Sooooooooo overwhelmed! How about you?

[reririx]

One thing high school AND university never taught me was: how to be an adult.

Now that can mean anything. By "adulting," I meant anything with finances. After moving out from my parent's home when I was 18, I had to teach myself how to do my income tax. I worked part time and had no idea how to budget or save my money but I always paid my bills on time! That's one thing I knew I had to do.

I worked part time jobs throughout my university life and I was "fortunate" enough just to worry about my income tax, lol. Now, working a full time job with great benefits but the reality hit me in the face: time to save up for a car, a home, to travel... for retirement... I am back to feeling so inadequate and unprepared. What are personal tax credit returns? How much do I contribute to my pension? How can I properly invest my money so that I can grow my savings?

University, specifically nursing, taught me how to inject my patients, how to complete assessments, etc. High school taught me the basics of math, physics, chemistry, etc. But I never felt dumber than I do now, looking at my insurance book and not understanding anything. *cries*

I will be going to my bank to talk more about my savings and future plans. But aside from that, I am just sitting with piles of papers and booklets and I'm completely overwhelmed. I was not prepared for this, haha.

So how about you? What's one thing that you weren't prepared for but wish you were?

I realize some are still in school and all that and we all come from different walks of life so I didn't word the question to only include people who graduated high school and/or university. I'm trying to be as inclusive to all cohorts as possible.

 

[Midoriya]

I was always a top-grades student growing up, but once I got to university, the one I go to has a LOT of smart people and a LOT of difficult classes, because people take their studies seriously here. I wasn’t ready for that and now I’m in my third major just focused on graduating at this point. It’s difficult, but I have to pull my own weight to get there in the end. I already have planned out what company I’m going to work for and what careers I’ll have once I graduate. The main thing is just graduating now (I should mention that I was born with Aspergers (Mild Autism), which is also called ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) nowadays, and most people who have it don’t make it as far as graduating university).

 

[reririx]

I was always a top-grades student growing up, but once I got to university, the one I go to has a LOT of smart people and a LOT of difficult classes, because people take their studies seriously here. I wasn’t ready for that and now I’m in my third major just focused on graduating at this point. It’s difficult, but I have to pull my own weight to get there in the end. I already have planned out what company I’m going to work for and what careers I’ll have once I graduate. The main thing is just graduating now (I should mention that I was born with Aspergers (Mild Autism), which is also called ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) nowadays, and most people who have it don’t make it as far as graduating university).

I had a similar experience! Going from high school to university was an eye-opener for me. Many people took it seriously and also the workload and content was more difficult. I'm glad you were able to pull through and made some plans for yourself. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Don't give up!

 

[Rizies]

I am and was very fortunate. My parents saved and paid for my bachelor's degree, that took a lot of stress off me financially. In addition on my 18th birthday I was gifted a Tax Free Savings Account in my name from my grandparents.

I am also very fortunate and feel very successful for a young adult. Me and my husband have our own home and steady jobs. He is an accountant so I never have to worry about doing taxes!

However I do wish I was more handy. Owning a home comes with its challenges. There are a lot of times I am googling how to do things. Even small things like cleaning the van and air filters. Oh! And patching holes in walls..

I also wish I was more into landscaping and lawn care. The previous owners did not do a good job with the lawn and we have a lot of work to deal with.

 

[DJStarstryker]

As an introvert, I feel really socially dumb. For example, it's hard to think of how to say things politely but at the same time express that you're upset about something someone else did. It's hard to negotiate things. It's hard to talk to someone you don't know well at a party.

Extroverts naturally learn this as they're growing up because they seek out interactions with people. Introverts generally avoid interactions with people and don't get that practice that extroverts get.

 

[reririx]

I am and was very fortunate. My parents saved and paid for my bachelor's degree, that took a lot of stress off me financially. In addition on my 18th birthday I was gifted a Tax Free Savings Account in my name from my grandparents.

I am also very fortunate and feel very successful for a young adult. Me and my husband have our own home and steady jobs. He is an accountant so I never have to worry about doing taxes!

However I do wish I was more handy. Owning a home comes with its challenges. There are a lot of times I am googling how to do things. Even small things like cleaning the van and air filters. Oh! And patching holes in walls..

I also wish I was more into landscaping and lawn care. The previous owners did not do a good job with the lawn and we have a lot of work to deal with.

