
3. How to fix my car
This is such an important skill and I respect all of the people that decide to go into the mechanic profession. When I open up the hood of my car I cannot make heads or tails of it and I really wish I could. I didn't learn how to jump start my car in a class at my university, but rather by my step-father teaching me when I got my license. I still know a lot of people well into their 20's that do not know how to jumpstart a vehicle.
4. How to properly grocery shop
Grocery shopping is sometimes a challenging task. There's too much temptation to buy things that you do not need and spend a large sum of cash on food that won't provide you with a full balanced meal.
5. Money management
This goes along with grocery shopping. It is sometimes hard to manage money on your own, and no one teaches you how to balance a check book in a college class. Typically, money management is something you learn on the fly, outside of school.
