I think we can all agree that high school did not prepare us for the real world whatsoever.

I’m willing to bet that several of the problems that young adults are facing right now wouldn’t be nearly as bad if high school had taught them things other than the Pythagorean theorem and test-taking skills.

Money talks, so let’s talk about it first.

I was required to take one semester of economics my senior year of high school. In that class, I learned absolutely nothing. When I got to college, I actually started to understand some basic economic lingo. Did I ever once learn how to balance a checkbook, budget money or fill out a W-2? Of course not. Now, that’s not to say that it’s the economic professor’s job to teach me these things, but a high-school-level class definitely could’ve been created for this.

So many college students (and graduates) are struggling with paying for food, gas and college itself. Student loan debts are adding up, with the average student debt sitting at $26,518 in Georgia from 2014 alone, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.

I’m definitely not a financial expert; I’m a broke college kid myself. But maybe, just maybe, these debt prices would decrease if kids got a basic idea of simple money management.

How do you pay off student loan debt? Most people get a job and earn money. How do you get a job? Usually, you have an outstanding résumé and cover letter. What’s that? You didn’t learn how to write either of those in high school? Neither did I, and it’s definitely cause for concern.

Writing a résumé and cover letter is such an important thing to learn. Both are not only usually required for a job, but they help you to stand out to potential employers and highlight your personal strengths and accomplishments. I’m about to be a junior in college and I am just now getting a grip on what good résumés and cover letters look like.

As I prepare to enter into my career field for work, I’m having to learn a lot about networking and professionalism. High school teachers and counselors often encourage students to set high goals and chase after their dreams. Unfortunately, they don’t back it up with as much enthusiasm.

Interviewing skills, writing professional emails and pinpointing exactly what each student wants to do with their life are essential. Not enough time is spent interacting with students on a more human level. Most high school students (especially those who aren’t outspoken or extroverted enough to be their teachers’ or counselors’ favorites) are often treated purely as a number. I would know, I was one of them.

If the people influencing our youth for eight hours a day five days a week would realize that every student deserves the same amount of attention and care, maybe they’d gain more confidence and learn more about how to professionally follow their dreams.

The list goes on and on. Now students have to be willing and motivated enough to learn all of these things from scratch, on top of working and going to school. Something’s got to change, or else all of our futures won’t be very bright.