topic Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime in Community Chat

Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

jubilant — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 12:17:26 GMT

I read an article in the newspaper this morning with above title. People were talking about skills they learned in school that became especially useful in their careers and/or life. Some credited typing. I would have to agree with that because without it I wouldn't have landed a great secretarial job.

How about you? What skills have you gained that you learned in school and where have they taken you?

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Tuppermore — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 13:10:52 GMT

I debated and was a part of a winning state debate team. This has gone a long way to help me become organized, speak in public, think on my feet, present something logically, work with others as a team, research for classes I teach as well as college classes I took, listen to what others are saying,take notes, present myself to others positively, etc. I also took advanced math classes and science classes. I remember very little from those classes. My English teacher was a perfectionist so that has helped a lot also. However, I think that high school debate garnered me the most benefit. I realize that debate isn't for everyone, but it helped me to get past ME and focus on what was important. I am 65 and have used the skills I learned in debate for a very, very long time.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

jubilant — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:29:35 GMT

@Tuppermore

I can see how that could help a person in many situations. I never thought about debate as helping one to focus but it makes a lot of sense now that I think about it.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

ShowMe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:56:48 GMT

I too am so thankful that I had typing.....in junior high and high school. Back in the 50's we didn't know what an electric typewriter was.....learned on the best....ROYAL.....

Yes, by learning typing I was able to have a very good secretarial career. Worked for an international firm of designers, engineers and construction company for almost 14 years. Loved that job. Did quit that job when I got married for the 2nd time in 1980..... But later on I had to learn the computer to get back in the work force. Fought learning it, but now I love it. Was a secretary in the legal field. Plus I did do retail at Dillard's when I was in between jobs.

Was 17 when I got my first job, and retired full time when I was 66.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

dex — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 15:29:41 GMT

We were taught budgeting.we were assigned different salaries and had to make household expense planners.We were taken to the grocery store to learn the prices of foods and the healthier choices that were less costly.We had to make meal plans that fit within our proposed food budget.We had to plan to rent or purchase a home and learned about mortgages.We also had to estimate the monthly expenses for heating,electricity etc.We made bank accounts for our salaries and were taught how to write cheques and keep an account of the money on hand after expenses.This affected the way I have lived my life mostly within my means.I have always paid my bills on time and in full.I think many young people today could benefit from that budgeting class..which by the way I didn’t enjoy at the time but I am certain that knowledge kept me out of debt.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Peaches McPhee — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:00:14 GMT

A very good foundation in grammar. Yes, it's versus its. I know it in my sleep.

Typing, like the others have said. Who knew I'd be typing on a laptop at home?

Not sure if it is a "lesson", but a love for reading and literature.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

jubilant — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:34:07 GMT

Some of the people talked about how much Home Ec helped them. One woman said it helped her coordinate a wardrobe around 2 colors saving her lots of money and also helped get her first job making clothing.

This article also talked about keeping Home Ec and even adding more skilled programs. There was also a discussion that these skills should be taught at home and that it's not up to the schools.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Snowpuppy — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:55:33 GMT

The only thing typing class taught me was that women were raised with no aspirations other than clerical jobs.

Well, that is until you got married. Which is what Home Ec was for.

In my HS, you were not allowed to opt out of either.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

proudlyfromNJ — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:02:34 GMT

When I was in high school in the Stone Age, I did have sewing in home ec. There was no cooking. If you were college prep you did not take typing.

I taught myself to type at home on a very old typewriter. Good thing I did as it served me well all my working life.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

ShowMe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:20:23 GMT

@Snowpuppy wrote:
The only thing typing class taught me was that women were raised with no aspirations other than clerical jobs.

Well, that is until you got married. Which is what Home Ec was for.

In my HS, you were not allowed to opt out of either.

@Snowpuppy......my aspirations were to be an excellent secretary. Clerical is much different than secretarial.

