What's 'Adulting 101' Crash Course That Assists Gen Z In Basic Life Skills
Several Gen Z students admit they wish they had learnt these skills sooner because they feel anxious and overwhelmed while navigating daily life.
Aldhen Garcia, a first-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), claimed that he does not own a car and lacks several essential life skills, such as sewing and tyre changing.
"I have no idea how to change a tyre. I don't even own a car. I don't know how to sew. Other than cooking, I'm not really good at many things," Mr Garcia said on CBC's 'The Current '.
Mr Garcia also has money-related concerns, such as mortgages, interest rates, and rent payments. "I believe that teaching financial literacy to children is important. A lot of stuff involves money," he said.
She is not alone.
Bella Hudson, a third-year student at the TMU, echoed Mr Garcia, saying education on becoming an adult is lacking in several fields. "I wish that they had classes that educated how to manage yourself and manage your life," Ms Hudson said on 'The Current,'
Now, multiple post-secondary educational institutions have introduced additional resources, such as classes and information sessions, to help students acquire basic life skills, The NY Post reported.
In 2023, the University of Waterloo created an online course called 'Adulting 101' to teach students everything, from how to avoid setting your kitchen on fire to how to have meaningful relationships.
The course also aims to assist students in managing their responsibilities while providing them with knowledge about key life skills such as basic nutrition, household upkeep, and grocery shop navigation.
According to experts, Gen Z in particular is losing out on important skills since they were not given enough independence.
San Diego State University psychology professor Jean Twenge, author of 'Generations,' claimed that today's young adults were entering adulthood with empty arsenals.
According to Ms Twenge, members of the Gen Z demographic - those born between 1997 and 2012 - had fewer opportunities to acquire practical skills growing up.
She blamed prolonged adolescence and "helicopter parenting," further exacerbated by the growing number of young adults living with their parents.
Although she is in favour of 'Adulting 101' crash courses, Ms Twenge feels the real fix begins sooner because ignorance of basic life skills is expensive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Exhibition on Telugu freedom fighters opens at Salar Jung Museum
A photo exhibition celebrating prominent Telugu freedom fighters and the evolution of the Indian National Flag was inaugurated at the Salar Jung Museum on Thursday. Organised by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the event forms part of its Integrated Communication and Outreach Programme. Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament V. Vijayendra Prasad and University of Hyderabad Vice-Chancellor Prof. B. Jagadeeshwar Rao jointly inaugurated the exhibition, which features around 40 panels on the lives and struggles of unsung heroes such as Turrebaz Khan, Moulvi Allauddin, Kaloji Narayana Rao, Sangam Laxmi Bayamma, Kumram Bheem and Suddala Hanumanthu. Mr. Prasad described the display as a rare collection that should be widely shared with the younger generation. He emphasised that the Indian flag is a symbol of the nation's self-respect and pride, and that every citizen should uphold these values. Mr. Rao noted that such initiatives preserve history and instil patriotism. As part of the event, CBC Hyderabad also held essay and Telugu poetry competitions on patriotic themes, with winners from five city colleges receiving prizes and certificates from the dignitaries. CBC Additional Director General Shruti Patil said the exhibition is aimed to connect today's youth with the sacrifices and bravery of their forebears. The exhibition will remain open to the public till August 17, 2025.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Patriarchy to Power: The evolving meaning of freedom for Indian women
Written by Neha Mithun Rathod Seventy-eight years after Independence, the meaning of freedom for Indian women has evolved. From mere survival in the shadows of the Partition era to self-expression in the glow of social media, Indian women have come a long way to reclaim their freedom. Women across generations reveal how the times have changed their own perception of independence. Family decided, we obeyed: Nirmala Jain (81) 'We never spoke about self-ambitions and personal goals,' recalls 84-year-old Nirmala Jain, her eyes reflecting years of restraint. Born to Babulal and Jaraviben in Sildar, Rajasthan, Nirmala was the eldest of ten siblings and took charge of household chores from a very young age. Her days began before sunrise—fetching water, kneading dough, helping her mother—before attending lessons with masterji, who taught numbers, letters, and religious texts. By 14, she was married, meeting her husband for the first time at the mandap. 'No one asked whether we were ready. The family decided everything, and we obeyed,' she says. For women of her time, freedom meant small certainties: knowing everyone at home was safe, traditions were upheld, and the household ran smoothly. Now settled in Pune's Timber Market, Jain remains close to the community of families who migrated alongside hers, a living reminder of the shared histories that framed her early years. Raised daughters to think independently: Nirmala Chowhan (71) The next generation widened the definition—cautiously. Nirmala Amin Chowhan, raised in a traditional South Indian home, valued education as a ticket to better living. She graduated, took up a typewriting job, and married by choice. Navigating an interfaith marriage and two cultures, she raised daughters to think independently. At 71, in her Viman Nagar apartment, she still tutors children. 