Oh me too! I am useless at home haha. I think the most I can do is unclog a toilet and build ikea furniture. Sometimes I regret moving out because my dad always fixed things and my mom sewed my stuff etc. But I need to learn how to do it on my own now...

- - - Post Merge - - -

As an introvert, I feel really socially dumb. For example, it's hard to think of how to say things politely but at the same time express that you're upset about something someone else did. It's hard to negotiate things. It's hard to talk to someone you don't know well at a party.

Extroverts naturally learn this as they're growing up because they seek out interactions with people. Introverts generally avoid interactions with people and don't get that practice that extroverts get.

Aw, I wouldn’t say socially dumb!

I understand that for introverts, some social interactions can be uncomfortable or difficult. I saw from some of my friends that their behaviour (these friends are introverts) slightly changed when they befriended more extroverted people. I think those extroverts pushed them out of their comfort zone and supported them in their social interactions.

Now, I can’t say that will work for everyone.

 

[ali.di.magix]

I wish I was prepared for time management skills, especially trying to balance a study and work life. Also preparing myself for it much earlier. It would've saved a lot of stress in my last semester of uni and perhaps wouldn't have performed as badly as I did.

As others have said, university as well. It was a huge, massive step up for me. I already had a good work ethic going in but still nothing prepared me for the hours I've had to put in.

 

[xSuperMario64x]

Yeah we were forced to do this thing on economics and finances in our Government class at the end of the year. But because it was all online I barely remember anything I learned. I do have to say though, I'm very good about saving money and paying things that need paid on time.

I guess when it's time for me to go off to grad school and I need to rent an apartment, I'll still have my parents to help me. They never wanna let me go ^^;


Now I have been very overwhelmed lately but not for the same reason. I'm taking 8 classes this semester and only one of them doesn't necessarily require homework. Half of them require extensive study, too. So basically I've been having to use what would be my "free time" to do homework and assignments. just kill me pls

 

[watercolorwish]

i go to a boarding school now which is very strange and uncomfortable but its really a shame how much people pay to go here and they don't prepare us for anything in real life. they only care about grades and if youre in national honors society loool



i know i'll regret not educating myself on adult things when i actually become one since i'm kind of close so i'm really trying to push myself to ask teachers and proctors about how to handle a checking account and taxes and stuff like that


another part of me thinks this is terrible and we should be taking classes for this. and we shouldn't just be conforming to assigned academic classes. but that won't happen sadly

 

[nintendofan85]

Yes, as I have two tests in my college classes this week.

 

[chamsae]

im lucky enough to have my mom, she teaches me how to handle my bank account and do income taxes etc, and im sure she will help me with other things should i struggle to figure them out by myself,, my problem is kinda different lol.
from kindergarten to high school i was always one of those naturally smart kids that got good grades without studying or caring and because of that i never developed any studying methods or systems that worked for me, i didnt learn how to deal with stress and expectations and failure so going to uni really.... shocked me and made me realised how actually unprepared i am despite going through 12 years of school. suddenly i became someone who struggled to pass exams, who had to study ten times more than others to get the lowest passing grade because the exams dont test our intelligence and logical skills anymore, they test how much we can remember word for word. im starting my 3rd year in two weeks and i still have no idea how to study, how to manage my time and schedule my workload, seriously what am i doing!!!

why dont they teach us how to actually /study/ and deal with life/academic failures and handling everything mentally djkdsjdj it should be equally important as remembering math equations or dissecting poems jkdjdjk adulting in university is about learning independently and managing to do well without constant supervision from teachers and its just a whole new world compared to any previous education stages agggrhh

 

[griefseed]

i wish i had been more prepared for depending on others. i've had to be independent since i was a child and i was never taught how to, or that it was even okay to ask for assistance and it's been a huge struggle. i had to learn everything on my own, for the most part, so asking for... help even with taking out the trash or giving some chores away is an uphill battle but it's getting better!!

i am also the same as you in that the only thing i did know in the beginning of moving was paying the bills on top!

 

[hamster]

Yea i've recently started college and it's something i'm really not used to. I've made friends but talking to people for me is quite draining

 

[ApolloJusticeAC]

schools been stressing me out cuz i got a F on my math quiz, and i dont want to fail any classes this school year

i just want to do good in it, so yeah im overwhelmed with school haha