What do you wish you knew in school?

ella

Note: Answers to this thread may be anonymously used for a social media post series all about what we wish we knew when we were younger at school
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We spend so much time at school, but looking back, there are some things that maybe didn't get the emphasis they deserved. So, I thought it would be interesting to hear from everyone: what are some things you wish you'd known in school?

For me, it was definitely revision/study skills. I always ended up cramming for exams, but I never really learned how to learn efficiently. Wish I'd known about some of the skills I had to teach myself after I had left school!

Another thing would be Financial literacy. Beyond basic budgeting, understanding things like credit and credit scores would have been really helpful!

But that's just me! What about you all? Do you wish you'd focused more on a particular subject? Maybe you would have benefitted from guidance on navigating social situations or writing your CV.

Let's share our experiences and maybe help current students get the most out of their school years!

Maisy

I agree with financial literacy. There's so much I've had to learn that might've been easier if it were taught in school. Budgeting and learning to work out what the best deals are is good. But so too is understanding credit cards, credit scores, loans, how interest works, different types of savings accounts and very importantly tax!

A basic life skills curriculum would've been good too. We had cookery lessons, and while that was interesting, I think a focus on preparing meals, healthy eating etc., would've been helpful to know. The same for textiles technology, it was good learning to use a sewing machine, but knowing how to sew a button, stitch up a pocket, how to follow instructions for washing and ironing fabrics would've good to know too.

We did have careers lessons back when I was in school. But I actually don't remember learning how to write a CV or cover letter. It would've been really good to learn more about different careers in general, as well as a more personalised approach for helping you to choose the right career for you.

For me, personally, the biggest thing really is that I wish I knew that even though I struggled making friends and felt like I didn't fit in, that there wasn't something wrong with me (which I believed at the time). I wish I'd know that I just hadn't found the right people to fit in with (but that they are out there!)

lunarcat522

I wish I knew that grades weren't the be all and end all and that my mental health is much more important.

I also wish that I didn't compare myself to everyone else as much both academically and also socially

TheNightmare

I wish I knew how to behave better lol

ebyrne556

Great idea for a thread! I wish i knew well i sort of did but went to a really highly pressurised academic school so was under stress a lot I wish i knew that grades arent everything and you are doing really well even tho others might be trying to put u down or shrugging it off and university isn’t the only option out their and not to put so much pressure on myself

sinead276

Gotta agree with the financial literacy and the basic life skills stuff - would definitely have helped me out as I got older

I do think schools should teach in more detail about mental health. my school often did the whole 'mental health workshop' type things when exams came around, but they were often very generic and surface level, when really a lot more detail could've been given on how we can go about protecting our wellbeing both in and out of school.

Former Member

I wish we had psychology lessons for us to manage with stress earlier on in life.
I wish we practiced meditation to do this. For example during form time to have 10 minutes focussed mindfulness.
The brain is still developing at that age and I think it’s the best time to learn the benefits of mindfulness.

Loz

I wish I knew it wasn't going to be easy, and that it was okay to reach out for support.

I spent a lot of time feeling lonely within myself not knowing that they could help and offer resources.

Gemma

It's been so interesting to read through everyone's thoughts. I think it's so key that so many of us have picked up the fact schools don't adequately cover topics surrounding mental health, emotional health, coping mechanisms, support structures, how to recognise when you might need support / how to reach out and ask for what you need. Such important stuff.

I also think there should have been more taught around how to build healthy relationships, especially in high school when many people are dabbling in their first relationships. I don't remember being taught much about what a healthy relationship looks like and feels like.

I also think it would have been good to have been taught more around rights & responsibilities, sustainability, climate change and activism too.

Amy22

I noticed that really schools should have focused more on wellbeing in general especially for exam season. We had something similar but it was mostly teachers drilling on about working hard and going to uni's considered *successful* when really they should have been priortising mental health and awarenss around that. I also wanted more lessons LGBTQ+ and also pride becuase the only time I learnt about LGBTQ+ was Re sadly and not dedicated enough time to it personally. Also I think bills and life skills should have been taught more because it saddens me to see a lot of young people struggling to pay rent,bills all because their schools wanted them to be successful and forgot to think about the bigg er picture of life such as doing basic stuff

Former Member

I am now just finishing up with university and I can confidently say I miss school I wish I knew to enjoy the experience because once it's over everything is so different. I think it's so important to cherish and have fun during your school years and make memories that you can look back on in the future and laugh and smile at. I wish I also knew that it is okay to struggle. I thought that I was the only person out there dealing with stress about exams and being unsure that the subjects I was taking were the right ones for me. Looking back it was, but at the time I felt so lost. It's important to be confident in your decisions and don't be afraid to change your mind.

Former Member

I wish I knew that qualifications and the grades you get while they are important, it is not the end of the world if you do not get the top marks or the grades you desired. I also wish I knew that there was more routes to being successful rather than based on academic performance. Also I wish at school they would have a class where you have to volunteer somewhere in order to gain experience and skills for your CV? I feel like my volunteering and work experience has always been more important than grades i got in school or university.