When I was in high school, I learned a lot of stuff. You know, things about molecules and how to spike a volleyball and how to find angles of triangles or whatever. But that’s the thing -- that’s all just stuff. Ever since I entered the “adult” world, I literally have not used any of the things that I learned in most of my high school (and even some college) subjects. I get it, high school is a stepping stone to higher education, but I really wish it had been a stepping stone to adulthood. So, here I am, floundering through adult things wishing someone had offered classes on being a grown up. Here are the top six things I wish someone would have taught me about in high school:
1. Taxes
I literally have no clue how taxes work. I don’t know where my money goes, I don’t know how much I’m supposed to be taking out of my paychecks, and I’m basically just sitting back every day, hoping that the IRS doesn’t come knocking because I use TurboTax to do my taxes.
2. How To Buy a House
I’m at the age where I’m ready to buy a house to house all of the puppies I want, but I have no idea where to start, or how that process works. I’ve spoken to a few realtors and they’re always like “Yeah, FHA loans” and “Getting bank inspections” and “30-year fixed rate,” and I’m like “Someone please tell me who I have to pay money to, and how much I have to pay and let me be done with it.” I feel like the process should be less complicated, and maybe it would be if I had any idea how it worked
3. Student Loans
Man, who the heck thought it would be a good idea to make me take out loans on an education when that education didn’t even teach me about student loan repayment plans?! I haven’t had to start paying mine back yet, but I don’t even know who my lender is or how much I owe. So, like, still hoping no one shows up and demands a million dollars from me because I’ll just have to turn into a fugitive.
4. How to Fix/Make/Build Things
I recently stood on a newly built deck and thought “Wow, how cool would it be if I could build this?” Can you imagine if someone had taught me how to build things? That is such a useful skill! And when your sink is leaking, how convenient would it be if I could just fix it myself instead of calling someone else to do that? Ugh. Or if someone had taught me to change a tire? I would be so much more useful if my education had educated me on anything practical.
5. Self Defense
There is probably nothing more important than protecting myself, but the only time I’ve been presented with an opportunity to learn how to do that is in a few classes that YSU offered. Why didn’t anyone teach us that in like, gym class or something? I would feel so much safer and well-prepared for the world if I had been trained to defend myself.
6. Budgets
I don’t know how to allocate my money or talk myself into saving instead of spending (that might be more of a self-control issue, but whatever). I wish someone had taught me how to construct a budget and follow through with it. My bank account would be super grateful.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m surviving, but I would be so much better off if I’d been taught how the world actually works and how to prepare myself for it. And don’t worry, you’re not alone if you feel super lost in the adult world.
