3 answers
Carter
Student
Metairie, Louisiana
2
Questions
Asked
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How does years of learning basic english, math, and science relate to our field of study if some of these subjects don't apply to my future?
As an 11th grader, I always wondered how each of these subjetcs would apply to my future. I wondered what would happen if I hadn't learned these basic school skills and focused on my career..
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3 answers
J Huff
48
Answers
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Updated
J’s Answer
I get this question a lot. It's tough to focus on something when we don't see how it fits into our plans. Think of these courses as tools for life. For instance, knowing a bit about human biology can help us understand how we catch colds. Math and physics might help you build a table or figure out how your car's engine works. My point is, you don't need to be an expert, just have a basic understanding.
How do you know how hard to push a bowling ball to knock down the pins? It's physics learned through practice.
Take care and good luck!
How do you know how hard to push a bowling ball to knock down the pins? It's physics learned through practice.
Take care and good luck!
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
565
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Carter,
Part of the answer is already in your question: you learn basic life skills in school. You learn English so you can have meaningful conversations, read a book, interpret a contract. You learn math so you can balance your checking account, figure out how much paint to buy for the fence or how much that mortgage is going to cost you in the long run. You learn science so you have an idea how cars work, why you can switch on lights or how airplanes can fly.
The other part of the answer is that school gives everyone an opportunity to find out what they are good at and what they enjoy. How would you ever find out that you have a talent for art or music if you were never exposed to it? How would you know about chemical reactions without school? How would you learn about the world outside your own home and family if you never got to learn anything outside your family circle?
Would you like it if your only options for a career were to learn what your parents, neighbors and relatives did? Personal development comes from experiencing new things. Societal development comes from exchange of information, learning new things, variety of ideas.
It's ok to dislike some subjects. I didn't like history or social science. But I got the chance to be exposed to it and decide for myself that it was not for me.
I hope this helps! All the best to you! Be curious!
KP
Part of the answer is already in your question: you learn basic life skills in school. You learn English so you can have meaningful conversations, read a book, interpret a contract. You learn math so you can balance your checking account, figure out how much paint to buy for the fence or how much that mortgage is going to cost you in the long run. You learn science so you have an idea how cars work, why you can switch on lights or how airplanes can fly.
The other part of the answer is that school gives everyone an opportunity to find out what they are good at and what they enjoy. How would you ever find out that you have a talent for art or music if you were never exposed to it? How would you know about chemical reactions without school? How would you learn about the world outside your own home and family if you never got to learn anything outside your family circle?
Would you like it if your only options for a career were to learn what your parents, neighbors and relatives did? Personal development comes from experiencing new things. Societal development comes from exchange of information, learning new things, variety of ideas.
It's ok to dislike some subjects. I didn't like history or social science. But I got the chance to be exposed to it and decide for myself that it was not for me.
I hope this helps! All the best to you! Be curious!
KP
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
422
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
Hi Carter - I love this question because it shows critical thinking on your part, and it is a fair question. Karin and J have given you great answers - learning outside your career interest helps you potentially refine your career interests, broaden your worldview, and deal with different aspects of life.
To build on that, I would emphasize the skills you are building while learning a variety of subjects. Of course, these include the reading, writing, and computational skills which, by the way, you use in many subjects. They also include character skills, such as organization, tenacity, and strategy to get through content that is not intuitive for you. Third, they help your social skills, such as how to work with your peers, both when you know a lot and when you know a little. Practicing all these skills builds your ability to new things - after many years in the workforce, I can assure you this is important.
It's okay if you don't use all the content you learn later in life but the skills will last a lifetime. Good luck!
To build on that, I would emphasize the skills you are building while learning a variety of subjects. Of course, these include the reading, writing, and computational skills which, by the way, you use in many subjects. They also include character skills, such as organization, tenacity, and strategy to get through content that is not intuitive for you. Third, they help your social skills, such as how to work with your peers, both when you know a lot and when you know a little. Practicing all these skills builds your ability to new things - after many years in the workforce, I can assure you this is important.
It's okay if you don't use all the content you learn later in life but the skills will last a lifetime. Good luck!