Neeta Jain passed her Plus Two board exam with flying colours and has got through a great college. Life sorted, right? Well, except for a few little things. Recently, the tap in her bathroom sprang a leak and she could not stop the gushing water. All she had to do was turn the stopcock under the basin shut but she did not know about it till she saw the plumber do it. Then there was that time her scooty had a flat tyre and she had to wait in the scorching heat for a mechanic because she can’t change a tyre.
While Neeta is a topper in academics, she’d get an F if life skills were graded. One of the reasons is that schools in our country do not teach these skills that help in day-to-day life.
Are students taught how to write a CV, or to rent an apartment, pay taxes, change a tyre or fix a tap? Or even how to cook or sew? Yet, each of these is a necessary skill and you ought to learn them all. You could take the help of family and friends or the Internet. Key in what you want to learn and there’s sure to be a YouTube video with instructions.
Here are a few skills that we think will make getting through college, and life, easier. And now is the right time to learn them.
Home economics
This is an elective subject taught abroad and covers a multitude of “domestic” skills. In India, we have home science, which is usually about cooking, hygiene, health and personal finance. Home economics, on the other hand, includes basic knowledge of house painting, plumbing, carpentry, electrical work and all the nitty-gritties of maintaining a home and carrying out minor repairs.
“I learnt home economics in secondary school. We got to do electronics (how to use a soldering iron, how to wire up basic electronics) and woodwork (use of different tools — powered and manual). My husband learnt cooking and home economics as well. Now, my son is being introduced to cooking at his preschool,” says Rhiannon Phillips, who lives in Australia.
Cooking
Every person, irrespective of gender, must learn to cook. The ability to rustle up something to eat is essential for the days when you are home alone, cannot face that horrible hostel food or want to feed a horde of friends. Incidentally, chopping vegetables is a great way to beat stress while putting a delicious dish on the table will give you the satisfaction of a job well done. And if you collect and follow recipes, cooking will also teach you to organise ingredients and time as well as follow multiple directions in sequence — another skill that will help you succeed.
Maintenance and repairs
Most of us will end up owning or driving a vehicle and will, at one time or other, face problems with it. Regular maintenance such as changing the oil and oil filter, maintaining proper air pressure in the tyres and knowing how to change a tyre can mean the difference between being stuck and reaching in time.
First aid
Accidents can happen at any time and knowledge of first aid can save lives. Knowing how to apply CPR, clean and dress a wound, prevent infection and apply a tourniquet are just a few of the first aid skills that everyone should pick up. The ability to look for warning signs for things such as a concussion, heat stroke, dehydration or choking could be life-saving.
Communication
We are all social animals and to thrive we need to be able to understand each other — that is communicate effectively.
“Learning to communicate correctly is important — it prepares you to express yourself better, whether you are speaking to one person in a formal situation, or a large group. You gradually learn how to synchronise words with your body language, which makes you more controlled and confident,” says Adiba Kadir, who learnt soft skills as part of her course at iLEAD (Institute of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Development) in Calcutta.
Students would benefit greatly from knowing how to apply for a job, build a resume and write a cover letter, handle the interview, and understand and negotiate employment contracts — all part of communication skills. As for interviews, doing a mock one with family or friends will help you know your strengths and weaknesses.
Sign language
Talking of communication, learning sign language will be a positive move towards a more inclusive society, a bridge to the world of the hearing impaired. It is also a career skill — some fields where it can be put to use are education, government, health, interpreting, recreation, social services, teaching and therapy.
Have you picked up these skills yet?
