Educational Preparedness for the Next Level: Life Beyond High School

School is a building block toward vital life skills. Students often ask, “How is this assignment going to prepare me for the outside world?” Great question! Everything is relevant, from arriving at school before the late bell to having assignments ready to submit by the deadline and even walking to and from classes. By graduation, students will achieve readiness beyond knowing how to read, write, and perform mathematical equations. Both taking out the trash and hanging out with friends are part of the requirements for living a balanced life. Every conversation with family members, coaches, teachers, strangers, and friends provides an experience for the future.

Understanding Budgets

A steady paycheck with a plan to pay bills can lead to a feeling of financial security. Include in your budget money for an emergency, such as an automotive repair, doctor bill, or losing a job. Start with a system to create a balanced budget. While computer software programs offer a bill-pay system, another viable option is to use a spreadsheet or notebook. Be aware of due dates to alleviate paying unnecessary finance charges. Credit cards can help young adults establish credit and offer incentives, such as cashback or points; however, the cards must be part of a workable budget and paid monthly!

Running a Household

Employers want to know young adults have more than just book skills. Questions will arise to measure a candidate’s ability to work independently and complete various self-sufficient and labor-related jobs. Young adults should invest in

Educational Preparedness for the Next Level: LIFE BEYOND

HIGH SCHOOL

life skills, such as sweeping, cleaning countertops, sorting, washing, and folding laundry, running appliances, using hand tools, and taking care of oneself. The ability to maintain a clean, orderly home life is a requisite to a balanced life.

Managing Time Wisely

Of course, you can juggle. You’ve already realized it’s not easy to balance homework and projects, extracurricular activities, a part-time job, family and friends. Life requires every adult to manage multiple personal and professional priorities. Each day may result in a new worry or crisis that could consume your time. Remember, your reputation and work ethic depend on fulfilling particular requirements, such as arriving on time, dressing appropriately for the occasion, using a personal calendar, tracking appointments, meeting deadlines, and maintaining open communication.

Develop Strong Communication Skills

Every meeting with a friend or a stranger is an interview. Remember to shake hands, maintain eye contact, be respectful, listen, and wait to respond. Body language tells friends and acquaintances everything they need to know before you say one word. It can foster likeability; therefore, focus on how you appear. Do you fidget, break eye-contact, use your hands wildly, or touch your face when speaking? All those qualities can give the impression that you are either lying or anxious. Learn to read other people’s body language by figuring out what they are thinking or feeling. Public speaking is just one form of communication. How well do you BY LISA S.T. DOSS work with others? Can you take verbal directions and follow them? Do you pull your weight in projects? From creating a resume and cover letter to writing a complaint letter about a product, it is vital to organize thoughts concisely while targeting a specific audience. Always spell out words, try to avoid contractions, and reread every letter before sending it.

Accepting Feedback Gracefully

Reflection is part of every task. It’s important to wonder, “Did I do the job well?” Were the expectations met, and how could I improve? In the effort to learn from mistakes, criticism may surface. Young adults should practice setting aside their emotional responses and focus on constructive comments. Take time to accept feedback and respond positively.

Making Relationship Decisions

Relationships require dedication and work, from friends to work colleagues. The association may require a specific emphasis, comprising, perhaps, kindness, respect, responsibility, dependability, or trust. It’s vital to set standards for each of your relationships. You may not always like a boss or a brother-in-law, but respect and fairness can make connections flourish. Holding a high standard can create a quality life, if leaving a high-stress work environment or separating from an abusive relationship. Young adults may know their way around a technological device, but the goal of living a balanced life involves selfsufficiency, ethical decision making, and getting along with difficult associates.

Straw Bale Garden Wonders

Finally, there is an answer to an organic gardener’s prayers—straw bales! It’s clever when you consider that this medium holds in moisture, prevents weed seedlings from forming, and is the ultimate vessel to grow herbs, vegetables, flowers, and various ornamental plants. With the aid of water, and a small amount of potting soil and fertilizer, the straw gradually breaks down, providing well-needed nutrients throughout the growing season. It is the perfect solution for anyone who has poor soil conditions, lacks mobility, or seeks an economical means to enjoy the fruits of gardening!

The Difference between Hay and Straw

The medium will make a difference in the outcome of your endeavor; therefore, use straw. Hay is a grass, which comprises alfalfa. The attached seeds will result in the germination of unwanted weeds. Straw, on the other hand, is made from the leftover stalks of oats and wheat. Since the tops and the seeds are removed during the harvest, straw is essentially a weed-free natural raised bed! However, ensure your purchase is, in fact, organic and not sprayed with pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

Getting Started

Find a location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight and near a water source! Be sure of your spot; bales soaked across the next 12 days will be unmovable! To prevent weeds from growing into the bundle, place a barrier, such as a tarp or cardboard underneath. If arranging multiple bales, think about accessing the middle. You may consider forming the shape of a “U” or “L” As the decomposition process occurs, expect shrinkage. One option is to fill in the open spaces with additional compost. DAYS ONE TO THREE: The conditioning process takes roughly two weeks. The goal is to transition each bale into a proper

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

environment for growing plants. Begin by soaking each bale thoroughly with water, and repeat on days two and three. With help from the sun, the microorganisms will activate and raise the internal temperature.

If you wonder how many plants could

DAYS FOUR THROUGH SIX: Across three days, sprinkle over each bale one full cup of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0). A source promoting high levels of nitrogen will increase decomposition while conditioning. Then, water thoroughly! DAYS SEVEN THROUGH NINE: Cut the fertilizer amount in half, and afterward, water! DAY TEN: Just water the bales to maintain levels of moisture! DAY ELEVEN: Feel the bale. If it’s too hot, it requires more water. Wait one more day! Warm bundles are adequate hosts for plants.

What to Plant

Creativity opens the door to planting to grow water-consuming plants such as melons, pumpkins, or squash. Due to the medium and shape, consider using the ready-made pockets to grow potatoes or strawberries. Straw bales are an inexpensive solution to increase your yield of cucumbers or beans. You’ll need wood stakes tall enough to anchor into the ground. (Be wary of using metal. It can heat and scorch your crops.) Other options are peppers, eggplant, lettuce, herbs, zucchini, and squash.

various herbs or an alternative space

accommodate one bale:

• two or three tomato plants (depending on your choice in using stakes or cages) • two squash plants • six pepper plants • six cucumber plants • ten to twelve strawberry plants (using the sides, too!)

Maintenance

Think of your straw bale garden as a raised bed. It requires water, especially in the heat of the late summer, and perhaps daily. Gardeners who dislike feeding the wildlife may want to invest in chicken fencing or bird netting for the wandering rabbit, raccoon, or larger animal. Straw bale gardening has a proven success rate without the fear of overwatering, the necessity for crop rotation or amending the soil. You can increase the number of bales or decrease it, depending on the amount you wish to grow. At the end of the season, allow the bales to decompose. The result is compost, a healthy mulch to nourish plants!