by Katherine O'Brien, MA CCPS, Founder of Celtic College Consultants
Regarding Working
1.
Write a cover letter and resume.
2.
Send a professional email to a potential employer
or a colleague.
3.
Search online for open positions/jobs you are
interested in.
4.
Make a call inquiring about a position.
5.
Create and maintain a LinkedIn profile.
6.
Keep all social media posts appropriate for the
kind of work you are doing and/or hope to do.
7.
Prepare for a job interview by researching the
company via its website and social media.
8.
Know how to dress for a job interview.
9.
Know how to behave for an interview, with
talking points about qualifications for the position, questions for the
interviewer about the position and company, and small talk to fill in any gaps
in the conversation.
Regarding Finances
10. Create
a monthly budget.
11. Monitor
your spending.
12. Limit
expenditures to what is within the budget.
13. Know
how to plan meals and grocery shop and maintain a healthy diet and within the
budget.
14. Know
how to manage your finances, balance your accounts, transfer money to other
accounts, withdraw money, pay bills, monitor balances.
15. Look
for an apartment within a budget.
16. Be
able to track expenses, prepare taxes, and maintain organized records.
Regarding Relationships
17. Work
out living arrangements and shared costs in an equitable and agreed upon manner
with his or her roommates.
18. Successfully
negotiate issues of privacy, tidiness, cleanliness, expenses, responsibilities,
guests, etc. with his/her roommate(s).
19. Be
able to move into a new apartment or dorm room without parental assistance.
20. If
living away from home, call home regularly without reminders. Texting is ok but regular calls are essential;
hearing each other’s voices is important.
21. Remember
and do something for family birthdays and holidays without being reminded.
22. Know
how to buy and deliver a gift for family and friends.
23. Write/email
thank you notes when others do kind things for you.
24. Answer
texts and emails within a reasonable amount of time, especially if they are
from Mom or Dad.
25. Nurture
and maintain your own relationships with relatives and family friends.
Regarding Health
26. Be
able to find a doctor, clinic, urgent care clinic, and emergency room that
takes your insurance without help.
27. Know
how to schedule a doctor’s appointment and keep it.
28. Know
how to use health insurance and keep records of medical expenses.
29. Be
able to fill and refill a prescription.
30. Know
your own health history and basic health history of your parents.
31. Know
how to listen to your body’s needs for sleep, nutritious food, exercise,
prayer, social time, quiet time.
32. Know
basic first aid and how to manage basic illnesses.
33. Make
prudent decisions regarding sexual behavior, aware of the health, moral, and psychological
consequences.
34. Handle
alcohol prudently.
Regarding General Life
35. If
in college, plan your courses so you will graduate on time, meet all pre-requisites,
have a balanced course load from term to term.
36. Be
able to speak knowledgeably about some of the major issues of society. Be aware of what’s going on in the world, and
be prepared to vote.
37. Vote.
38. Make
and change travel arrangements using transit, bus, plane, train, and automobile,
hotels, B&Bs, etc.
39. Be
able to prepare basic meals and clean up the kitchen afterwards.
40. Be
able to treat spots on clothing and launder your clothes.
41. Be
able to sew buttons on clothing.
42. Be
able to get a haircut/style.
43. Have
a driver’s license or state issued identification card. Optionally, have a passport.
44. Choose
friends wisely. Learn to extend trust
carefully.
45. Be
able to resolve conflicts with peers, superiors, and business relations.
46. Ask
for help as needed – tutoring, mentoring, counseling, etc.