'It keeps me busy and my sense of independence alive,' she says. Living life without asking for permissions constantly: Sunita Muzumdar (57) 'For me, freedom has always meant making my own decisions—living life without constantly asking for permission or fearing judgment,' says Sunita Muzumdar, 57. Knowledge has been her compass, guiding her to stand up for what she deserves. 'Society's pressures have eased, and the new generation of women no longer gives in all the time.' Sunita's perspective is shaped by the life she sees in her daughter, currently studying abroad. 'She's growing up in a world with possibilities my generation could only dream of,' Sunita says. With a husband in marketing and a daughter leading the way as a flagbearer of Gen Z independence, Sunita views the next generation as both inspiration and promise. Children asking for freedom liberated me too: Bhakti Sharma (52) For 52-year-old Bhakti Sharma, freedom arrived as a mid-life awakening. Raised in a traditional Punjabi family in Amritsar, she had wings in education but limits in opportunity. Her husband designs bomb suits for defence, but for years Bhakti did her own kind of shielding—putting her family's needs ahead of her dream to become a chartered accountant. The turning point came when her grown children asked for their freedom. 'It made me realise how much I had surrendered,' she says. At 45, she enrolled in a skills course alongside students her children's age. 'Freedom isn't about breaking away—it's about reclaiming the parts of yourself you left behind.' Today, she trains others in soft skills, helping them overcome self-doubt and step into their full potential. Make safe choices, protect yourself: Poonam Oswal (52) For Poonam Oswal, 52, Chairperson of JITO Ladies Wing, Pune, freedom isn't just a career choice or economic autonomy—it's also knowing how to protect yourself. 'If you're going out alone, learning to make safe choices is freedom. Trusting your instincts and knowing how to protect yourself gives power. Women must learn to read people, to see who is genuine and who isn't. We are in times when being naive is dangerous. Freedom now also means awareness and courage, not just independence.' Physical, mental well-being true freedom: Mona Lodha (40) Mona Lodha, 40, is one of them. 'I grew up in a home where customs prevailed, yet I knew I wanted a career,' she says. From a national rope Mallakhamb player to an interior designer and now a real estate agent, she has learned that freedom isn't always about dramatic leaps—it is the quiet power to shape your own path. She leads platforms like Inner Wheel, Rotary Club, and JITO in Pune, steering community service and national-level networking. A health crisis in her early 30s deepened her understanding of freedom. 'That experience sharpened my belief that my mental and physical well-being is the truest form of freedom—the ability to live fully and on one's own terms.' Earn own money, live my life my way: Diya Bafna (22) And for Gen Z, freedom is a completely different ballgame—louder, bolder, and unapologetically their own. At 22, Diya Bafna isn't waiting for permission—she's claiming her space with flair. A Pune-based YouTuber and influencer with over 145k Instagram followers, she makes waves across fashion, food, and finance, proving that knowledge and style can go hand in hand. 'Freedom? It's about speaking up, doing your thing, and not letting anyone tell you who to be,' she says. 'I want to make my own choices, earn my own money, and live life my way—no approvals, no judgment.' Bafna is pursuing a PG in Luxury Brand Management while completing her Certified Financial Planning certification. She earns over a lakh a month from her content, enough to fully support herself and reinvest in her ventures. 'I set my own rules—and trust me, that's liberating,' she adds. Her content isn't just lifestyle; it's influenced with intention. Diya blends financial advice with relatable stories, empowering other young women to take control of their money, careers, and choices. Over seven decades after Independence, Indian women have moved from survival to self-expression, from silence to voice, from tradition-bound roles to deliberate choices. And while each generation builds upon the gains of the last, the journey toward full freedom—especially financial freedom—is an ongoing one, empowering women not just to live, but to shape the lives they desire. (Neha Mithun Rathod is an intern with The Indian Express)
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Breaking the cycle: Becoming the parent you once needed
