Courses they should have taught in college: #1

Penrith, Australia
February 7, 2013 12:28am CST
Career 101: Reading Between the (e-mail) Lines Real life is very different from school. In school, everything is structured and you'll be okay as long as you basically do as your told. However, when you're working, the expectations for you increase and your bosses will tell you to begin or complete projects that you have no idea how to do, and they won't have time to instruct you. Most of what you've learned in school is not relevant. And you'll only know what you're doing when you're already actually doing it. Sometimes your boss e-mails you, youve read it so many times but cant figure what exactly does he want from you. They tell you that you're only required to do X, but in reality, you should take your own initiative and do Y as well.
1 person likes this
8 responses
@Aja103654 (5644)
• Philippines
9 Feb 13
Ain't bosses demanding? Well, that's how they earn money and how they get to be so annoying sometimes. School taught us all these theories, telling us what to do and not do, but they failed to help us develop our initiative and to be more creative. That's cause schools often are by-the-book, there's little room for innovation and when people want to take a step further, some authorities discourage such drastic changes. it's all so silly really. How can we be adults, when in school, we were treated as if we were idiots? Or we remain to be idiots and not learned from those who told us to be not?
• Penrith, Australia
9 Feb 13
I just hate it when bosses treat their employees like they're merely just objects and means to an end. They don't care as long as they get the best service at the cheapest price. That's right about the schools trying to stick to their principles and the way they do things. I remeber in college when they taught us how to carry a bedpan the way a real *********** does it. Its ridiculous how you'd have to hold the bedpan with poise and posture and you'd have to hold it with newspaper in your hand. Oh, and bed making, lol, i never even used those half-mitered corners. When i make beds for my patients in college, i always get the fitted sheets so that i dont even have to miter (lol is that even how it is supposed to be spelled) Your last sentence. Just hit me in the chest. Gosh, i think i became quite used to being an idiot. Because being an idiot used to work. Now that I'm still an idiot, i dont know what to do. Okay maybe i do know what to do,... Meh... I dont know what to do. Hahahaha!
@Aja103654 (5644)
• Philippines
10 Feb 13
Sadly, there are many jerks like that who exist in this world. It's ironic how they got into such high positions when their attitude is so terrible. I always make fun of them in my mind, thinking that they are stressed, over worked and undersexed. those stupid details on how to do things are not that applicable in real life situations anyway. There are things that matter more, these nursing they call art is just bull-sh-t. What matters is you care for your patient and sincere. but do they give you credit for that? No, they fuss about what you did, did not do and give you faults that are not even yours. They blame their negligence on you. If we ever worked in the hospital, we'd think we were blessed but soon after living the life there, I felt like a zombie and hated it so much. If it were not for the horrible attitude some people have in that work place, I think I would have stayed longer. Why would you act as an idiot? Being an idiot who is learning is good, it makes the a person eager to learn and take risks even. but staying an idiot is never good. We have to prove to people that we are more than we appear, and slap to their face the fact that they are judgmental people with bad superiority complex.
• Penrith, Australia
10 Feb 13
Stressed? Check. Overworked? Check. Undersex? Check check check! erm, yeah, bosses seem to be always lost in thought too. Geez, it must be unfamiliar territory. Oh that's difficult. We have to keep up with those stuck up bosses because our jobs depend on it. If we quit too easily, we won't get anywhere. It is true though, if you kiss a$$, everything tastes like $hit.
@else22 (4317)
• India
7 Feb 13
You are absolutely right,Nursefrai.What we learn in schools and colleges is only bookish knowledge.Even after completing all our courses successfully with excellent marks,we feel ourselves helpless when it comes to facing a real time scenario.I too had to face troubles meeting the expectations of my boss,but fortunately my boss was very kind to me.He taught me everything step by step. My son has completed his MCA.His teachers in the institution had taught him how to complete a particular project in a real time scenario.Still he told me,he had to face difficulties initially after he got employed. I fully agree with you that students should be taught how they can meet a particular challenge in real life.
• Penrith, Australia
7 Feb 13
You're lucky to have that as first boss. Hmm. My first boss was my mom so i didnt have any trouble at first but then now I'm starting to work for another person, its so much different and i am at shock. Apparently, this is my first real job. I've been trying to connect with my colleagues, maybe they could teach me a thing or two about my job but then i dont know, they seem like they dont want to help me. Like I'm on probation or something, Btw, else, could you please do me a favor. Please tag "courses they should have taught in college" i forgot to do so when i made this discussion, and there are more like these coming from me but on different aspects of my life.
