Independence is important by Cooper

Independence is important by Cooper - January 2023 Scholarship Essay

Many people think that general technology should be mandatory at schools. Some people think that life skills like learning how to fix things, or build a shed should be mandatory. Picking just one class that should be mandatory in school is difficult, especially considering all of the choices. While life skills and general technologies can teach you many useful things, I think that there is something better. The class that I think should be mandatory for all students in high school is home ec.

Personally my school hasn’t had home ec in many years, I think the last time they had it my mom was in school. Many times, especially with both of my sisters, they get out of the house and they don’t know how to cook for themselves. It didn’t help that my older sister thought she could cook, but she couldn’t. I am a senior this year, and the thing I am most worried about next year being on my own at college, is what I am going to be able to feed myself. I know how to make very basic and simple things, like eggs and sandwiches, but I don’t know how to cook real healthy food.

Having home ec isn’t just about being able to make food either. Home ec also teaches you how to save money and put it towards other things in the sense of being able to spend less on things not needed. Learning how to make food is cheaper than going out every night and buying fast food. Learning how to sew and mend is also cheaper and a lot easier than taking your suit or other things to a tailor the next town over to fix. Saving on food, materials, and gas while staying at home and doing things yourself can make things easier for not only you but others that you could help to.

Being independent is an important part of growing up and leaving high school to college. Home ec can soften the blow and really teach you things early on in life. If you want to have somebody over for the night, instead of worrying if your cooking is going to be burnt or cold, all you have to worry about is what you want to cook. Being independent is challenging, especially if you have never been independent in your life, helped by parents or other family members your whole life. Being able to show independence and initiative can help you with other things in life in social aspects, and in job hunting too.

In conclusion, I think that home ec should be a mandatory class for all high school students to take because learning how to be independent early can help you so much later on in life. Not having to worry if you have enough money to buy fast food goes out the window when you can buy ingredients for three nights for cheaper. Worrying about if your cooking is good enough for your guests goes out the window when you have been learning to cook since high school. Being able to sew for your own needs and others is needed can save somebody in a pinch. While I never got to take home ec, I think that it would prepare me better for college than I am now.