By School, even college, may seem like a distant memory. But if you think about it, you probably learned some of your most valuable lessons during your time at school. You may look back and think it was all about times tables and equations, but actually, there was a lot more going on. If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say? Here are some of the most important life lessons we learned at school.
It’s ok not to be the best at everything
When you’re young and you’re taking exams, there’s a lot of focus on reaching standards and meeting expectations. If you look back, at the time, getting a bad mark may have seemed like the end of the world. But the sooner you learn that you can’t excel at everything, the better. So, you may not be a Math genius. But that doesn’t mean you’re a failure in any way, shape or form.
Friendship is everything
Are you still friends with people you met when you walked through the school gates for the first time? If so, you’re probably already aware of the incredible benefits of special friendships. When you’re young and carefree, you become friends with people because you have fun together, and you get along. There’s nothing complicated about it. When we’re older, we tend to overanalyze friendships. Sometimes, we can get nervous about trusting people or letting new people into our friendship circle. Use your common sense, by all means. But try and embrace that childlike innocence and accept people for who they are. If you do have friends that have been with you through thick and thin, don’t ever let them go.
Creativity is a powerful tool
If you’re familiar with Reggio Emilia schools, you may be aware of the importance of creativity in the curriculum. If you went to a traditional school, you may have learned since that being creative can be as powerful as being successful academically. Not everyone in the world is born with natural abilities, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t reap the rewards of being creative. If you enjoy painting, do it. It doesn’t matter that you’re not brilliant. Do you like playing the piano? Just because you’re not a maestro, it doesn’t mean that you’re not getting anything from learning a new piece.
If you didn’t grow up with creative influences, it’s never too late to learn new skills or give different activities a try. You can use hobbies, interests or passions to boost your mind power. Many people also find that being creative helps them to deal with problems such as stress and anxiety.
Sometimes, when you get older, it’s wise to reflect on the lessons you’ve learned. You may be surprised to discover that many of these lessons were learned very early on in life. Value your friendships, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Focus on the things that you are good at, and those that you enjoy. Be creative, use your imagination, and have fun. Don’t take life too seriously. It’s not always about earning the most money or getting the highest exam marks.
