Every student, especially the smart and motivated ones (yes, you!), has had this thought. Maybe it hits during a struggle with logarithms, while writing an essay on medieval serfdom, or in the middle of memorizing French verb conjugations. If you’ve felt that frustration, you are not alone.
In a world that constantly tells you to focus on practical, job-ready skills, it’s a perfectly logical question. But what if the point of these classes isn’t the “stuff” at all? What if the real, lasting lesson is the mental muscle you’re building—the skills that will serve you long after the specific formulas and dates are forgotten?
It’s Not About the Content, It’s About the Training
We often assume education is about downloading information that will get us a job. But a better way to think about it is as a training ground for your mind. The real purpose of these challenging classes is to turn you into a person who can adapt, learn, and thrive as the world inevitably changes around you.
The specific problems are like weights in a gym. It doesn’t matter if you’ll ever need to lift that exact dumbbell again; what matters is the strength you build by doing it. This is the strength that prepares you for unforeseen challenges.
The Hidden Curriculum in Every Class
The skills you develop are far more multifaceted than they appear on the surface. For instance,
- In Math class, you’re learning to communicate. Of course, you’re using logic and the grammar of algebra. But you are also learning to communicate your thinking clearly to an audience—your teacher, your classmates, and even your future self who might look back at your notes. This is the bedrock of technical and persuasive communication.
- In History class, you’re learning empathy. Getting the names and dates right is just the start. The real work is understanding the human experience of a different time—the pressures, motivations, and social forces shaping people’s lives. This skill allows you to understand different perspectives in our own time and even imagine how our modern age will look to the future.
Future-Proofing Your Career (and Your Life)
If parents and teachers were honest, they’d admit they don’t know for sure if you’ll use logarithms or the history of the Thirty Years’ War in your job. In all likelihood, they’ve gotten along just fine without ever using them!
However, there is one thing they know from hard-won experience: you will face unexpected challenges. They know some job skills will become obsolete while new ones emerge. They know you will have to work in teams with diverse personalities and cultural backgrounds. The most valuable “skill” of all is not knowing a specific formula, but being the person who can figure things out, work with others, and learn something new when it’s required.
Ask a Better Question
Instead of asking, “Will I ever use this specific piece of information again?” try reframing the question:
“How can this class make me a better thinker, learner, and person?”
Use the time to broaden your knowledge of people and the world. The great challenges of the future—from global cooperation to technological disruption—will require every skill you’re building right now. They will demand your ability to think critically, understand others, and communicate complex ideas.
And that is something you will use every single day.
