Life Lessons College Students Must Know When They Leave Home
Great Britain is about to head into interesting times, as the Department of Education unveils courses that will prepare teenage students on independent living. Education Secretary Damian Hinds said that many people struggle with the pressure of moving away from home, and the new program will teach the so-called snowflake students on the value of money and the importance of washing the sheets. Betsy DeVos, the current Secretary of Education, may not be thinking of a similar program, yet what the British government would do could give incoming freshmen some pointers on studying and living away from home.
Many teenagers seek an independent living, as they don't like being told by their parents. Those who come from close-knit families would struggle to live away from home, but living on their own would be inevitable. It's a rite of passage that they must not have any trepidation. No one would survive without changing, and it’s the result of little things. The United States Secretary of Education may not be planning a series of courses on how teenagers make a smooth transition from home to home away from home, but they could learn from this post.
If there would be curriculum on preparing for leaving home, you wonder what the program could cover.
Starting from Scratch: How to Do the Following
How to prepare food. You may be a huge fan of Bobby Flay and Rachael Ray, even know a number of their masterpieces. You won't be able to prepare their dishes on a weekly basis, even have time for shopping for ingredients. Coursework would take much of your time, so pizza should be convenient during those tight days. If you get tired of munching on dough, you can consume canned tuna. Your roommate, if not dorm mates, might not like the sight of empty tinned cans, though. If you don't know how to prepare spaghetti, you can ask anyone. Don't be ashamed especially if you're living on a tight budget. You're also not obligated to prepare a dish for them, but you won't mind answering their questions whenever they have problems in their assignments.
How to live with other students. Whether you're living in a dorm or spending lots of time in and out of lecture rooms, you would notice that you're different from other students. And you have to deal with it as soon as possible. You may not like a brooding lad, who happens to be a Philosophy major student. Showing off your polite side won't take a lot of effort. The same thing applies to a dorm mate who thinks it's cool to brush his teeth in the living room. Everyone has his (or her) eccentric trait or two, but you have to talk to your other dorm mate who doesn't clean the sink after using it. You could learn from these differences, even if it takes some time to get along with them.
How to go to your lectures. You could walk, which you would dread on wintry days. On the other hand, there are certain days when you don't want to ride on a bicycle. If you don't want attention, you would have second thoughts about driving a car. You must not worry about what other students think about you. And you don't have to ponder on the so-called status. You have many things to think about, and the coursework would expect you to do more than you're required to. There are instances when you forget to look at the mirror after a long night. If you do it often, talk to your roommate (or dorm mate).
How to Call Your Parents
You must not forget to check in on your parents, even if they wanted you to be out of the house since you were eleven. They would be confronted with your absence, which might be unsettling. It would be nice to ask them about their whereabouts and plans, but don’t poke on domestic issues. Your conversation won’t last ten minutes.
You will call your parents whenever you run short of funds, and your chat could be longer than you expect. Don’t give them the details on your shortcomings in the kitchen unless you’re a bit desperate about learning a new dish. Don’t make them worry about your difficulties in the coursework unless you don’t have the money to buy a book that you could use for a year or two. You would visit the library less, which should be a relief. (Many students want to loan the same book, and there are one or two copies of it.) And don’t ask them about their travel plans. It can wait for the next term.
Leaving home can be bittersweet, but you would come back better. You might gain a few pounds, if not lost some. There could a few changes in your appearance, which your parents might not like at first. And you may end up with (student) debt. Don’t overthink it, even worry about what hasn’t happened yet. Focus on the moment, and the immediate future. You will do fine.
