There are many things we need to know that we do not learn at school．For example, if we want to use our money wisely, we need to shop carefully．We need to know how to compare the prices of things in different shops．We need to be able to compare the quality of different brands．We need to know how to make best choices when we shop．
Knowing how to make such choices is a“life skill”, and we need these skills if we are to lead useful and happy lives．
Some of these choices are small．For example, will I take an apple for lunch or a pear? Will I get the bus to school today or will I walk? Will I wear the red T-shirt or the blue one to the movies? Other choices are more important．For example, will I eat healthy food for lunch or will I eat junk food because it is tastier? Will I work hard in all my classes or will I only work hard in the classes I enjoy? We make decisions like this every day．
Making the wrong choices can result in unhappiness．We have to realize that the choices we make can affect the rest of our lives．Just as importantly, our choices can also affect other people．The next time you decide to waste time in class, play a joke on someone or talk loudly at the movies, consider this：who else does your choice affect?