Beyond the Books: Real World Skills Every Student Deserves by Deepika

Beyond the Books: Real World Skills Every Student Deserves by Deepika - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

High school is meant to prepare us for the real world, but it often fails to teach the practical skills that truly matter. I recall a talented friend who graduated full of creative ideas but struggled with managing her money and getting her artwork noticed. Unfortunately, that’s a story many students share. While we learn algebra formulas, write essays, and memorize historical dates, few of us are taught how to make a budget, price our work, or confidently pitch our ideas. That’s why I believe entrepreneurship should be a required class for every high school student. It teaches essential life skills, sparks innovative thinking, and helps young people become financially independent regardless of the career they choose.

Entrepreneurship is about more than just starting a business. It’s about creativity, spotting problems, finding solutions, and making the most of what you have. A high school entrepreneurship class would help students brainstorm ideas, set goals, plan finances, market products or services, and deliver winning pitches. These skills go way beyond business; they build confidence, improve communication, and teach self-reliance, all of which are valuable no matter what job you end up doing.

Today’s world is changing fast, and careers rarely follow a straight path. Many jobs that exist now weren’t even around ten years ago. To keep up, we need adaptability, critical thinking, and the ability to take initiative. An entrepreneurship class provides students with the tools to take charge of their futures, solve problems creatively, and handle uncertainty with confidence. Skills that traditional classes often overlook.

This class would be crucial for students interested in creative or trade careers such as artists, hairstylists, photographers, makeup artists, musicians, or fashion designers. Many people in these fields struggle to turn their passions into sustainable careers because they lack basic business knowledge. For example, a makeup artist needs to know how to set fair prices, keep clients engaged, manage appointments, file taxes, and market their services online. Similarly, an artist must learn how to sell their work, take commissions, and build an online brand. By requiring entrepreneurship education, schools would provide these students the tools they need to not only chase their dreams but also make a living from them.

Even students planning to enter more traditional careers benefit from entrepreneurship skills. Budgeting, networking, time management, and public speaking help people succeed in any profession, whether they aspire to be teachers, engineers, nurses, or chefs. Understanding how business works encourages independent thinking and creative problem-solving in any workplace.

Another crucial reason to make entrepreneurship classes mandatory is economic equity. Not every student has a family that teaches them about money management or business. Some come from homes where these topics are rarely discussed. Making this course required ensures that every student, regardless of their background, has a chance to learn how to generate income, manage resources, and build something of their own. It closes the gap between what school teaches and what life demands.
Moreover, entrepreneurship education makes learning exciting and hands-on. Instead of just memorizing facts, students get to invent products, create business plans, and pitch their ideas in a “Shark Tank” style competition. This method of active learning connects what they do in the classroom with real-world experiences, making school more relevant and fun.

Some argue that not every student wants to become an entrepreneur, so the class should be optional. However, the skills gained, including effective communication, financial literacy, and problem-solving, are valuable in any career. The goal is not to turn every student into a CEO but to prepare all students to be capable, confident, and ready for the future.

In conclusion, requiring entrepreneurship in high school is one of the smartest moves we can make in modern education. It provides students with the tools to take control of their financial futures, express their creativity, and face life’s challenges as problem-solvers. From artists and beauticians to engineers and teachers, every student benefits from thinking like an entrepreneur. Just like a skilled sailor learns to read the wind and navigate ever-changing seas, students must learn to steer their futures with creativity and confidence in a world full of uncertainty.