Based on the minimum working age in the U.S., the minimum age you can start driving a car, the minimum age you can join the military, the minimum age you can start smoking, your introduction to self-sufficiency begins long before you graduate from high school.
But, there seems to be a trend among college students to limit their exposure to the harsh realities of the real world, the same luxuries they had under the blanket of protection provided by their parents. They probably still have parental control search engine filters activated on their college laptops.
With the possible exception of students on a debate team, the vast majority of high school students are taught rudimentary functional work skills. Is this correct? Take a quick two question survey:
Here are some recent articles about College Safe Spaces and Trigger Warnings:
- Mitch Albom: Is 'safe space' concept being abused on campus?
- Safe spaces on campus? How about just growing up
- You won't find safe spaces here, UC dean tells freshmen
- When Did 'Safe Spaces' Become a Thing?
- Millennials even want safe spaces from sex, study finds
Most unsettling about the real world is being unprepared for messages that are false or dangerously misleading. Living at home and going to school in a carefully supervised environment leaves you without a healthy sense of skepticism. The most important lesson is that you must be skeptical of every piece of information placed in your hands, even if it's from someone you trust, because they may not know better themselves.
Critical Thinking Skills are essential for finding the truth and learning who can be trusted.