Have you ever gone to the grocery store and needed to calculate the circumference of a circle to know how many oranges to buy? How about having to know how to recite the entire periodic table to get hired for a job? Absolutely not. Most of the information that is spoon-fed to us in high school is unnecessary and fails to equip us for handling the "big bad world" that awaits us after graduation. Instead of having classes that teach how to manage money or apply for life insurance, they'd rather ensure that we know how to recognize the mitochondria of a cell. Today's crusted and traditional school curriculum ceases to provide students with the fundamental life skills needed to survive and succeed, not only in the work environment but in life in general. Skills such as decision-making, stress management, goal-setting and good communication are essential information that should be taught to students in the classroom.
Schools should be encouraging students to be innovative thinkers in order to further develop decision-making skills. Our current learning structure is like a dilapidated robot factory. They are implanting information into our brains and expecting us to memorize and repeat like machines. As a result, we are wired to think and respond the same, although we have completely different personalities and goals. This must be stopped. We will all experience different obstacles in life and schools should set the foundation by preparing us to overcome them.
Additionally, we should be taught how to handle anxiety by instilling proper stress management classes into the school's curriculum. Life outside of high school can be demanding and full of surprises. Without proper knowledge on how to efficiently handle and cope with stressful situations, it is very easy to become overwhelmed, or possibly even fall into depression. Based on a study completed by The National Alliance on Mental Health, “75 percent of mental health conditions develop by the age of 19”. This proves that high school and college graduates are the main culprits to succumb to these mental illnesses. Starting more conversations in the classroom about stress management and the seriousness of mental illness can certainly prevent students from falling victim to these horrendous results.
Some school instructors make it seem as though failing a final examination means that you will be a failure in life. There is much more to life than making A's and having three master's degrees. Although these are great accomplishments to possess, the schooling system refuses to remind students to focus on other important goals in life as well. Having a good support system of family, friends, and developing good communication skills are also just as important. Simply knowing all the rules of the English language doesn't substitute for knowing how to properly express yourself and understand others. Academic development should not be seen as the only thing that matters. For example, when being selected to attend an ivy-league university the admission staff seek students that possess unique qualities. Things that make the student stand out from the crowd. Of course, all of the students that apply would have 4.0 GPAs, flawless attendance records and was probably a member of every academic club that you could think of. But the real question is, what makes each student different? Having other talents and qualities in addition to academic knowledge can give students an advantage by making them a more well-rounded individual, adding to their qualifications.
Furthermore, it would be beneficial to students after graduation if schools began to implement mandatory classes to prepare students for the work environment. Writing an impressive resume can prove to be very difficult without having prior knowledge of what one would consist of. Coaching students on how to maximize their chances of scoring a job and demonstrating workplace etiquette can prevent a lot of hiccups in the student's future job search. It would also refrain students from feeling like they're walking into traffic blindfolded by not knowing what to expect in a new environment, due to the immense pressure. Even introducing money management and budget planning would be beneficial, especially when starting a job.
Along with job preparation, students and graduates should be required to have precise goal setting strategies in place. Teachers should be required to ensure that all students are aware of the importance of planning and setting specific long-term and short-term goals that they desire to achieve. Besides, the famous quote does say “A goal without a plan is but a dream.” Most school teachers may say “we do tell kids to set goals”, however, this simply isn’t enough. We don’t need to sit in a classroom and forcefully write a list of things that we plan to accomplish this year. Typically, just to get the task done most students will put “get good grades in school” or “pass all of my exams”. Long term and short-term goals shouldn’t be limited to solely high school academic success. Students should be encouraged to have goals that are not only academic, but also life oriented. Such as, “dedicate more time to developing my vocal skills” or “spend more time with my family.”
Essentially, schools should be preparing students to be more than just book smart. We as students should be able to leave the classroom with enough information and personal development skills that would allow us to conquer the unpredictable world ahead of us. School should be a place that encourages personal development and growth as individuals. Teaching us not only how to solve the Pythagoras theorem, but also equipping us with unforgettable life skills that we can use to journey through life.
