THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK-
We are taught how to make a living but not how to make a life.
12 things I wish they had taught me in School
Author: Farzana Suri, Victory Coach
School taught me many things; some, are surprisingly useful like the language I’m writing in now! My parents were from Lucknow and, let’s just say, neither of them had the pleasure of mastering the Queen’s English. But my mother, bless her, had a grand vision. She was convinced that if her children were going to make a mark in the world, they needed to be convent-educated. Forget the fact that she didn’t know a word of it. She had faith in the power of English, even if she had no clue what it was, we were saying half the time!
I owe a lot to my formidable English teacher, Mrs. Hamilton. Now, Mrs. Hamilton took the English language more seriously than the Queen herself. She was an absolute grammar hawk! There was no slipping a split infinitive past her, trust me. Am I perfect at it? Absolutely not. I still have the occasional rogue comma, but I do take pride in my language skills. I’d like to think my parents would have been impressed too, though they would, probably ask why I didn’t become a doctor. But I digress…
Aside from mastering English, I was also taught the usual subjects: maths, geography, history, and the ever-so-practical “community living” and moral science. Honestly, it was a full package of what they thought would shape us into model citizens.
Looking back, though, I can’t help but think we missed out on some truly essential life lessons. I mean, wouldn’t it have been great if instead of memorising the exports of obscure countries, they had taught us how to actually handle the wild twists and turns life throws at you? And a few pointers on, say, how to do your taxes or navigate a midlife crisis wouldn’t have gone amiss!
Here are some essential topics schools should teach the young citizens of tomorrow, in my humble opinion.
- Failing is Fine.
I first learned about failure in school when I opened my kindergarten notebook and saw the dreaded word “Poor” scribbled in the margin. Up until then, every time I made a mistake, my mother would always reassure me, saying, “It’s alright, go on, try again.” But in school, it felt different – like I was being judged rather than encouraged.
Looking back, I wish schools would focus more on the process of learning rather than slapping labels on children. Every kid learns at their own pace, and instead of calling them failures, wouldn’t it be better to nurture them, giving them the space and support to catch up in their own time?
- Nurture Dreamers.
If my teacher ever caught me daydreaming in class, I’d quickly be snapped back to reality with a well-aimed piece of chalk, followed by a stern reminder to “pay attention!” I often wondered why dreaming was such a crime in school. Maybe, as a friend once joked, it wasn’t part of the syllabus.
Imagine if schools, actually embraced a class on dreaming! A place where we could share our wildest ideas, turn them into stories, and inspire generations. A space where talking about your dreams wouldn’t be seen as a distraction but as the first step towards making them a reality and maybe even changing the world.
- Value of Money Consciousness.
If math had been taught with a focus on real-world financial skills, I’d have been far better prepared to value and manage money. A class that covered money management, budgeting, accounting, saving, responsible credit card usage, reading financial statements, and the basics of investing would have laid the groundwork for true financial literacy.
Imagine graduating with not just an understanding of equations, but also the knowledge to handle money wisely – now that’s a life skill worth teaching!
- Survival Skills.
One of my biggest fears is drowning, because I never learned how to swim! Heaven help, anyone who would rely on me in an emergency.
Schools should prepare students for real-life situations like these, from swimming to driving, changing a tyre, administering first aid and CPR, fighting fires, self-defence, and even navigating topography. Any, one of these skills could make all the difference in a life-defining moment. It’s not just about passing exams; it’s about being ready for the curve balls life throws your way!
- Value of Time Management.
How do you make the most of the 86,400 seconds in a day? It’s all about balancing work and play, mastering self-discipline at work, and carving out time to pursue your hobbies. In today’s fast-paced world, learning self-management and how to prioritise your goals is more important than ever.
Education needs to evolve to teach us how to balance productivity with personal fulfilment—because finding that sweet spot is the real key to success.
- Emotional Resilience.
It’s time to teach students the importance of mental health. A curriculum that raises awareness about their own mental well-being, as well as that of others, and reinforces that seeking help is perfectly okay.
Students need to learn how to say ‘no,’ handle rejection, manage negative emotions, and cultivate positive thinking. Too often, mental health struggles are ridiculed due to ignorance and lack of sensitivity, leading to low self-esteem, self-harm, and even substance dependence. Education on mental health is crucial to creating a supportive and understanding environment for all.
- The Value of Gratitude.
Can you stay angry while feeling gratitude? Absolutely, not. Gratitude is a powerful antidote to negative thoughts – it stops the cycle of complaining, and whining, and lifts the weight of frustration and irritation. It’s an empowering mindset that transforms your outlook and helps you live a more victorious life and is a learning that’s most valuable to lead adult life.
- The Power of Visualisation.
“If you can visualize it, you can achieve it”, a lesson I learned far too late in life. Imagine living with the belief that the power of visualisation can bring you closer to your dreams and goals. Why wouldn’t the education system include this and want to help students master this skill?
- Cherish the Spark of Humour and Spontaneity.
“Be serious!” I heard those words countless times as a child. In the rush to be mature and taken seriously, I became, well, too serious. I lost that spark of spontaneity and the ability to laugh at myself. But humour is what makes life fun! We should teach students to joke, have fun, be silly, and do weird things just for the heck of it. After all, those are the moments that turn into the most memorable stories of life.
- Attitude of Giving.
As a child, I loved sharing my tiffin with my schoolmates. If someone didn’t have a pencil and I had a spare, I’d be the first to offer it. But as I got older, something shifted. When the man ahead of me at the bank asked to borrow my pen, I found myself hesitating, clutching onto it. What changed? Distrust.
It wasn’t until a few years ago that I rediscovered the power of being a giver. The attitude of giving is the highest form of achievement and can transform lives with its energy. It’s time schools teach this as part of the curriculum, nurturing the next generation to embrace the power of generosity.
- Keep Evolving, Everyday.
You are only as good as who you were yesterday, so why not keep upgrading yourself like a smartphone? Add something new each day; a skill, a behaviour, a bit of knowledge, just to keep things fresh. Imagine being taught how to hit “refresh” on yourself daily. Be ready to change, adapt, and surprise even yourself. After all, who wants to be yesterday’s version when you can be the latest model?
- Building and Sustaining Relationships.
What are healthy relationships all about? How do you make them work? I had no clue until I fell in and out of a few! No, sex education doesn’t prepare you for understanding relationships.
It turns out, relationships are about way more than the fairy tale stuff. They are built on communication, trust, respect, a sprinkle of romance, and most importantly, honouring boundaries (yes, even when you are arguing over the last slice of pizza). In a world full of aloneness, loneliness, and the pressure to be coupled, teaching this in schools would be a game-changer.
The problem with the education system is that it teaches us how to make a living but not how to make a life.
Let’s help the next generation build real relationships, not just the ones straight out of a movie script!
I could probably think of a few more to add, but these are the biggies, and the ones that would have made my school years, a lot smoother and helped me become a more self-aware, confident adult. Who knows, maybe I would have even figured out how to parallel park by now!
What about you? Got anything you’d throw into the mix?
Let’s build the ultimate life curriculum together, because let’s be honest, algebra didn’t exactly prepare us for dealing with office politics or fixing a leaky tap!
Farzana Suri, Victory Coach coaches you to be successful in life and business. You can reach her at www.farzanasuri.com
