It is my belief that the education system is broken.

Now, am I a scholar?

No.

However, I have always been an avid self-learner and truly believe that education is something that can be obtained outside of the four walls of a classroom. As much as I would like to attribute this thinking to my South-Asian background, I think it is largely because of my curiosity.

And whilst I do believe that our schooling system was setup with positive intentions. The reality is that it has failed to teach us some of the fundamental skills that we require to navigate through life.

As much as I would like to think that algebra and triple integrations will help us with the inevitable notions of life. The reality is, that it won’t.

So whilst I may not be a scholar, I feel as though life has had a weird way of teaching us things. Whether it be through books or experiences. Here are some of the big-little thigs that I have learned over my 30 years on this planet:

• Learning how to communicate will get you places.

While it may seem like a pretty basic skill. You will be surprised at how many people do not know how to communicate with their target audience. Learning how to ‘read the room’ is a skill that I learned in my years in consulting and has helped me realise that the most effective way to get anything done was to have the right people on your team. And the right people would only end up on my team if I communicated in the tone and manner that appealed to them.

• Splurging to keep up with the Kardashians will always keep you in debt.

I was never the kind of person who was obsessed with the latest trends. But I had friends around me that were and over the years it became a never-ending obsession. Given that I was not. trust fund baby, I learned to distinguish the difference between purchasing to keep up with the latest trends versus purchasing a dress that had an outdated design but made me feel beautiful.

This meant that whenever I purchased anything for myself, it was because it meant something to me. Which kept my soul satiated and my bank account relatively happy as well.

• Forgiveness will provide you with more mental peace than you ever anticipated.

Listen. I love holding a grudge as much as the next person. And as someone who is an Aries and has her father’s stubborness, forgiveness was something that never came naturally to me. However throught the passage of time (and through the eventual developement of my frontal lobe), I realised that forgiveness was more for myself (as opposed to person I had beef with).

Through the act of forgiveness, I was able to let go of alot of resentment and establish firm boundaries where it mattered.

• Invest responsibly but don’t forget to enjoy life along the way.

I’m a millienial and was constantly told that I needed to give up my avocado toasts to be able to afford a home. Did that advice work well in the long run?

No.

Because the housing crisis happened and the pandemic and Trump. All of which helped me realise that sometimes people have no clue what they are talking about. But that does not mean that all advice is shit advice.

I learned that everyone is always going to provide you with financial advice. But it is your job to do your background check on the person before implementing their advice. Take advice from those with the merit to back it up and invest thoughfully.

But don’t forget to splurge on that iced-coffee every now and then because life is short.

• Master the art of listening (and patience while you are at it).

The skill of listening and patience are two attributes that never came naturally to me. Have I perfected it? No. However making space for a friend by simply acting as a sounding board has created moments that I will always cherish. Being patient enough to simply listen to someone in need has always come back as good karma in one way or another.

So while I may never fulyl perfect the art of patience or listening, they are skills that I would 100% recommend that you continue to evolve in.

• Prioritise your health (both mental and physical).

I don’t care if you only have 15 mins for a hot girl lap around the concrete jungle that you are subjected to during the work week. Take those 15 minutes.

As someone who traded in her dance and gym days for yoga and pilates. I will forever be in awe at how quickly the body starts to ‘decay’ when you spend 8 plus hours sitting down.

Squeezing in a few minutes of movement a day and listening to a insightful podcast has been (and will continue to be) the best thing I have done for my body and mind.

• Be at ease with change.

As humans. We naturally despise the uncertainty that comes with change, but often crave it without realising. Learning to be at ease with change and realising that it is the only constant in life, has put my mind at ease by a tenfold.