High school is a phase for learning general knowledge – but it sure doesn’t always teach you what you actually need to survive life.
My biggest protest is how we spend years learning how to write formal essays to prep you for college. Then you graduate college, and pretty much everyone I know hasn’t written an essay since then. Starting from your first job, you’re writing emails, reports, Slack messages, or PowerPoint presentations. There is a major disconnect between what we learn to do and what we actually have to do when we get a job. Of course, it’s a relief that you’ll be done with essays at some point if you really hate them.
We also study a wide range of subjects in high school, such as science, math, and history. Some topics were more interesting than others. One example is chemical elements. It’s handy to know what you should and shouldn’t combine if you don’t want to create an explosion. But I’ve forgotten how to create a parabolic curve, despite dedicating two weeks of my life to learning the math behind it.
In hindsight, if there’s one thing that should have been taught to everyone, it’s business. Not because everyone will want to be self-employed, but because business teaches valuable skills: leadership, communication, resilience, budgeting, and how to present and “sell” your ideas. These are skills you use whether you’re running a company or working a 9-to-5 job.So what I learned about high school was that you learn a lot of generalist knowledge that is (mostly) not applicable to your adult life. Also, at that young age, you don’t know what you really need. A lasting example is learning to bake cookies in cooking class. Since then, I’ve learned that I’d rather buy than bake them.
Vanya Wryter Consulting Services 
This is so on point.
That gap between what we’re trained for and what we actually do… you’ve said it exactly how it feels.
Also the business skills point… that’s something most people realise way too late.
I like how you’ve kept it honest and a bit funny without overdoing it.
A lot of people are going to nod while reading this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading! Did you find there were some things that you wish you had learned in high school?
LikeLike
Some lowly educated people have succeeded in small grocery and food business.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Exactly! So education doesn’t always equal long term success!
LikeLiked by 3 people
I remember what I learnt in high school but like you, most of it has not been of use to me as an adult. Business has as I’m self-employed too and honestly it seems like the world is moving towards more people being self-employed so I agree that’s an important subject. I also found subjects like history and geography helpful simply because you learn more about the world and are able to leave your little bubble.
LikeLiked by 4 people
I agree! I liked history class. It seems more people are becoming self employed, as you said!
LikeLiked by 3 people
This is a thoughtful and relatable reflection that highlights a gap many people feel but don’t always articulate so clearly. Your contrast between academic learning and real-world application—especially the shift from essays to everyday workplace communication—is both sharp and insightful.
I especially like how you balance critique with practical suggestions, like the importance of business skills. It adds depth and makes your perspective feel constructive rather than just critical.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thanks for reading and commenting. Was that your experience as well with school? I think your life is the other end of life experience – we should learn what we need to survive when we’re in school, and then when we retire, that’s the time to do fun things and enjoy life.
LikeLiked by 4 people
But, without being required to write all those essays, how would you and I be blogging, now? Am very, very grateful for having come of age when writing was still taught, and grateful to those teachers with the strength and tenacity to share the art with their students.
LikeLiked by 3 people
There are so many different types of writing, and I think it’s too bad that high school only emphasizes essay writing. I’ve had managers ask how to write a letter to politicians. Blogging is a slightly different type of writing than essays, especially when you consider SEO and keywords, something not needed for essays. When I started working, I learned proposal writing, copywriting, and content writing – all types of writing related to jobs, but I wasn’t taught any of that in high school, and those would have been more useful. Thanks for reading and commenting!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I graduated high school in 1968 so … . The only science class I took was human biology/health. I took psychology, modern problems, home economics, speech, Colorado history, as well as the standard math & English, history, geography/social studies, & foreign language. My “protest” would be, and is, there ought to be required Child Development, along with something like Marriage and family planning. Along with, yes, business/economics. But, I’d be okay with just the basics – the 3 R’s. 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
“My “protest” would be, and is, there ought to be required Child Development, along with something like Marriage and family planning.” These would be very useful suggestions! As adults we would see the value in that, but I’m not sure teenagers would fully appreciate the value of this education.
Also, no worries about comments posted to the wrong blog! It’s happened to me as well. WordPress needs to fix that.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I totally agree!!!! 👍
How to balance a budget …. shop for groceries, etc..
LikeLiked by 3 people
Shopping for groceries seems so easy when you’re an adult, after you learn how to do it at some point. But I don’t think I learned it in high school, so they should teach it earlier for sure!
LikeLiked by 3 people