If you were to ask me what I absorbed during my high school years, I could easily list a few memorable experiences. For instance, I learned that it’s best not to draw a cartoon like “Super Banana” while the teacher is hovering nearby. I also discovered that asking the cafeteria staff for “salad, no lettuce” was a surefire way to earn a disapproving look. And, of course, I found out the hard way that accumulating three tardy slips lands you in detention. Plus, my social studies teacher was surprisingly understanding if I claimed I needed to leave class for “female issues.”
However, when it comes to actual academic knowledge, my recollections are a bit fuzzy, to say the least. I couldn’t solve an algebraic equation for a million bucks and a date with Ryan Reynolds. I have a vague memory of dissecting a frog, mostly due to the unforgettable smell of formaldehyde. And while I do remember how to ask “who made that noise?” in Spanish, the rules of verb conjugation are a total blur.
Although I somehow graduated and even snagged a college scholarship, I feel like my high school education left me woefully unprepared for the realities of adulthood. Sure, there were a couple of life lessons tucked away in health or home economics classes—like the importance of contraception or turning off the stove before leaving the house—but given the sheer amount of adulting we face post-school, it would have been helpful to have more focused lessons on real-life skills. Here are a few that I wish I had taken:
Cooking Skills
In seventh-grade home economics, we might have whipped up a batch of brownies and some soup, but then it swiftly transitioned to sewing pillows—a skill that has served me zero times since. I learned to make a decent bowl of ramen in my college dorm, but it took a while to navigate the kitchen. My early marriage dinners consisted of dry chicken and Rice-A-Roni. To anyone who attended my dinner parties back then: I’m truly sorry. Please come over again; I can cook now… kind of.
Nutrition Awareness
A class titled “You’ll Regret Those Late-Night Taco Bell Runs After 30” would have been incredibly valuable. While we were taught about the food pyramid, a realistic understanding of how food affects our health and weight would have been much more beneficial.
Basic Maintenance Skills
Owning a home and a car sounded wonderful until I realized that both required upkeep. Learning how to change oil, rotate tires, or perform minor plumbing repairs would have been invaluable.
Sewing Basics
Speaking of fixing things, I wish I had gained a better understanding of sewing. While I did sew a pillow once, practical skills like repairing missing buttons or reattaching the limbs of beloved stuffed animals would have been much more useful. Maybe if I had learned to hem properly, my son’s first Halloween costume wouldn’t have been a questionable length (it’s harder than it looks!).
Laundry Know-How
As a teenager, laundry was simple: I handed it off to my mom, and she returned it clean. Now, as I tackle laundry for a family of six, I’ve learned the hard way that there’s much more to it than just tossing in clothes and soap. Familiarizing myself with fabric care would have saved me a chunk of change on ruined items.
Financial Literacy
Back in school, we had a brief unit on balancing checkbooks. That’s it. Today’s kids might learn more, but it still likely falls short of adequately preparing them for adult financial responsibilities. Understanding credit cards, saving, and investing would have been much more beneficial than what I was offered.
Money Management
The reality is, you’re likely to be on a tight budget at some point in your early adulthood. Learning how to stretch a dollar or hearing from extreme couponing experts would have made a significant difference.
Communicating Effectively
Since we spend a lot of time interacting with others—whether it’s bosses, coworkers, or even neighbors—having a class on effective communication could have been a game-changer. Additionally, learning how to navigate disagreements with partners would have saved me from some regrettable moments (like that time I accidentally threw a cheeseburger).
I’d like to think that had these classes been offered in high school, I would have been better equipped for life. But let’s be real: I probably would have daydreamed through the lessons, retaining just enough to pass. Teenagers often think they’re invincible, underestimating the importance of skills that won’t be immediately useful. I know I did.
In conclusion, while my high school experience was filled with memorable moments, I can’t help but feel that I missed out on some essential life skills. If you’re curious about more practical advice for adulthood, check out this other blog post that dives into the world of home insemination. And for those looking to explore the topic further, Make a Mom offers an authority on at-home insemination kits. Additionally, for more information about pregnancy and home insemination, this resource is excellent.