@else22 (4317)
• India
7 Feb 13
Gladly,my dear friend,but tags are already given under your post.How can I tag your discussion?If it is possible and allowed,I would be glad to do it for you.
@chiyosan (30183)
• Philippines
9 Feb 13
hi nursefrai! =) usually boss in their trying to hurry things up, they often just turn out to be the not so good instructions you can get, but for me i understand that, i would just read it and if it is not clear for me, i would just go to them, and ask them which specifics they need, usually since we are used to each other's working habits, and our same understanding of how things go, i can say that we sure have often are able to communicate with each other.
• Penrith, Australia
9 Feb 13
That's very nice to hear chiyosan that your boss is approacheble and open to you especially when it comes to helping you with your job. I hope there are more bosses like that who understand their employees and give them chances to do their best at their job,
@jambi462 (4576)
• United States
25 Feb 13
That's one of the biggest problems I have with the education system and the college structure in general. We have to spend all this money on classes that really don't even become relevant to what we are actually trying to do with our lives. The worst part is that we are required to make a lot of different useless classes that really don't prepare us for anything. For example you can spend thousands of dollars and two years on earning your associate's degree and it doesn't really qualify you to do anything other than get the same jobs that you can get with a high school diploma. I just wish that I could have entered directly into the program that I wanted to do out of high school then I would be much happier with where I am in life than I am now.
• Penrith, Australia
25 Feb 13
That's right, those courses are just a waste of time if you ask me. Life is short, how can we make the most of it if we're doing some useless banter. I understand that it is their way of screening the qualified students for the degree. Hmm. Scratch that, no. I am not sure. I dont think thats their purpose. Maybe they want us prepared but then there is no use in being anxious and being too prepared about something that you're not sure is going to happen. Besides when you go to work, that the only time you'll figure out what you're doing.
@sshiva95 (77)
• India
7 Feb 13
Very true. Our education system is book oriented instead of being work oriented. They should give us some practical hands on training while we study. It should be made compulsory like an internship
• Penrith, Australia
7 Feb 13
I've had internships before but it wasn't enough. Some things just have to be learned the hard way, the most important things at least.
@ayeeesha (1127)
• Philippines
16 Mar 13
I totally agree with you. They say schools are our training grounds and will help us prepare for the real life. But what they're teaching are theories, not the practical application of it. Although there's an internship program, they don't really teach you there and just ask you to do basic stuff. But I'm not saying schools suck. Nothing beats quality education.
• Penrith, Australia
17 Mar 13
I believe in quality education too, and it kind of of is nice to hear if you got one especially if you got it from a well known institution. But then thats right, in my job, i had t trash so many theories because what they were doing was not in the ideal setups, i feel bad about the things I've learned. Like why did i even learn those things, never even came in handy never used them for nothing. When am i even going to use algebra in real life.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
7 Feb 13
Life skills are so damn important when you leave school and let loose in the real world, qualifications on paper never substitutes for what you will face, it's only through experience and the hard knocks that you will ever be truly prepared. One course they should have taught in school is proper budgeting, how to manage money. You also have to be a mind reader too, some bosses expect that too, you should know what they want before they even ask and if you haven't done it, woebetide you! Some bosses are computer illiterate too and if they do send you an email you have to decipher it as well as read between the lines! A definite skill and talent to have.
• Penrith, Australia
7 Feb 13
Yes they do. They tell you things they needed so that you wouldn't have to waste time. And you're always supposed to be 2-3 steps ahead of your boss. Its kind of narcissistic but then its how they'll measure you up as an employee. And if you want to stay employed, you gotta do it. All those stuff I've learned in school, I never really had the chance to use them. like periodic tables, scientific notations and stuff. why did i have to Learn those stuff? It has never come in handy never used them for nothing. Now its just some knowledge that i used to know.
• Philippines
7 Feb 13
Very true. But we list them all, the material won't end and probably be longer than any paper in history. And I don't know if we're allowed to publish it.
• Penrith, Australia
7 Feb 13
It may be a very long list, but naming them and discussing them one by one can surely help a lot of people, especially the ones like my self. If it can relate to one, it can relate to more.