What You Learn in High School: Looking Back as an Adult

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.

Daily writing prompt
Describe something you learned in high school.
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Which aspects do you think make a person unique?

Learning Languages as an Adult

Each person is unique, especially in how they learn languages as an adult.

Kids start from scratch, like a blank document. Adults already have plenty of files stored in their brain. By the time you’re learning a new language as an adult, you might have been exposed to it in random ways—through family, movies, music, or just hearing it while growing up. So it’s not like you’re a true beginner. You already know something, even if it’s in disorganized pieces. Here’s my experience, using learning Chinese as a second language. 

First example: you might mix up the grammar of your first and second languages, and speak a Chinese sentence with English grammar. Oops. You sound like a weirdo. But you know how to swear perfectly because you hear the words in movies and spoken by friends who are fluent. 

Second example: you’re a polyglot. You’ve learned a bunch of languages at the beginner level. So you walk into a store in Montreal and all you can think of is how to say, “How much is this?” in Japanese. Or you’re in Tokyo, and you can only remember how to say a sentence in French. Or, more frustratingly still, you’re in Tokyo, and you can read the kanji, and you need help because you’re lost. But you can only remember the Chinese pronunciation (not the Japanese) of the kanji on the street signs, making you both literate but unable to communicate.

Pronunciation is another funny thing if you’re trying to learn a language that you’ve heard for years but don’t speak it often. You’re not native, but you’re also not a beginner. For example, in English, you go from “I want to learn it” to “I wanna learn it” when you’re speaking more fluently. But as a non-native speaker who’s been exposed to Chinese for years, I will say the Chinese equivalent to “I wanna learn it so bad.” I’ll say a sentence that they don’t teach you in classes – something you learn from native speakers – but my pronunciation is a tad off… not quite native, and not a beginner either. 😂

So what makes people unique isn’t just what they learn—it’s all the random, imperfect stuff they bring with them while learning.

Daily writing prompt
Which aspects do you think makes a person unique?
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What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

Imagine having a secret ability that can prepare you for the future. Not in a dramatic way, but in a practical way that makes life easier and smarter. If I could choose a hidden skill, it would be the power to see what’s coming just a little bit ahead of when it really happens.

One of the biggest benefits would be financial preparation. With the ability to predict the future, I could start saving money before things get difficult. If a recession or job loss were on the horizon, I would already be prepared. Instead of reacting to problems, I would be ready for them. (Such as the current economic situation.)

This skill would also be incredibly useful for innovation. Many successful inventions come from noticing problems just as they begin to affect people. If I could predict the future, I might recognize a growing problem before anyone else. That would give me the chance to create a solution, like developing an app that helps people solve that problem right when they start experiencing it. 

Even in everyday life, predicting the future would make things easier. Take the weather, for example. I have carried around an umbrella all day because the forecast said it might rain, but it didn’t. If I could truly predict the weather, I’d always know exactly what to bring and what to leave at home.

While predicting the future might sound like a superpower, the real value would be the ability to prepare, adapt, and make better decisions before challenges even occur.

Daily writing prompt
What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?
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What is the last thing you learned?

I can’t remember the last thing I learned. I learn a lot of trivial things because I’m always learning.

Learning is more than taking a course or reading a book. Sometimes it’s as simple as paying attention. When you go out, take note of things because you never know when you need them. Like when you shop, you notice what the store stocks, even if it isn’t something you buy. Later, when you have an in-town visitor, you can easily tell them where to find that specialty tea, or recommend a restaurant or store without hesitation. That tiny observation suddenly becomes useful knowledge.

I’ve also realized how much I learn from everyday scrolling. YouTube or Instagram can be surprisingly educational, even if you’re doom scrolling. Maybe you come across interesting facts about space, history, or even the origin of a slang expression in English. 

The same thing happens when watching a movie. When the movie ends, satisfy your curiosity and look up random things. How accurate was the movie? Was that character really that mean? Should you watch Part 2?  Do those animals really exist? You can spend hours going down a rabbit hole in your research. 

Even weird, random facts count. Learning how to store your food properly in your fridge or pantry might save money and reduce waste. That’s practical intelligence.

Learn a little at a time, then in the long run, you learn a lot. Knowledge compounds. Stay curious. Pay attention. Small lessons today become surprising wisdom tomorrow.

Daily writing prompt
What is the last thing you learned?
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The most important invention in my lifetime is the smartphone

The most important invention in my lifetime is the smartphone because it is a true space-saver and an all-in-one tool. Just think of all the things you used to carry around just to do the tasks that the smartphone now offers you: camera, calculator, planner/agenda book, map, etc. (Especially if you had to fit all that in a purse or backpack!) Daily life has become simpler and more efficient.  

Before smartphones, people needed separate items for each task. Cameras were bulky, paper maps took up space and quickly became outdated, notebooks were needed for ideas (and useless if you forgot your pen), and planners kept track of appointments. Now, all of these functions exist in one device. Online searches allow instant access to information anywhere, and notes can be typed on the go.

The smartphone camera is especially versatile. It can be used to take photos, scan QR codes as digital business cards, and even act as a magnifying glass to read small text. This makes it useful in both professional and everyday situations. In addition, built-in timers and alarms help with simple tasks, such as knowing when food is finished cooking and when to watch your TV show!

Overall, the smartphone saves physical space, time, and effort. By combining so many essential tools into one compact device, it has changed how we organize our lives, communicate, and access information, making it one of the most important inventions of our time.

Daily writing prompt
The most important invention in your lifetime is…
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