By the way, there were boys in our typing classes also. In fact, the one that sat behind me was superb with his speed.....we always raced each other. In HS my typing speed on a 5 minute test was about 80 wpm/with no errors.....and Gordon was just about the same. Still remember his name to this day. We learned on the manual Royal with the tab bar on the right. Excellent typewriter.

Home Ec was not required. But I took it. Loved cooking and wanted to see what I could learn. Never liked sewing though.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

qualitygal — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:21:58 GMT

learned how smart my folks were after all.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

ShowMe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:26:28 GMT

@dex......congratulations for staying out of debt. I too am debt free....and it's a good feeling. Today when I hear that both husband and wife have to work, and sometimes one or both hold down another part time job to make ends meet, and are still in debt up to their ears, I just wonder. Guess being frugal is not a part of their life. It sure is to this day a part of mine.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Trinity11 — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:33:13 GMT

@ShowMe wrote:
@dex......congratulations for staying out of debt. I too am debt free....and it's a good feeling. Today when I hear that both husband and wife have to work, and sometimes one or both hold down another part time job to make ends meet, and are still in debt up to their ears, I just wonder. Guess being frugal is not a part of their life. It sure is to this day a part of mine.

Frugality is not necessarily why people stay out of debt. Low wages, health insurance that barely pays for anything often puts people in debt.

I feel for those struggling. Families need 2 pay checks just to stay above water. Daycare and college loans cut into wages. Add to that the high cost of housing.. I read that 47% of millennials still live with mom and dad in New Jersey.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Trinity11 — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:41:12 GMT

@jubilant, I learned in high school that my own insular existence wasn't everyone's. I had a Sociology teacher who taught me to expand my horizons and think outside of the box.

My upbringing was one of intolerance and I learned that there are other ways of looking at the world. She made a real difference in my thought processes and I am eternally grateful.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

ShowMe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:47:19 GMT

@Trinity11 wrote:
@ShowMe wrote:
@dex......congratulations for staying out of debt. I too am debt free....and it's a good feeling. Today when I hear that both husband and wife have to work, and sometimes one or both hold down another part time job to make ends meet, and are still in debt up to their ears, I just wonder. Guess being frugal is not a part of their life. It sure is to this day a part of mine.
Frugality is not necessarily why people stay out of debt. Low wages, health insurance that barely pays for anything often puts people in debt.

I feel for those struggling. Families need 2 pay checks just to stay above water. Daycare and college loans cut into wages. Add to that the high cost of housing.. I read that 47% of millennials still live with mom and dad in New Jersey.

@Trinity11.....please don't get me wrong. I too struggle month by month. My health insurance and prescription costs over Medicare is very expensive....and have no idea how much it will be costing me in 2019. But am sticking with what I have because it is excellent.

My car is 20 years old.....and still running very well. But of course the older a person gets after I think it's 70, you do pay more in insurance premiums there too.

I pay rent....and it goes up yearly with the new owners we have.....their expenses are more too and therefore we end up helping them through our rent.

And with having been so sick with this cancer, have lost a lot of weight, and therefore had to replace all (and I mean all) my clothing from inside to outdoor clothing. That has been very expensive for me. Now I'm needing new shoes because all my shoes are very lose on me. Will do that when I can.

And we all know how expensive our groceries have gotten. When I think back to eons ago when I could get my weeks groceries for about $25. No way today.....that's a given and a big laugh.

But, I thank God that I have been able to do that. And, it's not been easy either.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Trinity11 — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 17:55:14 GMT

@ShowMe wrote:
@Trinity11 wrote:
@ShowMe wrote:
@dex......congratulations for staying out of debt. I too am debt free....and it's a good feeling. Today when I hear that both husband and wife have to work, and sometimes one or both hold down another part time job to make ends meet, and are still in debt up to their ears, I just wonder. Guess being frugal is not a part of their life. It sure is to this day a part of mine.
Frugality is not necessarily why people stay out of debt. Low wages, health insurance that barely pays for anything often puts people in debt.

