Vanya Wryter Consulting Services

Tag: life skills

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

    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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  • Why Learn Financial Literacy From a Young Age

    Why Learn Financial Literacy From a Young Age

    In today’s unpredictable economy, financial literacy is more important than ever. Housing costs consist of a much bigger portion of our income than it did two generations ago. Yet, many young people graduate high school without understanding how to budget, invest, or manage debt. Even if students haven’t started their first job or applied for their first credit card, learning financial literacy early can set them up for lifelong success.

    Financial Literacy Prepares Young People for Real Life

    Schools teach math, science, and history, but they often overlook one of the most crucial subjects: money management. Understanding how to budget, save, and invest should be a fundamental part of education. Without these skills, young adults enter the workforce unprepared to handle their finances, leading to unnecessary debt and financial stress.

    If students learned about topics like interest, credit scores, responsible spending habits, and investment options, they would be better equipped to make informed financial decisions. This foundation would help prevent impulsive spending habits, which can have long-term consequences. Even if they don’t plan to invest, learning about investment options such as real estate, bitcoin, and stocks helps them avoid possible scams. They should also learn debt management, such as paying off credit cards, loans, and mortgages. 

    A Job Alone Is No Longer Enough

    Schools teach that the natural path in life is school, then a job, then financial stability. While having a steady income is important, today’s economy is more unpredictable than ever. Layoffs, automation, and economic downturns can make job security uncertain. Relying on a single income source can leave people vulnerable to financial hardships.

    This is why financial literacy should go beyond just budgeting and saving—it should also emphasize multiple streams of income. Schools should teach students about side hustles, investments, and ways to upskill without going back to school to provide financial security outside of traditional employment.

    Side Hustles and Alternative Career Paths Should Be Encouraged

    The traditional college route is no longer the only path to success. While higher education can be beneficial, it’s not the right choice for everyone. Many students would benefit from learning about trades, entrepreneurship, and freelancing as viable career options.

    Side hustles—such as finding a job and then finding your own clients for the work you do (such as graphic design) are an option. Starting a side business, such as reselling products, allow individuals to generate additional income. Likewise, trade careers in plumbing, electrical work, and construction offer high-paying opportunities. Schools should educate students on these options to help them make informed career choices.

    Key Takeaways

    Financial literacy should be taught at an early age. It provides students with the tools needed to navigate today’s economy, build wealth, and create financial security. Learning financial literacy prepares students for real-world financial challenges, ensuring they have the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in any economic climate.

  • How to Conquer Your Fears

    How to Conquer Your Fears

    Fear is scary. It can physically and mentally cripple you. For example, people have gotten stage fright and forgotten their lines while standing, momentarily paralyzed on the stage. Have you had a similar experience? What are you afraid of?

    Everyone is afraid of something. The harder part is facing your fears and conquering them. The secret to defeating your fears is to break them down into pieces. 

    Here are four fears and how to conquer them.

    Fear of becoming overwhelmed. In life, we can be overwhelmed by everything we need to do, from personal to professional projects. Selling or buying a house, leading your first major project, or starting a job that is different from what you’ve done in the past. You are hit by a tsunami of questions – what do you do first? What if you forget to do something important? 

    The first step is to make a plan and break down a major task into a series of steps. If necessary, get help from a mentor or an expert or someone available. Ask for advice on what to do when buying a home. See if a coworker can help with a piece of the project. Just work on one small task at a time, instead of taking on everything as one goal.

    Fear of things. Phobias are often out of your control. You just fear what you fear, such as spiders, snakes, heights, or tight spaces. 

    But if you arm yourself with knowledge, you can slowly start to chip away at your fear. For example, if you fear spiders, read a book about spiders and learn everything you can about them. The question is WHAT should you fear about your fear. Being bitten by a spider and reacting to the venom is a true concern. Being fearful of a tarantula because it is sitting next to you, minding its own business and enjoying the weather – that’s a fear in your mind. Knowledge is power. 

    Fear of situations. Public speaking is a term that many people dread. You have no control over how people think of you. Will you make a mistake when you speak? Will people judge you and think that you’re awful even though you thought your presentation was flawless?

    To overcome your fear of these types of situations, put yourself in these situations more often. (This probably seems like a nightmare in itself.) Start with something small, such as going onstage to announce the next speaker. Or making a presentation in front of a small group of supportive friends before you start presenting in front of a large group of prospective clients.

    Fear of failure. Everyone fears failure. It’s embarrassing, and it’s a terrible feeling to disappoint yourself or someone else. However, failure gives us painful but valuable lessons. Any business owner will tell you that the road to success is not easy and failure (or failures) is something you encounter on your journey.

    To succeed, you develop mental toughness. When failure happens, ask yourself what you would do differently next time. What lessons did you learn? In business, it’s tough when you think you have a prospective customer or client, and after much discussion, talks fall through. Or you find you have successfully closed what turns out to be the client from hell. It happens. It’s a learning process.

    We face our fears every day. Today, on Halloween, take a moment to think about your greatest fears and how you will overcome them. 

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