I can hand my mom pretty much any article of clothing that has been ripped or battered in some way and she can fix it on the sewing machine. For years she has made my brothers and me homemade Halloween costumes because she learned how to in her Home Economics class in high school. Although that course was many years ago she still uses those important skills to this date.
At least for me there has always been the constant paranoia lurking about basic life skills. By that I mean how will I know how to do my taxes? How will I know how to pay my bills? How do I reset the water heater? Will I ever be able to cook anything besides mac n’ cheese and microwave meals? These concerns fill my head constantly and I wonder if I ever will be able to make it on my own and not have to rely on other people. I want to be able to live independently and not feel like I have to rely on others.
For some the answer may seem simple: why don’t you just enroll in some classes that teach you the basic skills you need? While this is a plausible solution, for most it’s just not that easy. As is especially the case with SAAS, students are booked to the brim. Many students partake in multiple different sports or activities and have full class loads. There is barely time for homework as is.
Here is what I would suggest: SAAS should offer a course in personal finances and home economics, even just as an elective option. The class could teach basic information such as nutrition, an overview of taxes and bills, a lesson on how to operate basic household necessities, and even topics such as sex education.
I can say with certainty that more than a dozen people would sign up for the class, because when I talk to my friends, they generally have the same concerns as I do. People want to learn the basic skills to be able to survive and thrive in life. Not only that, but being able to perform these tasks gives people a sense of confidence and independence.