Things To Know: Moving Out

This class teaches practical life issues with which most people will deal in the course of their life. I recommend teaching them to your children so they are prepared once they leave your house. It is informative and interesting.

Things To Know: Leaving Home

Adulthood is not for sissies.

You're graduating into a world where employers get mad, dishwashers break, and money is hard to come by.

You now pay the bills.

There will be times when you can’t afford things. This is no reason to give up. You should persevere and believe God.

A six-figure salary, a splashy condo, and a Beamer take time.

Just because things get difficult, it’s no reason to believe God is on vacation.

Persevere in the face of disappointment.

Just because you can’t afford a plasma TV or designer clothing is no reason to be upset.

The media are selling you on a lifestyle to which most people do not attain.

The cure for sitting around feeling miserable and depressed is to go outside and find somebody to serve.

Many companies would prefer not to see your tattoos. Or your nose ring.

The successful person does things other people don’t like to do.

If you sleep around, it will get around.

The quickest way to get rid of a crowd of people is to start talking about you.

If you don’t know what you're talking about, stay silent.

Do not believe everything you hear.

One of the signs of a loser is to never plan ahead. Going with the flow usually means going down the drain.

The difference between the governments of the United States and China. Voting, for starters.

Boasting makes people wonder what’s really wrong with you.

How to carry a conversation without using profanity.

The names of our enemies (i.e., Bin Laden, Chavez, Hussein, Al-Zawahiri, and Kin Jong-Il).

Enough math skills to determine if you can pass up the next gas station.

To not mumble. Twenty-years-old may understand each other, but nobody else does.

How to defend a position without yelling, swearing, or door slamming. And it’s a bonus if you know what you're talking about.

Telling the truth drastically limits one’s chances of being humiliated, fired, or sued.

Things You Should Know Before...

Leaving Home

Know that in 5 years you do not have to be the same person you are today. You could have earned a degree, fed the hungry in another country, or defended your country.

Know that victims are never happy.

Know to not wait until things get really bad to start a prayer life.

Know you’ll feel a lot better if you get a good night’s sleep. Exhaustion can make things seem darker.

Know that if you make one person’s life easier today, God will be pleased. Start with your parents….

Know that truly independent people don’t scream they are independent with their hand held out.

Know many employers would not like to see tattoos and nose rings.

Know successful people do things others do not like to do.

Know that if you sleep around, it will get around.

Keep up with what’s going on in the world.

You can be personally sued for your stupid actions.

You should consider that you could be wrong.

Know that one of the best tools for not looking dumb is to ask questions.

Know that it is impossible to learn anything while talking.

Refrain from sending any e-mail written in the heat of the moment. In certain circumstances, it could be used as evidence.

You should know to not naively believe everyone is good and has your best interest at heart.

You should know the quickest way to get rid of a crowd of people is to start talking about yourself.

You should know that if they don’t know what you’re talking about, stay silent.

Know to not believe everything you hear.

Know that one of the signs of a loser is to never plan ahead. Going with the flow usually means going down the drain.

Know the difference between the governments of the United States and China. Voting, for starters.

Know that boasting makes people wonder what’s really wrong with you.

Know how to carry a conversation without using profanity.

Things Teens Should Know Before...

Leaving Home

They should know life isn’t about avoiding struggles, but overcoming them.

They should know young adulthood means apartments are smaller, clothes are cheaper, money is tighter, and public transportation could be involved.

They should know that the solution to running low on money isn’t to start spending more.

They should know the world is filled with unreasonable people. And they may work for one of them.

They should know that having to pass up partying to work late doesn’t mean their life has turned hard.

They should know to seek the advice of a mentor. Not the wisdom of their unemployed friends.

They should know that – contrary to popular belief – the amount of money people spend isn’t indicative of their wealth, but of their values.

They should know that Bill Gates lost $40 billion in eighteen months, Donald Trump declared bankruptcy, and Michael Jordan couldn’t make his high school basketball team.

They should know college and graduate school are hard and time-consuming…and just warm-ups for life.

They should know that if they’re trying to keep up with their rich friends, they’ve lost their priorities.

They should know people often work years on one business deal just to see it collapse. The successful ones move on.

They should know successful people don’t take rejection personally.

They should know overcoming difficult times is how people gain self-respect…. And the respect of others.

They should know that self-discipline is a key to solving life’s problems.

They should know to never lose their belief in miracles.

They should know the secret to solving paralyzing problems isn’t to take to the couch, but to start taking action…

They should know that life’s challenges make stronger, better, healthier, more spiritual, and more grateful human beings.

They should know that the fear of pain can make people goofy.

Excerpt from 1001 Things Every Teen Should Know Before They Leave Home, by Harry H. Harrison