The pre-frontal cortex, which controls future planning and...

The pre-frontal cortex, which controls future planning and impulse control isn’t fully developed until AFTER TWENTY.

And schools and parents expect 16-18yr olds to decide their whole life’s path!!

I’m 23 and only now feel like I’m getting any kind of control over my long term planning and goals. How many ADULTS have trouble deciding their priorities, long term plans & sticking to them? Why do we expect this of still-developing teens? Why don’t schools ever tell teens its okay not to know, to have a next-few-years goal that isn’t Your One True Career?

Being a mature student should not be seen as a mistake. Why cant teens choose not to study now because they KNOW theyre not into it but still be reassured its always an option! You’re always allowed to go back and learn if you’ve discovered a passion. (I shouldn’t even say go ‘back’ and learn! Its not going backwards, its going forwards.)

There are life experiences that can be more valuable & educational than doing a degree, it shouldn’t be the default stop after school. A degree does not teach you how to survive, how to look after yourself, they expect you to muddle through all that as you go.

Why don’t we have Self Care instead of Home Economics? Why aren’t we teaching kids HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES? I know if there was a class called Self Care it would be ridiculed to fuck but honestly…

…why did I struggle through algebra which I haven’t used since THEN, and nobody explained the basics of how to do my taxes?

*steps down from soap box*
*dusts off*