Why Entrepreneurial Skills Should Be Taught in Schools
More and more people are starting to realize that our education system hasn't changed that much in the last 50 years.
And this is a problem.
We sit in straight rows, have our subjects chosen for us, and we're given unnecessary pressure over things that don't really matter (like a Chemistry assignment you did in 10th grade but you don't actually do anything related to science today).
Yeah they're becoming really good at being told what to do, and how to run their lives. Sounds like these kids will make great employees...
Employees
Modern society also pressures schools to keep students safe, but so much so that it is sometimes to the detriment of their own development.
After all this, we see kids committing suicide over poor exam results, and coming out of school feeling lost, unsupported, and heading into careers that they don't feel satisfied with.
#TeamWastedMyDegree
Job satisfaction doesn't just mean happiness though...
I'm talking about being in a work space where you feel motivated, challenged (but in the way you want to be challenged), interested, supported and driven etc.
A job where you can be your TRUE self and produce the work you really care about!
So if we rewind to our school-days and think about what we've learnt, we should ask ourselves what we would do differently if given the chance.
For me, personally, I actually DID enjoy learning a few things related to science, but I don't think I needed to actually use 5 years of my life to study Chemistry and Physics at a higher level. I hated my Physics teacher, I didn't really understand any of the coursework, and I felt anxious and depressed because of it. Don't get me wrong - I learnt some valuable life skills. But 3 years!? C'mon. I could've made a lot more progress in something I love during that time.
The subjects I really DID love included Business, English, Chinese, Math and Physical Education. I excelled in these areas, and I actually took these to the next level unlike Chemistry and Physics. Who knows how much further I could've progressed if I had been able to dedicate more time to these...
Anyways, it took a while, but I ended up achieving a lot. After leaving high school I have since:
- moved myself to China,
- studied Chinese in a Chinese University for 2.5 years,
- joined a local dance school and rugby team,
- traveled solo to over 15 countries,
- engaged in great personal development leading me to realise my sexuality and be proud of it, be aware of my body and mind, and discover things like meditation, re connection with nature and people, and veganism,
- taught myself to be financially literate and aware of my options,
- gained perspective about my place in the world,
- and started my new business with Wealthy Affiliate.
Now, I'm only 22. So I'm blessed and grateful to have been given the opportunity by my parents, who support my decisions and don't give me pressure, to go out into this world and find myself.
Others are not so lucky.
If you're a parent or you're involved in a school, listen up.
We want the best for our children, our future generation, but they are ill-equipped for life after school.
I'm not going to diss the current school system. There ARE valuable lessons to be learnt from the high school experience. I just want to add to it and maybe bring a priority shift to school-makers.
So, going back to what I wish I could change, and what I hope for the future...
To deal with our ever-changing society and dynamic environment, kids these days need to be highly resilient, self-aware, forward-thinking, balanced, inspired, in the know, patient and flexible. So what do kids really need to be learning?
They need to be learning about:
- money management (taxes, bills, finances, retirement plans, investment options, how to make their money "work" for them),
- self-awareness (managing stress, emotions, interpersonal relations, building confidence, reflection, journaling, how to let things go, how to deal with haters, how to breathe),
- outside awareness (awareness of others, the environment, the minorities of society, other cultures and ways of life, your family and friends, consequences of your actions on others),
- basic business skills (effective planning, finance management, networking, risk-taking, leadership, problem-solving, communication etc.)
and many more!
Imagine that, having more time to focus on real self-development, but at an earlier time, during our formative years. It would definitely make the twenties a lot easier! We could probably avoid the whole college-debt dilemma, start more businesses and organizations to tackle issues in our society and actively work on them, and just overall become better functioning citizens that are more connected and understanding than ever.
It's important to give the next generation these skills so they don't have to go through what we go through. We don't want them to feel like they're drowning in a saturated market when in fact there is plenty of space for everyone. We don't want them feeling like they have to survive on two minute noodles when there are so many ways to earn money that they don't even know about!
You get the point.
So, let's question our sources of education!
Let's introduce different types of education into our lives!
Let's give more people hope and a feeling that anything is achievable!
What thoughts do you have, and what other things do you think should be taught in schools? Drop it in the comments below!
Recent Comments
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Wow at your age. That's brilliant.
Now, it's sad because our financial systems in our different countries are structured to bring up employees not employers.
The Internet is bringing some freedom, connecting people to opportunities worldwide and that is beginning to change a lot of things in the system.
Time will bring a positive change
Oh yeah, I can only imagine what the future holds. Humans have developed too fast and it's doing a lot of funny things to us. But, like you said, time will bring a positive change. Small steps :)
Thank you, I do recognize the task parents have in this matter, and the choices we have as parents to question.the schooling system, my youngest son didn't fit in, the school said, it's his IQ, hé needs to go to a special need school, I fought that, and said, it's your learning system what's wrong for him, hé just need more practical education, instead of theoretical, hé doesn't need to change school, you need to change the way you teach him. I managed to get him a tutor, and he has grown tremendously. He followed a practical highschool education after that for apprentise carpenter, now he is following up a working- schooling education for carperter specialist. And he is very happy and good in his job. He has big plans to become a independent entrepreneur for rebuilding houses.
