A lot of students are about to graduate, but not all of them feel ready for real life. School is supposed to prepare students for the future, but a lot of students feel like it only prepares them for certain things and leaves out important life skills.
Some students say school helps in certain ways. London Singletary, a junior, said that learning how to manage deadlines is useful. “I think deadlines help because in real life when you’re working certain jobs you have to learn how to manage your time,” she said. But she also said she doesn’t feel fully prepared, especially when it comes to job interviews.
Raveena Kumar, a junior, agrees and thinks school focuses more on memorizing things than real-life skills. “I believe that school is more about memorization of things that may not help us in the future,” she said. She also thinks classes like money management should be required.
Even after graduation, some students still feel unprepared. Alumni Saiyara Sami from the class of 2025 said that school only prepared her a little. “School taught me basic stuff like reading, writing, and some subjects, but real life is way different,” she said. She explained that she had to learn a lot of things on her own, like managing money and handling responsibilities.
However, some teachers believe certain classes do help students prepare for real life. Mr. Roopnarine, a CTE auto body-collision/refinishing teacher, said that hands-on classes teach important skills like problem solving and critical thinking. He explained that students build confidence when they are put into real situations and have to figure things out on their own. These skills can help students become more independent and better prepared for real-world situations.
Mr. Roopnarine also mentioned that students should look at different options after high school, whether that is college or a trade. He believes students should think about their skills and what works best for them instead of just following one path.
Overall, school does help in some ways, like teaching time management and basic skills. But many students still feel like they are not fully ready for real life, especially when it comes to money, jobs, and responsibilities. Because of that, some people question whether schools should focus more on teaching real-life skills instead of mainly preparing students for tests.
