Five Important Life Skills I Wish I Learnt in School

I learnt an incredible amount in school and I am so grateful to all my teachers. Being a teacher is hard work and, honestly, I don’t think I would be where I am today without their guidance, support and care throughout the years. That being said, I think that schools are still heavily focused on education, exams, grades and textbook teaching.

While we cannot deny that education is immensely important in this day and age, I sometimes wish I was more equipped to face the ‘real-world’ at a younger age. Getting good grades is just as important as learning about relationships, finances, lifestyle and mental health.

I want to say that this is by no means discrediting teachers and/or schools. Their hard work is incredible. However, I believe that learning more about the ‘real-world’ is essential. Here are the top life skills that I wish I had learnt more about at school.

Money Management

I studied accounts during secondary school but that’s about it. The importance of saving, how to create a successful budgeting system and how to manage your own money was never touched upon. While I learnt how to create a balance sheet and a profit and loss account, I was never fully aware of how expensive life necessities are and how important it is to safeguard your money, especially if you’re thinking about the big steps in life like buying a car, a house or funding your own wedding.

Relationships and Love

What’s the point of learning the difference between an acute triangle and an obtuse triangle, if you don’t know the meaning of love? There is so much to learn when it comes to dating, falling in love and maintaining relationships. Love, at first sight, is not impossible to find but most relationships require hard work, sacrifices, arguments and finding a happy medium.

Mental Health

Nowadays, there’s more awareness when it comes to mental health than at the time I was in secondary school. However, I wish I was taught that it’s ok not to be ok, that happiness is a state of mind and not a permanent feeling and that feeling sad is not a burden. I wish I knew how to handle my first panic attack and I wish the world was more equipped with compassionate and understanding individuals when it comes to depression, anxiety and mental health.

Living a Healthy Lifestyle

I remember our vending machines were always full of healthy snacks and, as far as I recall, we weren’t allowed to bring sweets and junk food to school. However, when it comes to sport, until an older age, I was never aware of the different varieties I could take to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I grew up with a very stubborn mind that I was not made for sports because I was rubbish at everything that we had tried in school. I wish I was taught that you could still maintain a healthy lifestyle even when you’re no good at tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and the like. There’s running, the gym, pilates, yoga, cycling! I wish I had learnt that sooner but it’s better late than never!

Coping with Failure

I wish I learnt, earlier in life, that failing does not mean GAME OVER. Failure is part of success and I believe that learning this when we’re younger is extremely fundamental. I wish I learnt not to be afraid to take risks and not to be afraid of failure and disappointment.

Is there anything you wish you were taught at a younger age? I’d love to know! 

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Top & Necklace: Urban Outfitters // Jeans: New Look // Shoes: H&M (old)