When I hadn't stand up when he was 7, he wouldn't be at this stage at 17.
The schooling system wants children to fit in, instead making the system fit for individual needs.
Yes!! A practical and transferable skill is the way to go! That is called a high-income skill because you can craft it, improve it, and become so good at it that people will need and want you for it. You can command your own pay, and take control of your life this way. The future is theirs to create.
All the best to you and your son!
I love this post! You are very wise to have concluded all of this by the age of 22 ... it's taken me about 20 years to get out of the 'system' I was wheeled through and to realize what you have. I see how the way I think now has changed what I teach/say to my kids of different ages ... I've got a 19 year old stressing about college vs my 9 year old who just told me he doesn't want to ever go to college - he'd rather start a business after high school (which he's only doing because he has to ;) and my answer was "that's totally cool!" ... probably not what I would've said to my 19 year old 10 years ago. Best of luck in your many adventures and self-actualization! Best, Katie
Thanks! I'd like to say it was the trauma, haha, but I think there is a collective consciousness movement happening and I am just a curious person who happened to have stumbled across it.
Ooh ooh, remind your 19-year-old to breeeeaaaathhheeee. In and out. And woohoo, your 9-year-old is on the money with that!
All the best to you,
Hiku
Thank you for your excellent blog post-Hiku, I hear you 100%!
Apart from reading and writing, literally everything I learnt, came after I left school! I wasn't someone who enjoyed school and I always said that I should have left around 12 or 13 years old as I didn't really learn anything new after this age, but everything after school finished.
I have been self-employed since 1983 and have never looked back! I believe our education system definitely needs changing. In the UK we have many people going to university and obtaining a degree which they will never use. I believe that people are much better off to do an apprenticeship and learn a trade in the job!
I appreciate your informative and interesting blog post.
Enjoy the weekend.
Roy
Yes, I agree, I think most people don't realize that kids can make pretty good decisions about what they want to learn and what they don't. Not a complete overhaul is needed, but it would be nice to allow more flexibility and add some other helpful courses.
I also think, in my experience, that there is a stigma surrounding Polytechnic education students, where those in university feel that they are superior to those in trade schools etc.
You're right though...these Uni kids aren't really using their degrees, but the trade kids have no problem finding a place for their skill.
Ahh, life!
All the best Roy :)
Yes, this is true. Though there are many people I know that went to college and have good jobs, I know even more who didn't go to college and have even better jobs.
My former boss dropped out of college because he felt he wasn't learning enough to support his future goals. Some of the things he was learning he knew back then wouldn't be of benefit to his future.
So he dropped out, got a few books on computer programming, took apart one of those big old clunky IBM mainframe computers, put it back together and made it work again. He learned by doing and not by studying formulas on a blackboard.
Did this hands-on approach to learning really work for his future beyond getting the computer to work again? It sure did! Besides learning how to program and design electronic toys he became an employee of Coleco in the early 1980s and designed the Atari 2600 version of Donkey Kong.
We here at WA are learning a more current day skill also in a hands-on approach. We learn about various forms of Internet marketing, plus WordPress, keyword research, and SEO, to name a few, by actually creating what we learn.
This is an amazing way to learn because you can absorb more. When people ask me if Wealthy Affiliate is an online money making program, I say no. It is an education platform that teaches you how to make money online.
I have always been one to learn more by doing. I achieved many accomplishments while in the video game industry learning by doing. The same can be said from what I have learned here at WA.
If more universities taught in the way WA does, there would be more better equipped young people in the world. Unfortunately much of the education system still does not provide what young people need...experience beyond formulas on a blackboard.
Hello Robert
Oh yes, I agree, I am definitely appreciative of the task-based program that WA provides because it really gets you to be self-accountable and gets you to take some real action.
Hopefully, we will see more of this learning style in our educational systems.
I've already seen some new educational concepts being brought to life such as the Fuji Kindergarten and Forest schools of Japan, or the outdoor preschools of German. They even have an all vegan university! Talk about changing education. It's brilliant.
Looks like more people are becoming aware of this, and that's the most important thing we have right now.
Excellent post! ... very expressive and right on for today! ... all the very best for every success.... thanks & cheerio.... :)
I totally agree with you Hikurangi and really enjoyed your story.
As an older person, I too see so many children falling through the cracks in our education system which is a little archaic if I may say this
Changes need to be made and if we can encourage our youth with our input we may even save some lives
I coach people in the areas you mentioned and I would love to get into schools where it needs to start
Yes Vicki :) It's important to start this conversation in schools. Glad we're on the same page!
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Hi, Hiku,
I agree! I am teaching my boys to think outside the box. My two boys are still at school, and I am guiding my eldest to consider entrepreneurship as a career option. My youngest is entirely independent and listens intently. I think he will do well with whatever he decides. Their future belongs to them. All I can do is pass on my wisdom. Schools will be a long time in changing. Only those with independent minds will move ahead. Well done in your career choices. You are doing well.
Best wishes,
Paul
That's the way!! This will make a big difference in their future. This way they will learn to embrace failure, find opportunities, and expand their horizons more than any school can. Nice one Paul