Life is full of adventure, hardships and many many surprises. We can never be fully prepared for what this wonderful life has to offer. But, sometimes I wish that I could have prepared early in life on few things that would have helped me face the situation with panache and confidence.

With this ever-changing world, we have to learn to adapt and adapt fast. The world is growing faster than we could ever imagine. It is competitive yet welcoming; It is adventurous yet fun; It is scary yet gives us the happiness that we all look for, But we need to have the right set of eyes to see that.

The current school curriculum is not on par with the speed of the world. We desperately need few changes in our school curriculum that helps us to be more responsible adults.

A decade or two ago, teachers taught life lessons more than learning few definitions by heart. I agree and accept that technology has improved education system a lot. With all the 3D labs and so many education-based apps, kids understand a lot of mathematical derivations and scientific calculations, which were not there last earlier.

But with this change kids are becoming more and more tech-savvy and least connected to people and environment around them. When the kids are out of school most of them are taken aback by the harsh reality.

There are no 3D labs to teach life. There are no apps to take care of your life…. There is no substitute for few things.. You have to deal with it…

Here are few things that I have listed down; that I think should be inculcated in school curriculum so that the youth are better prepared.

Money management

Well, I agree that in current generation making some quick bucks is not as challenging as it was 2 decades ago. But the value of money management has still not changed.

We need to teach our kids to be more responsible in the matter of handling finances. I am not saying that everyone should be Warren Buffet and invest wisely. I am saying that the basic knowledge of saving, investing, returns, future plans should be put in front of the kids. Living off your parents’ money and waiting for next months allowance is not money management. As they grow old, that is what they will do, finish off month’s salary and wait for next month’s. This won’t do. My sincere request to school authorities to consider these points in the school curriculum.

Mental health

In the months of May and June, every year country records the highest number of suicides. According to Lancet report in 2012, India has the highest suicide rate of youths and this number is increasing every year.

Not only suicides, an innumerable number of depression cases are also registered. I mean seriously, it is high time we have to ask the question, “What is wrong with our children?” And neither the government nor the schools are doing anything about this.

The third issue related to mental health in school kids is teenage pregnancy. According to Mother and Child Healthcare Monitoring System (MCTS), Bengaluru has recorded the highest number of teenage pregnancy between the duration of April 2017 to January 2017. About 8099 registered cases of teenage pregnancy in Bengaluru alone.

This I consider is one of the most important and burning issues. If at all mental health classes were introduced in schools, I am sure we will less number than above.

Handling relationships

As clichéd as it sounds, relationships are the primary reason why we human beings are human beings. The children today are so engrossed in technology that we do not see as many emotional connects and as many meaningful conversations. Not only with parents; There are no meaningful conversations anywhere. Not with parents, not with siblings, not with friends, not with teachers, and with one own self.

Handling relationships and respecting other persons’ feelings, opinions and behaviours are the things that kid lack. So naturally, when they are out of school they are unaware of all these traits and cannot handle different kinds of relationships that life has to offer. Be it colleagues, senior, subordinate, friends or life partner. There are only surface level relationships and nothing deep-rooted. As a result, we see lot many broken marriages, broken parent-child relationships, office spats… many more.

Handling Banking and finances

How many of us have struggled the first time we went to a bank? The forms, the procedure, the deposit slips, the chequebooks. Sure, we have digital banking; a lot of these can be done on your phone. But I’m positive that you all agree that we all need to face the banking system, as we grow older. We need to understand how a bank works. How can we make use of the banks? How to get loans? EMIs, PDCs, writing a cheque.

How I wish a little of these were taught in school so that I would have made a lot more use of the banks.

Art of conversation

Conversation is truly an art. It requires an understanding of other person’s interest, knowledge on the general topic. It also requires certain basic skills like how to talk to elders, how to talk to managers, how to talk to peers, what topics you choose while you are conversing with what kind of people, and most importantly when to stop.

Our kids, busy with their phones, internet, TV, Social media, etc, have no time for family interactions or gatherings. And this skill is not taught anywhere. So when they come out of schools there are blunders waiting to happen.

Time management

There is absolutely no time. No time to eat, no time to sleep, no time for kids, no time for spouse, no time for fun. No time for anything. And then we wonder where did all the time go?? The thing is, we think we have time.

The time for us on this wonderful earth is very limited. Let us not waste it in traffic jams, sitting in front of TVs, or sulking in a corner.

Everyone has the same amount of time. 24 hrs a day. But still, some has time, many do not. How is this possible? Its simple; Time Management. Rather I would like to say, setting your priorities right. What is more important, how should we plan to meet our priorities? This is called time management. Sadly, we all learn it the hard way.

Coping with failure

Failure is stepping stone to success, our teachers taught this. But have we really understood the meaning of this? Have we applied it? No. We have sulked in corners when we were not successful in certain things. So many of us have gone into depression and worst still, many have lost their lives.

I’m not saying nobody should be under depression, but shouldn’t we be better equipped to face our failures? Failures teach us to understand our mistakes. Instead of sulking in depression get up and get going. Achieve big. As a wise man once said, “I did not fail 100 times, I found out that these 100 ways do not work”. 

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