As a future educator, it’s nearly impossible to not reflect on my high school experience on a daily basis. As I’m nearing the end of my college career and preparing for my future classroom and future students, I think back to my high school experience, or more specifically, the lack of experiences.

I attended a wonderful school in North Alabama; however, as academically great as my high school was, there were plenty of aspects of my education I felt I should have been taught but wasn’t. My high school academically prepared my classmates and me for college and taught us how to be productive citizens, but in terms of real life skills, we were lacking. I understand that it is not the teacher’s job to teach outside of his or her curriculum but educators should be held responsible for preparing students that aren’t just academically prepared but also have a well-rounded knowledge of real life skills. Here’s a list of things we should have learned in high school but didn’t:

1. What exactly are taxes and how do I do them?

2. How to make a budget.

3. How to manage money.

4. How to get a passport.

5. How to vote.

6. How to take out a loan.

7. How to bank in general.

8. An explanation of deductibles.

9. How to write a check.

10. How to balance a checkbook.

11. An overview of the health care system.

12. How to change the oil in your car.

13. How to change a tire.

14. How to build credit.

15. How to maintain good credit.

16. The do’s and don’ts of credit card use.

17. An explanation of insurance.

18. How to shop for insurance.

19. Interview skills.

20. How to find a job.