3 Subjects I wish They’d Taught in School

School is not a place where you learn how to become an engineer, consultant or artist.

While proverbial subjects like mathematics and natural science are crucial for developing rationality and logic, the ever-changing, unpredictable landscape around us shows that these subjects alone are not enough to tackle real-world challenges.

Schools should be an outlet that equips you with the necessary skills that you can apply in order to make better decisions, foster enriching relationships and navigate the complexities of being human.

Personal experience:

I had this realisation when I ventured into the “outside world” after graduation. It hit me like a ton of bricks.

I did not know how to make decisions, I had no idea how to deal with people and I did not understand how to handle money.

The only thing I had a foundation in was to follow orders and be guided every step of my life.

As if someone had given me a reality check on what I was missing out on. The foundation of my life was a wreck!

Thankfully, the “outside world” didn’t kill me. It forced me to understand what I was missing out on. As I disconnected myself from the traditional education route, I was exposed to the first principles of living.

By reading books, listening to great minds talk and hanging out with people better than me, I have started overcoming the gaps in my knowledge.

After 1.5 years of constant learning and experimenting, I have curated 3 subjects that I believe are the foundation of our lives. These subjects have remained timeless irrespective of the changing professional and economic landscape. Let’s dive in!

Psychology: The Laws of Human Nature:

When I secured my first job out of college, I was faced with the daunting task of working with a team. A team comprising of humans from different walks of life, having distinct belief systems. As I had been taught most of my life, my first instinct was to find ways to impress them.

Guess what? I failed miserably!

Do you know why? Because I knew nothing about people. I did not know if they had any biases in their thinking, their preferences or their emotional triggers. This lack of knowledge hindered my collaboration skills.

I was frustrated. The only thing that came to mind was — “Why did nobody teach me how to deal with people, understand their opinions and build meaningful relationships?!”

As I took matters into my own hands, I understood what psychology and people skills are. I read my first book on the subject and I was flabbergasted!

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour in humans (and non-humans). It is a vessel that can help us navigate the complexities of being human.

Whether you want to make a new friend, resolve a conflict, win people to your way of thinking or understand the origin and nature of thoughts in your head, psychology is undeniably a foundational subject that needs to be taught in every curriculum.

Psychology helps you become a better leader, a better parent and an affectionate partner.

Dealing with people efficiently is a superpower. No amount of quadratic equations can make up for this.

Personal Finance:

Our society keeps money on the pedestal of life and yet most of us remain in the dark about how money works.

Earning money is the easy part. The hard part is how to handle money, and how to use it. We need to educate our students on:

What is investing?
Why should we invest our money?
What is the difference between asset and liability?
What is life insurance?
Etcetera

I started learning about personal finance at the age of 22 when I got my first salary credited. I was lucky to be surrounded by the right people but most of us don’t realise the importance of understanding these concepts until it’s too late. Just ask your parents.

Productivity & Time Management:

When I got my first internship, for the first three months, I was exhausted.

I had to wake up at 7 AM, work for 9 hours (sometimes even more), take time out for friends and family, pursue my hobby, study for college, plan my future and go to the gym.

Guess what?

I never had the energy or the time to get everything done.

Thanks to Ali Abdal and Ankur Warikoo, I was able to get a hold of my time.

I’m still learning.

Productivity is all about maintaining a balance between work life and personal life. For students, it is a balance between study time and playtime.

Teaching kids concepts of time management and the importance of routine, discipline and consistency is not just a skill, it’s a necessity!

Earning money is the easy part. The hard part is how to handle money, and how to use it.

We need to educate our students on:

What is the 80–20 rule?
How to apply techniques like Pomodoro?
How to design a routine?
How to be consistent?
How to track progress?
Etcetera

Another important skill for life is to understand the science behind habit formation, how to build new habits and how to break existing ones. Atomic Habits by James Clear is a book that every education system needs to embrace. The syllabus and content are right there!

Conclusion:

As I wrap up this discussion, I can’t help but reflect on my own journey. The ‘outside world’ opened my eyes to the vast gaps in our traditional education system. It wasn’t enough to excel in math or grasp the laws of science.

I needed to understand human behaviour, manage finances, and master the art of time. And now, having ventured into these vital subjects, I can’t stress enough how transformative this knowledge has been.

If you’re a student reading this, you have the world in your hand. I’m proud of you that already started your journey of self-study with this article. Now keep on going! And remember, earning is a life-long process. Every human is a student.

If you’re a parent reading this, you don’t need to wait for the curriculum to change. Start working with your child as early as possible and help them prepare for the battle.

If you’re a school authority reading this, I hope you try your best to convey this to your division.

I don’t want every student to be lost like I was. Incorporating subjects like psychology, money & and time management early on in life can not only enhance the performance of the students in high school but also set up the stage for students for a prospering life experience.

Thank you for your time!

Writing on Medium has been incredible for my personal growth. I am finally starting to see the potential in a skill that I have possessed for the longest time. I am happy to share that I signed my first freelance writing client a few days ago!