Executive summary: If in doubt about what to study, pick mathematics, English, a language, a science and an art.
One of the great privileges, and challenges, of learning in our times is choice. Compared with learners 50 years ago, students enjoy far more curriculum options today, but many students in the 2020s will tell you they aren’t sure what to study. What happened to knowing all your life what you wanted to be?
If you’re
not sure
what to learn,
learn the basics
Well, in part that was always an illusion; but to the extent that it’s real, the problem is related to the type of options on offer. Your school days are an extraordinary opportunity to receive an academic grounding. In most traditional school subjects, this means climbing a staircase of concepts, principles, laws, experiences, tests, and (yes) errors.
You’ll hear it said that school days are indeed an opportunity, but that they are principally an opportunity to prepare yourself for your life and career ahead. I would suggest you downplay that viewpoint. If you focus on fundamental subjects, I believe you can build your productive potential while keeping your later options open. If you specialize too early – and I’m referring to taking more “applied” subjects at school – you’ll have the sensation that you are preparing for the “real world”, but in fact you’ll find your options narrowing.
Be careful of courses that offer skills in project management, technical writing, business theory, modern political themes, etc. They may be rich in skills and ideas that you can easily pick up later. If in doubt, embrace a core syllabus of fundamental subjects: mathematics, English, a science, a language, an art. If such a syllabus can teach you some relatively ageless principles, in a structured, coherent and interesting way, giving you the chance to receive, process, retain and express thoughts in a variety of contexts, it will prepare you excellently for the life and learning that lie ahead.
The bottom line: If you’re not sure what to learn, learn the basics. Pick the “old-school” subjects, and sharpen yourself on what they have to offer. There is time enough to harness your learning to specific applications later on.