There’s a well-known quote that gives the best answer to the question of why study business in high school. And it sounds like, It is easier to build up a child than it is to repair an adult. We could have put a full stop here and gone no further in explanation, but it’s evident that every idea or theory should be confirmed in order to settle down in your mind. So here we go.
It’s a fact that over 50% of business owners aren’t college graduates meaning that these present-day entrepreneurs had to learn how to run their business elsewhere. And there are two options for such knowledge acquisition: evening business courses as an adult or business studies in high school. The latter option is way more beneficial, of course, since the sooner a person is involved in the world of business (even if theoretically), the fewer mistakes they will make.
Answering Why Study Business in High School Through The List of Benefits
To begin with, there are a lot more than four benefits to describe why studying business in high school is a must. Nevertheless, we’re cutting the list to four universal advantages that match the majority of future business endeavors.
- Skill set development
A hard experience is one that skips the theoretical stage and streamlines to real actions. Many actions are, consequently, false. This is why many businesses thrive through the first 6 months and then vanish, leaving their owners dragging behind in depression and low self-esteem.
We know nothing or very little about business unless we start reading, analyzing, and discussing on a theoretical level. The high school period is a perfect chance to start with theory before proceeding to action. Creativity and collaboration are the two basic skills developed during a basic high-school business education program. When well-developed, the skills of collaboration and creativity first attract the majority of recruiters and, in time, characterize the best leaders.
- Problem/Opportunity recognition
Why do some people identify the problems before they affect their business while others deal with them after the most processed collapse? It’s because some people have an eye to see the issue, while others can’t analyze things or think ahead properly.
When engaged in school business education, students face real-life examples and, based on them, learn how to recognize the first signs of issues and prepare more than one solution to deal with most outcomes. Having the eye to see what comes next means seeing opportunities instead of burdens, dealing with difficulties instead of losing heart, and incorporating expanded skills instead of finding outside experts.
- Flexibility
Many high school, business education opponents are dwelling that teenagers hardly know their next steps tomorrow, not talking about after-college life. They say that the future is so unstable that there’s no need to press upon students with extra courses until they know they really need this knowledge.
However, business education is not about formulas and graphs. It’s all about being flexible and open to any directions that one is led to. With proper business skills gained at a young age, a person can move from job to job, from industry to industry, and from one successful startup idea to another one. That’s the flexibility that 90% of adults lack.
- Swimming in corporate waters
Business is about diplomacy and tricks. If you are not into it, you are on the surface of a swimming pool rather than diving in. Business studies at school are focused on preparing students to live real life rather than a livelihood. Alongside simply learning basic things, high school students can undergo personality development, master the art of building and managing business, stay updated about the world around them, and view a team as one of the greatest resources.
Study Business in High School: What Should In-Class Education Include
To study business in high school in a proper way, it’s essential to concentrate on important subjects, faculties, and courses within the high school program. The approach seems quite complex for a teenager. There’s a quite broad list one can dive into, including management and economics, accounting and finance, law, and even psychology – everything that leads to picking up handy skill sets and a deep understanding of basic marketing tools.
The list of subjects can be identified by the tasks that future business professionals can handle: Will that be financial records management or operations, workforce or international arena? It’s better to focus on subjects that will teach about diverse business aspects instead of focusing on one only. Start with math.
What math should you choose for business education? The greatest benefit of a high-school math course is that it covers many diverse concepts. Among them are:
- Data
- Number interpretation
- Graphs
- Pre-calculus
- Algebra 1 and 2
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Honors Classes
- Calculus
- AP Classes
- Computer Science
Having skills in all of the concepts is necessary for finding and identifying solutions to diverse business issues that one’s future career will offer. But those who want to dive deeper typically join online academies for part-time or alternative enrollment. In such places, students choose courses that can provide some practical and comprehensive foundation for math.
Concentrating on math solely is, however, the wrong way to go. Business education isn’t limited to numbers only. One should concentrate on critical thinking skills and those for:
- Accounting because it is the main business language with its numerous concepts: financial management, tax compliance, business valuation, business-investor relationships, and risk management.
- Business leadership to guide the business to achieve positive results, increase profit, and invest in further growth.
- Time management for stress reduction, time prioritization, better results, and productivity growth.
To achieve all this, a math course should also go alongside subjects in accounting and marketing, financial planning and creative writing, entrepreneurship, and communications.
In the new era, special attention should be paid to classes on digital technologies and computer studies. They provide students with a general working knowledge of software programs and applications. This is where a student learns keyboard techniques and masters simple software programs to process documents and spreadsheets, create presentations, and even web pages. Diving deeper, students can learn how to organize data, code simple programs, use online resources, and even troubleshoot common computer issues.
In addition, much attention should be paid to extracurricular activities hosted by local as well as national clubs that are usually available to high school students. Their list is provided by Niche.com.
Study Business in High School Through Extracurricular Activities
In this case, extracurricular doesn’t stand for finding opportunities outside the school building. In fact, after 3-4 typical school classes, it’s possible to find extra activities to strengthen the business skills gained in class.
- Find a business class
If there’s a business-focused educational program in school, there are business clubs. Mind their focus, and feel free to join more than one at different times to cover finance, time management, marketing, etc. Through visiting such classes, one can immerse into the world of business culture, participate in business workshops, and have connections to invited business professionals.
- Find a mentor
A mentor is a successful businessman you admire and who can share their knowledge and contacts with you. Most teenagers’ dream indeed is to have someone like Elon Musk or Bill Gates as a mentor. But a more realistic expectation is to try and find someone from your area or community to discuss business interests and approach them with a question if they’d be willing to mentor you alongside your educational journey. Interview them, write down their advice, and learn from their mistakes. Keep in mind that there also exist different mentorship programs suggested by business schools for free.
- Follow the news
Back up the theoretical knowledge gained during classes with real-life stories from publication sources, podcasts, YouTube videos, and more. To start with, concentrate on what is published by business gurus like The Economist, Bloomberg Business, Forbes, The Financial Times, or Being Boss Podcast.
- Consider summer sessions at a college
Such sessions are directed at creating simulations where students can experience building a company and managing one. A few-week course typically makes a student face real-life challenges and learn from presentations introduced by real businessmen. The good news is that most universities offer them for free. The bad one is that the list of those wishing to join is sometimes pretty long, so the sooner you apply, the better.
Final Thoughts
It is crucial to understand that profound business education is a must, even for those who have no plans to start their own business but would rather be a part of hired personnel. Any average employee needs this knowledge to grow professionally and stay in demand. That’s why business education while in high school is not an option but a necessity for future growth.
