Let's be honest, not many of the teachers you had as a kid were remarkable, and chances are that you don't even remember their names. The few who could actually offer you something were probably the ones who were mocked behind their backs.
Nowadays not many professors can be bothered to talk to you about anything else besides the lessons you "need" about literature and matrices and stuff like that. I admit, these might come in handy, where it comes to your general knowledge, but chances are they won't be something that will help you trough your modest life.
Here are some thing I wish my teachers would have taught me in school...
1. Relax
I think this whole stress business we face every single day started with our first days of school. Your teachers and your parents told you that a little bit of stress won't hurt anyone, no, it's the opposite: stress helps you trough your days. Well, although this has some merits, it's not exactly true. Yes, there are some situations that require stress, because in those situations you build some adrenalin that will help you resolve your existential problem. For example when you are attacked, it's natural and totally normal to build up some stress.
In other situations it's not however.
People are stressed out for the littlest things nowadays. Being late, going to an interview, not finding your favorite pencil... In these cases you just need to slow down and ask yourself, is that really necessary? Would your life get worse if you just grab a pen and go with that? No? Than just relax...
2. Mistakes are good
When you were a kid you probably made a few mistakes, but then you just repeated whatever you wanted until you didn't fail anymore. As you grew older, you learned in school to NOT make any mistakes, otherwise your mistake will go punished. This probably lead to you trying out new things less and less.
People don't want to try new things out in fear of failing. In our minds mistakes and failure brings ridicule with itself. And if we are afraid of something, it's being laughed at.
The thing is, even if people will laugh at you, the world won't end. You'll just learn that you made a stupid mistake, and next time you will try something else.
3. Focus on what you want
The thing is, people nowadays tend to focus on things they DON'T want. "I don't want to go to work today" or "I don't want to wash the dishes" will probably get you stressed in no time. It will most probably make what you are so afraid of come true.
Again, you have to relax and release all your fears. If you do want something you'll find that it will come to you.
4. Don't compare yourself to others
This is quite a narcissistic piece of program you managed to engrave in your conscious. It probably started out with something like "I got a better mark in math than XY, so I'm better", or "I have a better computer than XY". The sad part is, that once you start comparing yourself to others to feel better about yourself you'll probably end up noticing people who have it better than you. "I have a better computer than XY" will become "Oh no, he just bought an even better one" and than you won't feel good about yourself again. The best thing you can do in this case is to try to compare yourself to yourself. Try imagining how far you came since last week, since last year. Look at what you accomplished, what you learned...
5. Your financial status mean very little in the grand scheme of things
Because the way our society glamorizes the rich and famous, we all grow up to believe that to be truly happy, one must have the most money, and the biggest and best of things. I have to mention this tho... kids who grew up as the "middle class" or "lower class" were probably told by their parents that rich people are always evil, that they couldn't have had their fortune if they were honest, hard working people. Although this might apply in some cases, you have to admit to yourself that thinking this will probably keep you from having too much money at a single time. Your subconscious will probably tell you that you didn't obtain your stuff in an honest way...
Back to the topic at hand tho. Again, if you want something you will probably achieve it. For example, since a lot of people like and would want to travel, they say to themselves that this dream cannot be achieved because they do not have enough money. This is a lie, which was mostly engrained in us by travel agencies. Yes, you can travel. You need to pack a bag and get going... There are a lot of honest people out there who would offer you a piece of bread or a little space to crash in the night in exchange of some honest work. Meanwhile you can also learn some stuff about other cultures too...
6. Don't let school come between you and education
Nowadays it's hard to get a job if you don't have a diploma to show off. Universities and colleges will make you believe that you will have a brighter future if you get that little piece of paper.
The fact is tho, that that won't help you, unless you actually learn something. In real life nobody will give a flying fu*k about how many perfect grades you got, or how many spelling bees you've won. It looks nice on your CV, but if you don't know how to treat other people, even if you don't like them, how to speak intelligently or how to act civilized your diploma won't matter too much. Also, if you want to get a diploma, because you don't have anything else to do, you might want to just go to sleep...
7. Be patient and understanding with everyone around you
This must be the hardest thing to learn. People tend to get annoyed at others, for different reasons. People don't like all of their peers, and it is normal to have differences. Life would be too boring if everyone would love each other to the bits, and would agree in everything. This doesn't excuse you to pick fights with people however. There will be some people who will mock you, and hate you to the bits, and take their frustration out on you. If you let them get at you you will never have a good time. Sometimes you just need to let it go. They may have problems in their life they can't treat otherwise. Getting pissed at them and screaming at them in return won't help either of you.
8. Be who you were born to be
Not everyone needs to be a lawyer, a doctor or an astrologist. Some people have other talents, other things they like to do. Do what you actually like to do, and don't try to live other people's dreams. The thing you have to do first and foremost is to please yourself. You will have to live with yourself your whole life. Your friends, your family, your lovers... they may all come and go, but if you are not proud and happy with what you managed to do in your life, you will live trough hell.
9. It's OK to say no
Just because someone asks you to do something doesn't mean you have to do it. Sometimes these tasks add to your level of stress, or you might feel what they ask for is not something you particularly stand for. You are entitled to your own opinions, and you have the right to live your life how you want to. You don't have to please everyone. There will always be people out there who won't like you. Don't take things like this to your heart and try finding people who actually care about what you think or do.
10. Let go
The greatest source of misery and hatred in this world is clinging to past hurts. Look at all the terrorists and militant groups that hark back to some event long gone, or base their justification for killing on claims of some supposed historical right to a bit of land, or redress for a wrong done hundreds of years ago. You cannot change things in your past. The most you can do is learn not to do the same mistakes again, and keep on with your life.
