The 3 Things I Learned in High School that Mattered

I went to a public high school, so I'll say right off the bat that all of the things that REALLY mattered were learned at home with my family and in our parish community.

That said, though, and meaning no disrespect to the many wonderful teachers who taught me many fascinating things in a wide array of subjects in high school, I think the Three Things I Learned in High School that Mattered aren't things that were ever in a curriculum write-up or on my class schedule.

1) Don't Be Afraid. Man Up.

When I was a freshman, I went into high school (a high school of about 3,000, mind you) from a Catholic grade school of about 300. That was quite a leap.

Adding to that, our grade school teachers had done a great job of freaking us out to no end about high school and what it would mainly consist of: being stuffed into our lockers, followed by being marched to the bathroom for swirlies, followed by being forced to buy elevator passes, followed by being locked back into our lockers.

I dreaded the Illinois state requirement of Physical Education (PE) every semester except for when you have health and driver's ed.

So in my first semester of PE, when we had to split off into our sections of the class (mine was volleyball) and then divide into teams, I was intimidated beyond belief that there were only two freshmen in our section.

I was certain that I would never be picked for a team; that I'd be the "last to fall", but one of the two senior co-captains picked me first.

I immediately strutted to their side of the court, amazed. I muttered something under my breath like "are you sure?"

Not only will I never forget that they picked me first, and made a statement to all their upperclass friends about their "faith" in me. But I'll also never forget what they said: "Don't worry. You'll do fine."

Truer words were never said, and the encouragement lasted me all four years of high school and beyond.

Suddenly, I wasn't one little guy in this sea of thousands. I was really a person with dignity, and I had been reminded of it and encouraged to grasp it in the most direct, unexpected way.

2) You Don't Have to Memorize That.
Just Know Where to Look it Up.

Two sciences teachers imparted this one. And how true.

Periodic table? The speed of light? What's a "mole"? What's the atomic weight of chocolate?

No need to remember it. There's always Google.

3) Impromptu Speaking

I competed in two events on the speech team: Radio speaking and Impromptu speaking. For life and career, you can't beat Impromptu.

Here's how it works: You walk into a room with judges. You draw a note card, on which is written a quote or topic. You then have eight (8) total minutes to prepare AND speak on the subject on the card. You can prepare (jot down an outline, or notes) for one minute and then speak for seven. Or you can prepare for seven and speak for one. But you can guess which approach helps you in judging.

To succeed in Impromptu, you had to get good at thinking on your feet and talking out of your Nikes.

Here are some of the subjects & quotes I actually had, which I still remember to this day:

• "To everything there is a season."
• Friends & comrades
• "The grass is always greener."
• Healthy living
• Your favorite sport

I don't know of an activity in high school that forced me to be better at what I do day-in-and-day-out in my line of work than Impromptu. Competing in it sharpened the saw even faster.

Thanks to all of the fantastic teachers that God blessed me with! I pray for half as good for my boys as they grow up. Thanks in particular to the History and civics teachers - the teachers in the one subject that I entered high school hating and left high school with the most interest in and respect for... and perhaps the "formal subject" that ends up making the biggest difference in my life.

So I'm curious... what 3 things did YOU learn in high school that are invaluable... formal-education or otherwise?

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