14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (2023)

    From how to recognise depression to what to do in a power cut.

    by Kelly OakesBuzzFeed Staff

    We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what they wish they'd been taught at school. Here's what they told us.

    1. That self-care and mental health are important.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (2)

    Becky Barnicoat / BuzzFeed

    "The importance of self-care and just mental health in general. My health classes NEVER touched on things like anxiety, depression, or eating disorders. These things are increasingly prevalent and a lot of high schoolers could really benefit from learning about them, even if it's just basic 'This is what's happening chemically in your brain, and if you're experiencing it, you're not the only one.'"

    – Maria Elizabeth, via Facebook

    "I wish I had been told to take mental health days when I really needed them. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed with anxiety and stress and really could have done with one day to rest and feel mentally well again."

    bethc4a441a932

    For information and support on mental health, visit Mind. If you're looking for self-care tips, here are 10 straight from therapists themselves.

    2. How buying a house works.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (3)

    Cathy Ngo / BuzzFeed

    "My partner and I are in the process of buying a house at the moment and we have literally no idea wtf we are doing. We've done lots of research but it's so complicated it really would have helped us a lot if we had some basic knowledge of the process."

    beffers92

    "What the hell is a mortgage? Why do I have to tax a stamp?"

    victoriat400e4b3f0

    "Mortgages! I come from a family that has been renting through social housing since the 1920s, so my family has no idea how to help me understand owning my own home. I have no idea where to start or half the lingo... That was a lesson I really needed!"

    katieg4a39e845a

    If you're lucky enough to have the money to buy your own home, here are some tips on the process – including what on earth stamp duty is.

    (Video) 14 things I wish someone told me about sewing as a beginner!

    3. That it's okay to talk about periods.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (4)

    Maritsa Patrinos / BuzzFeed

    "We were made to feel like periods weren't okay to openly talk about with people of the opposite sex, or even our female classmates for that matter. "

    ArcticMonkey1975

    Here are 35 things most women have done on their period but don't talk about, to give you some ideas.

    4. How to recognise depression.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (5)

    Becky Barnicoat / BuzzFeed

    "I wish someone taught me how to recognise depression and how to deal with it. When I was in school, everything only went in one direction: I knew I had to be there and I had to get food grades, everything else was taken care of.

    "Then when I finished school at the age of 17, I was supposed to know in which direction to go next, but I didn’t. I fell into a deep hole and it took me more than a year to find out what it was and to find the right therapist to help me."

    helenew4730f56f5

    To learn more about depression or take a self-assessment test, see the NHS website. If you think you might be depressed, speak to your GP.

    5. What to do if you have a panic attack.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (6)

    Haejin Park / BuzzFeed

    "Mindfulness, or how to deal with a panic attack and anxiety. The first time I had a panic attack I was alone and terrified and I am still learning how to better deal with them."

    alessandradig

    Here's 31 actually helpful tips for dealing with panic attacks. For more about the signs of a panic attack, see the NHS.

    6. That there are different forms of sexuality.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (7)

    Will Varner and Sarah Karlan / BuzzFeed

    "Sex ed that actually addressed different forms of sexuality and didn't make women feel like the only reason you should be having sex is to make babies.

    "To be quite honest, I wish that the students had been taught everything at the same time – in my school we were separated by gender, which only added to the awkwardness. It was strictly hetero, which didn't help me figure out my bisexuality any sooner."

    ArcticMonkey1975

    Here are 37 things people wish they'd learned in sex ed.

    (Video) Missing 14-year-old Boulder girl found safe

    7. That you shouldn't just ignore pain when exercising.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (8)

    Flo Perry / BuzzFeed

    "You are told to just keep pushing yourself in PE as though that is the

    answer. We are never taught limits. What is a 'good, fitness-enhancing' pain vs a 'bad warning sign of upcoming injury' pain? (Five significant post-high school injuries later, I'm getting the hang of it.)"

    –Kelly Johnson, via Facebook

    Here are 34 workout tips for anyone who has no idea what they're doing.

    8. How to budget and what to budget for.

    Bravo

    "I wish I had been taught at school about budgeting and handling your money. Until you get a full-time job and move out from your parents' house, you don't really know much about deposits, rent, energy bills, groceries, etc.

    "When I first started working I would just spend my money on myself, without looking to the future. When my boyfriend and I decided to live together, it took us over a year to save up enough money to move into a very small one-bed terraced house and buy the essentials that we needed."

    victoriatorsg

    "It's taken me to my thirties to be good with money. I genuinely weep when I think of how much money I have wasted throughout my life!"

    jessw4e5ed5bfa

    Here's some advice on how to budget, and here are 13 things you need to know about money in your twenties.