I feel for those struggling. Families need 2 pay checks just to stay above water. Daycare and college loans cut into wages. Add to that the high cost of housing.. I read that 47% of millennials still live with mom and dad in New Jersey.
@Trinity11.....please don't get me wrong. I too struggle month by month. My health insurance and prescription costs over Medicare is very expensive....and have no idea how much it will be costing me in 2019. But am sticking with what I have because it is excellent.

My car is 20 years old.....and still running very well. But of course the older a person gets after I think it's 70, you do pay more in insurance premiums there too.

I pay rent....and it goes up yearly with the new owners we have.....their expenses are more too and therefore we end up helping them through our rent.

And with having been so sick with this cancer, have lost a lot of weight, and therefore had to replace all (and I mean all) my clothing from inside to outdoor clothing. That has been very expensive for me. Now I'm needing new shoes because all my shoes are very lose on me. Will do that when I can.

And we all know how expensive our groceries have gotten. When I think back to eons ago when I could get my weeks groceries for about $25. No way today.....that's a given and a big laugh.

But, I thank God that I have been able to do that. And, it's not been easy either.

@ShowMe...I wasn't referring to seniors. I was addressing the comments about the younger generation where husband and wife have to work.

My husband just retired this past week. Thankfully, we are fine but we have had years to plan unlike some people new to the workforce who find themselves in debt through no fault of their own.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

ShowMe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:02:58 GMT

@Trinity11......Oh I know what you were referring to. I was just giving an example of how many folks have to struggle.

But when I see where everyone has to have one or two brand new cars, individual cell phones, and the best of everything.....that is what I was referring to. That to me is not being frugal. I do think you can read between my lines on this subject.

And congratulations to your DH on his retirement. You were very wise when planning for your future life upon retirement. You will be thankful for that in the coming years.

I do realize that some are in debt through no fault of their own, and for that I feel sorry. But many are in debt because of how they live and spend.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

Witchy Woman — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:13:57 GMT

@jubilant

I grew up in a tiny midwestern town and graduated in a class of 120 kids. Back in the "stone age" as another poster mentioned, you were required to take certain classes. Typing was among them, and I opted to also take shorthand.

While, looking back, my aspirations were somewhat limited (I would do things differently now), those skills took me to work for business executives, three Congressmen in Washington, DC, and a stint at the White House working for the top executives in the Carter administration.

Not many went to college back then....wrong or right, it's how it was. Teachers and counselors were limited in their thinking, and our families were very limited financially...so, I chose the path that worked for me at the time.

It might not have been the perfect path, or best one, but it served me well.

Now, people hardly remember shorthand. I was good and could do 120 wpm at my best.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

ShowMe — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:31:52 GMT

@Witchy Woman......sounds like you had a very interesting working career and did you well.

Yes, boys were encouraged to plan for college....not so much girls.....this was back in the early to mid 50's. I so wanted to learn shorthand, but never did. But, did learn to do transcription, which I was pretty good at. In fact, loved doing it. We had to know how to spell back in those days, today the computer checks our spelling.....and sometimes doesn't do a very good job. Still have to proof read. I had one boss that was a stickler....every letter that went out of the office had to be letter perfect.....he didn't care how many times it had to be retyped.....letter perfect.

In fact, I just noticed an error my computer made. It was when I typed at.....it made it ad.....so I corrected it.

Re: Lessons Learned Lasting A Lifetime

dex — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 18:34:56 GMT

@Trinity11i agree that healthcare costs are killer and if you get sick that can bankrupt you.I don’t agree that Many are struggling because of low income i think some are just not understanding their financial capabilities.My friends son lives in very expensive Seattle Washington.He works in the mail room of a larger company.He doesn’t own a car but takes public transportation or rides his bike to work.He cooks his own meals,plays community sports in free time.He buys his clothing second hand.He rents an apartment but the thing that amazes me is that he has during his three working years managed to save a fairly decent bank account.He plans to one day move to an area where housing is more affordable and buy a home.This guy is good to his mom too without breaking his budget.Mothers day he made her lunch and then washed and waxed her car.