The parenting revolution: Here's how to raise kids without repeating your own childhood pain (Image: iStock) The way we raise our kids often mirrors how we were raised. If you grew up in the '80s or '90s, you might remember a style of parenting that was heavy on rules and light on conversations. Emotions were not exactly welcome at the dinner table and 'because I said so' was a complete explanation. Our parents did the best they could with what they knew but times have changed and so should our approach. Children today are growing up in an entirely different world. Information is everywhere. Independence comes earlier. Influence seeps in from every screen they hold. Gen Z and the ones coming after them are sharper, more outspoken and more aware than we ever were. In an interview with TOI, Dr Sundeep Kochar, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach, TedX Alumnus and Celebrity Astrologer, shared, "If you grew up feeling invisible or misunderstood, you've been handed a rare gift: the chance to stop that cycle in its tracks. You can choose to parent differently. To be more than a provider. To be the guide you wish you had, the friend you could confide in, the mentor who taught without shaming." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI now helps people speak languages fast Talkpal AI Undo Growing up invisible? Here's how to be the parent you always needed (Image: TOI) Kids today don't need someone hovering with a rulebook; they need someone who sees them for who they are. They thrive when they have room to explore, knowing there is a steady hand ready to catch them if they fall. Dr Sundeep Kochar suggested, "Your experience isn't meant to fence them in, it's meant to light the path ahead and here's the thing: children reflect back what you give them. If you speak with kindness, they'll learn kindness. If you listen without jumping in, they'll feel heard. If you love without strings, they'll grow into people who trust without fear. That's how respect is built, not demanded. Wisdom isn't something you lecture into them. It's something they absorb when they feel safe enough to learn from you. So, show them by living it. Be the calm in their storm. Be the one they can turn to without hesitation." Your childhood doesn't define your parenting: Here's how to rewrite the script Many adults today are raising children while still recovering from their own upbringing. They find themselves caught in patterns of harsh discipline, emotional distance or neglect, not because they choose to repeat these cycles but because those patterns are deeply ingrained. Talking about how becoming the parent you never had is not just a healing act for your child, it is a rebirth for your inner self, Dr Mickey Mehta, Global Holistic Health Guru and Spiritual Life Coach, said, "Breaking generational patterns requires self-awareness and conscious effort. Today, it is important that you heal before you parent. Unhealed trauma often shows up as overcontrol, emotional unavailability or projection." Studies in neuroscience reveal that early adverse experiences alter brain pathways but the brain remains plastic. Dr Mickey Mehta advised, "Mindfulness, breathwork, therapy and journalling can help rewire these pathways. When we become present, we respond instead of reacting, creating safer emotional spaces for our children. Parenting starts by observing your child with fresh eyes. Instead of imposing what was imposed on you, ask: 'What does my child need at this moment?' Children are not vessels to be filled but seeds to be nurtured. Every word, every gaze is an affirmation or a wound. In earlier times, children were tightly controlled. Parents imposed their will completely but today, there is a beautiful rebellion in children—a revolution for independence. They are asserting: "We are individuals. We want to do what we want. We want to be free, to be liberated, to make our own choices. Even our mistakes should be our own." They want the space to fall, to rise and to learn through their own experience." Your calm is their safe place: The secret to raising resilient kids (Image: TOI) Many parents come into the role by accident. Yet, accidental parents sometimes become the most wonderful ones because nothing is predefined. When there is a strict structure, a plan or a continuous monitoring mechanism, the natural blossoming of a child is affected. Dr Mickey Mehta asserted, "Children should flower freely to be naturally fragrant, naturally sweetened and naturally colourful. In their fragility lies the true fruition of growth. Being vulnerable and being sensitive is essential. Many adults grew up earning love through performance, good grades, quiet behaviour, obedience. This sets a child on a lifelong chase for approval. Offer unconditional positive regard. Let them fail safely. Validate their emotions without rescuing or judging." Stop parenting from your past, start parenting from their future If parents truly understand the elasticity of the brain, they would not rush their children into fixed time frames or force them into boxes of excellence. Instead, they would allow space for exploration. The expression of childhood, its innocence, wonder and curiosity should be celebrated as the true excellence of upbringing. When we drop constant evaluations and comparisons, we allow the child to be like a butterfly, flying freely among flowers, sipping nectar from wherever they feel called. Dr Mickey Mehta highlighted, "Open, non-judgmental environments become the breeding ground for joyful, grounded and successful children. Success, then, is not defined by report cards or rankings but by how enthusiastically a child wakes up, how peacefully they sleep, how eagerly they cuddle their parents. It's in their willingness to play and to study, to laugh freely, to run towards someone who opens their arms and their heart. You may not always have the right words, but your presence, grounded, calm and non-judgmental, heals more than any technique. Tell them, 'I believe in you,' 'It's okay to feel sad,' 'You are safe with me.' Be their secure base, not their supervisor. Hug longer. Listen deeper. Laugh freely. Allow them to be, not who you want but who they are becoming." Breaking the cycle means becoming conscious of what you lacked, acknowledging what you needed and choosing to give your child the emotional nourishment you missed. Parenting then becomes not a task but a sacred journey of evolving together.