    9. How to evaluate whether scientific "facts" are true.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (9)

    Zachary Gibson / BuzzFeed

    (Video) #TyskySour: Truss & Bailey Spark More Economic Chaos; WHO Warn of Long-Covid

    "We were taught what science says, not how or why it was true. We just

    memorised facts and numbers. Without understanding why things were true (blindness, control groups, peer review, sample size, replication...) anything can be considered a fact."

    – Kelly Johnson, via Facebook

    Here are 8 ways to be a more savvy science reader.

    10. That diversity is about more than what you can learn in one assembly.

    Paramount

    "We need proper lessons on diversity, not just a single assembly on Martin Luther King Jr. Kids NEED to know all people don't come from the same places based on skin colour, not everyone is either gay or straight, not everyone likes the gender they were assigned, and most importantly that no one is weaker and deserves more shit because of something they can't control."

    tori1234455

    Here are 12 books by British authors of colour you need to read.

    11. What to do in a power cut.

    Disney

    "How to prepare beyond just keeping candles and batteries on hand; how to keep everything in your fridge/freezer from going bad, and how to know when it has; how to entertain yourself until the power comes on; how to help a more fragile neighbor (elderly or disabled) during a power outage, and that we all should."

    – Sarah Anderson, via Facebook

    Here's some information about what to do in a power cut, including how to register for extra support if you're vulnerable.

    12. What credit and debt are, and how to use them responsibly.

    Mastercard / Via secretdumpster.tumblr.com

    "What is credit? What is debt? How do those two things control our lives and how can you use them responsibly?

    "My parents gave really excellent advice on how to save money, how and where to invest, and how to do my taxes but they left me hanging on the credit/debt part because they always paid cash for everything and had been mortgage-free for years! I didn't know what a credit card was until I was 20. I had no idea that you could take out a loan to buy a car!"

    (Video) Ofsted school inspections update 2022 - webinar

    – Lina Zhang, via Facebook

    Here's some information about how credit cards work.

    13. What your options are if you don't want to go to uni.

    14 Things People Wish They'd Been Taught At School (10)

    Jemima Skelley / BuzzFeed

    "I was in sixth form at a grammar school and all they focused on was sending their pupils off to universities. I ended up in a "special" class where we had to do research on job prospects and kept being sent on trips to the local teaching university, as if that's all they could think of to encourage us to do something as close to university as possible. It brought to mind the ridiculous phrase 'Those who can't do, teach' and was very demoralising."

    victoriatorsg

    "If uni isn’t the right path for you, what other options are there?"

    sammih4a2e3123a

    The National Careers Service has information about different jobs, including what qualifications they tend to require. You can search for apprenticeships here.

    14. That it’s okay not to have a life plan.

    Warner Bros

    "My high school had us planning from sixth form, to university, to graduating university and beginning a career that’s realistically meant to last until you retire. Truth be told, I’m in university now and I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do when I finish. But that’s okay because I would rather make my mind up later than spend the next 50 years stuck in a job a hate."

    rhiannam48853d06f

    Want to be featured in similar BuzzFeed posts? Follow the BuzzFeed Community on Facebook and Twitter!

    Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

    • Kelly OakesBuzzFeed Staff

      Kelly Oakes is science editor for BuzzFeed and is based in London.

      Contact Kelly Oakes at kelly.oakes@buzzfeed.com.

      Got a confidential tip? 👉 Submit it here

    FAQs

    What are things you can't teach? ›

    No matter how hard you try, here are five things that you just can't teach.
    • 5 Things You Cannot Teach People.
    • Common sense. I'm not sure where common sense comes from, but some people have it and some just don't. ...
    • Confidence. ...
    • Experience. ...
    • Anything they don't want to learn. ...
    • ANYTHING…if they think they know it all.

    Why do we go to school? ›

    Not only will you learn subjects but you will also learn new skills, including social skills. The skills and knowledge that you learn at school will help you now and in later life as you start work. Good attendance shows potential employers that you are reliable.

    What are the good things taught in school? ›

    10 Things You Learn in School That Can Help You Succeed at Work
    • How to Respond to Failure. ...
    • How to Utilize Available Resources. ...
    • How to Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. ...
    • Networking Skills. ...
    • Communication Skills. ...
    • Critical Thinking Skills. ...
    • Ethics and Responsibility. ...
    • Interacting With Diverse Backgrounds.

    What are the 3 best things of being a student? ›

    12 Best Things About Being a Student
    • Sleeping in & Napping. ...
    • Being Challenged. ...
    • Learning New Things. ...
    • Studying Anywhere. ...
    • Student Discounts. ...
    • Going out on a Tuesday (or whenever really!) ...
    • Your Independence. ...
    • Playing Hooky.
    13 Oct 2019

    Which skills must students be taught? ›

    Seven Skills Students Need for Their Future
    • Critical thinking and problem-solving.
    • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence.
    • Agility and adaptability.
    • Initiative and entrepreneurialism.
    • Effective oral and written communication.
    • Accessing and analyzing information.
    • Curiosity and imagination.

    What's the one thing that should be taught but isn t? ›

    Time management. To be successful in life, all you need to do is manage your 24 hours efficiently. Learning how to stay organised in a task and productive is something that virtually every human, in every career, will need.

    What's the most important thing you learned in school? ›

    The most important thing I learned at school is that our abilities matter more than our knowledge. Let me explain. When you know how to work with information, when you are responsible and excel in communication, you will learn whatever you want to learn. At school or not, it doesn't matter.

    What are the most important things students should learn in school? ›

    While the academic side of things remains primary and, to me, clear—students should learn rigorous math, reading and other academic content, along with music and art—a group of teachers, school leaders and parents raised some questions that have stuck with me about the challenge and importance of developing non- ...

    Why life skills are important in our life? ›

    Life skills can include the ability to manage your emotions, your health, your finances, your relationships, your school performance, etc. – and your ability to master these things has a direct impact on how you feel about yourself, your emotional balance, your physical health and your independence.

    Is school important in life? ›

    Education provides stability in life, and it's something that no one can ever take away from you. By being well-educated and holding a college degree, you increase your chances for better career opportunities and open up new doors for yourself.

    Why is learning important? ›

    Summary. Continuous learning is important because it helps people to feel happier and more fulfilled in their lives and careers, and to maintain stronger cognitive functioning when they get older.

    What skills are taught in schools? ›

    While there's no definitive list, here are some examples:
    • Time management.
    • Money management.
    • Housekeeping.
    • Communication.
    • Positive self-image development.
    • Growth mindset and self-improvement.
    • Stress management.
    28 Jan 2021

    What skills can you learn at school? ›

    Critical Skills
    • Problem Solving.
    • Decision Making.
    • Communication.
    • Organization.
    • Critical Thinking.
    • Creative Thinking.
    • Collaboration.
    • Leadership.

    What are the 10 qualities of a good student? ›

    Some of the qualities possessed by good students are:
    • Self-Discipline. Discipline is a must in a student's life. ...
    • Diligent. A student should be determined towards studies or any work allotted to him. ...
    • Punctual. Time is money so every student must value time. ...
    • Courteous. ...
    • Team player. ...
    • Confident. ...
    • Responsible.

    What are 10 good habits for students? ›

    10 Habits of Successful Students
    • Get Organized. Making a plan for what you're going to do and when you're going to do it will make sure you're always ahead of the curve - literally.
    • Don't multitask. ...
    • Divide it up. ...
    • Sleep. ...
    • Set a schedule. ...
    • Take notes. ...
    • Study. ...
    • Manage your study space.

    What are 5 things that you most enjoy about being a student? ›

    11 Things We Love About Being a Student
    • All the Free Time. ...
    • Pyjamas are Encouraged. ...
    • Having Your Mum do Your Laundry Will Never be Acceptable Again. ...
    • Being a Sleeping Beauty. ...
    • The Student Diet. ...
    • New Experiences. ...
    • Going Out Every Night of the Week. ...
    • F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
    11 Jan 2017

    What are 3 learning skills? ›

    There are three main cognitive learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

    What new things I should learn? ›

    20 new skills to boost your career
    • Basic coding. Workplaces are now more dependent on computers, and so they need employees with coding and programming skills. ...
    • Data analysis and statistics. ...
    • Digital literacy. ...
    • Foreign language. ...
    • Project management. ...
    • Public speaking. ...
    • Social media and digital marketing. ...
    • Speed reading.

    What are the hardest lessons that life has taught you? ›

    13 Lessons Life Has Taught Me
    • Fail to succeed. ...
    • Action is the only thing that counts. ...
    • Everyone's life is difficult. ...
    • Almost always, being angry hurts you more than the other person. ...
    • Don't regret not doing. ...
    • You are who you spend your time with, whether you like it or not. ...
    • Stop keeping count. ...
    • No such thing as multi-tasking.

    What values do we learn from school? ›

    It comprises some basic principles such as truthfulness, honesty, charity, hospitality, tolerance, love, kindness and sympathy. Moral education makes one perfect. Education is not aimed at obtaining only a degree, it includes necessary value based teachings which result in character building and social improvement too.

    What learning skills are most important? ›

    The Most Beneficial Lifelong Learning Skills
    • Creativity.
    • Problem Solving.
    • Critical Thinking.
    • Leadership.
    • Communication.
    • Collaboration.
    • Information Management.
    • Adaptability.
    5 Nov 2019

    What are the six learning skills? ›

    The six learning skills and work habits are responsibility, organization, independent work, collaboration, initiative, and self-regulation.

    What are the 9 life skills? ›

    Examples of Life Skills
    • Self-awareness.
    • Critical thinking.
    • Creative thinking.
    • Decision making.
    • Problem Solving.
    • Effective communication.
    • Interpersonal relationships.
    • Empathy.

    What are three important life skills? ›

    Defining Essential Life Skills
    • Communication and interpersonal skills. ...
    • Decision-making and problem-solving. ...
    • Creative thinking and critical thinking. ...
    • Self-awareness and empathy, which are two key parts of emotional intelligence. ...
    • Assertiveness and equanimity, or self-control.

    What is the 10 life skills? ›

    NICEF, UNESCO and WHO list the ten core life skill strategies and techniques as: problem solving, critical thinking, effective communication skills, decision-making, creative thinking, interpersonal relationship skills, self- awareness building skills, empathy, and coping with stress and emotions.

    What do I need in life? ›

    What Really Matters – The 7 Most Important Things in Life
    • Peace. Rule #1, protect your peace. ...
    • Health. So many of us take our health for granted until something life-changing happens, and our health becomes at risk. ...
    • Family & Friendship. Our relationships are our foundation. ...
    • Purpose. Purpose is our “why.” ...
    • Time. ...
    • Learning. ...
    • Love.

    Why education is Important Top 13 Reasons? ›

    To gain respect from society, one should be educated. To lead a happy and prosperous life, one needs to study and obtain a great job to be successful in life. It helps in earning money and fulfilling the basic needs of life. Also, education will help to gain a reputation by being in a great position.

    What are 3 benefits of teaching? ›

    Why teaching is a rewarding career
    • Make a positive impact. Help your students develop, learn and have a positive influence on future generations. ...
    • Be a role model. ...
    • Embrace a balanced lifestyle. ...
    • Have variety in your career. ...
    • Join the school community. ...
    • Share your passion. ...
    • Enjoy the rewards and financial incentives.
    23 Jul 2021

    What are five benefits of studying? ›

    Why study: the benefits of studying
    • Skill development – both academic and transferrable skills, from time management to critical thinking.
    • Increased employment and career opportunities – more than you will have considered!
    • Development of good habits, self-understanding, and perseverance.
    20 Jun 2021

    What are the 4 purposes of school? ›

    Purposes of school

    These were: (1) to learn and develop self-knowledge; (2) to develop life skills and social skills; (3) to optimize life chances and quality of life; (4) to enable future employment and economic wellbeing. These findings are detailed below.

    Why do people study? ›

    Studying is not just important for educational development, but also builds personal skills. Having good study skills can improve your confidence, competence, and self-esteem. As well as helps reduce stress and anxiety around deadlines and exams.

    Who made school? ›

    Horace Mann is considered as the inventor of the concept of school. He was born in 1796 and later became Secretary of Education in Massachusetts. He was a pioneer in bringing educational reforms into society.

    How learning improves your life? ›

    Studies have found that learning throughout our lives can improve self-esteem and increase life-satisfaction, optimism and belief in our own abilities. It can even help those with mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, and some GP practices actually prescribe education as part of the treatment package.

    How do humans learn best? ›

    People learn best through interactions with others, and these interactions strengthen both community and individuals. Read more about learning through collaboration.

    How does learning help growth? ›

    It is the only way to grow, innovate and expand your mental horizons. Knowledge helps you develop a better perspective about things. If you belong to the class of curious people, you'll always find new skills to learn and habits to form.

    What one thing you wish school taught you about? ›

    It's easy to become negative and feel like things will never get better. However, you don't have to let the struggles of life get you down. Teens should be encouraged to choose joy, to look for the bright side in every situation and figure out a way to get ahead rather than being mired down in negativity.

    What are the things to learn as a student? ›

    Seven Skills Students Need for Their Future
    • Critical thinking and problem-solving.
    • Collaboration across networks and leading by influence.
    • Agility and adaptability.
    • Initiative and entrepreneurialism.
    • Effective oral and written communication.
    • Accessing and analyzing information.
    • Curiosity and imagination.

    What are 5 things that you most enjoy about being a student? ›

    11 Things We Love About Being a Student
    • All the Free Time. ...
    • Pyjamas are Encouraged. ...
    • Having Your Mum do Your Laundry Will Never be Acceptable Again. ...
    • Being a Sleeping Beauty. ...
    • The Student Diet. ...
    • New Experiences. ...
    • Going Out Every Night of the Week. ...
    • F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
    11 Jan 2017

    Why students wish to perform well in their studies? ›

    Good study skills can increase your confidence, competence, and self-esteem. They can also reduce anxiety about tests and deadlines. By developing effective study skills, you may be able to cut down on the numbers of hours spend studying, leaving more time for other things in your life.

    What kind of life skills should be taught in school? ›

    The big three foundational pillars of life skills education are communication, decision making, and goal setting. Others include academic supplements such as developing teamwork, time management, and study skills.

    What are the most important things students should learn in school? ›

    While the academic side of things remains primary and, to me, clear—students should learn rigorous math, reading and other academic content, along with music and art—a group of teachers, school leaders and parents raised some questions that have stuck with me about the challenge and importance of developing non- ...

    What do I want my child to learn in school? ›

    Parents want their children to learn life skills, such as independence, along with academics.
    ...
    5 Student Skills Parents Want Their Children to Learn
    • Independence. Teachers need to help students become independent. ...
    • Problem-Solving. ...
    • Networking. ...
    • Self-Advocacy. ...
    • Presentation Skills.

    What do students learn best by? ›

    Students learn by connecting new knowledge with knowledge and concepts that they already know, most effectively in active social classrooms where they negotiate understanding through interaction and varied approaches.

    What are easy things to learn? ›

    Below, a few easy-to-learn skills that are sure to impress everyone.
    ...
    21 Weird, Easy-To-Learn Skills That'll Impress All Your Friends
    • Moonwalk. ...
    • Shuffle. ...
    • Sharpen Knives. ...
    • Chop Food Quickly. ...
    • Whistle With Your Fingers. ...
    • Twirl A Pen. ...
    • Take Amazing Selfies.
    10 Nov 2017

    What things help you learn best? ›

    If you want to get a jump start on expanding your knowledge, here are 10 proven ways you can start being a quick learner.
    • Take notes with pen and paper. ...
    • Have effective note-taking skills. ...
    • Distributed practice. ...
    • Study, sleep, more study. ...
    • Modify your practice. ...
    • Try a mnemonic device. ...
    • Use brain breaks to restore focus.
    14 Sept 2022

    What are the 10 qualities of a good student? ›

    Some of the qualities possessed by good students are:
    • Self-Discipline. Discipline is a must in a student's life. ...
    • Diligent. A student should be determined towards studies or any work allotted to him. ...
    • Punctual. Time is money so every student must value time. ...
    • Courteous. ...
    • Team player. ...
    • Confident. ...
    • Responsible.

    What I enjoy the most in school? ›

    I like getting Involved in new activities. I love to try new things... No matter how hard they are. I like sharing the things I Learn with Others.

    What makes student happy? ›

    School experiences-situations that make students happy throughout their educational lives are participation to classroom and school activities, participation to the lesson, appreciation, rewarding, success and social relationships.

    What are five benefits of studying? ›

    Benefits of Education are Societal and Personal
    • Poverty Reduction.
    • Connecting Across Borders.
    • Sense of Accomplishment.
    • More Productivity.
    • Better Communication.
    • Critical Thinking Skills.
    • Identification of Skills.
    • Greater Sense of Discipline.

    Why study is important in our life? ›

    Studying is not just important for educational development, but also builds personal skills. Having good study skills can improve your confidence, competence, and self-esteem. As well as helps reduce stress and anxiety around deadlines and exams.

    What motivates you to learn more? ›

    So what motivates students to learn and how can we encourage them? Students may be motivated by their interest in a topic, their prior success in a specific subject, a desire to please parents or teachers or simply by their own drive to succeed.

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