Five Things I Never Learned in School

This post was originally better. My original intention was a longer post with some stories from my past. But the Blogger app on my iPad erased my first draft, and I just didn't feel like starting over.

5. School helped my French grammar, but living in France gave me the confidence and the practice to speak French with actual French people. If you want to learn a second language, you really need to live in a country that speaks the language.

The city of Niort, from the historic towers in the city.

4. My self-worth isn't determined by what men think of me. My earthly value might be based on my intelligence, or my kindness, or my mad writing skillz, and it's okay if I bask in those things. But my inherent value comes from God, because I'm made in Her image.

3. My parents are often right, but not always. Disagreeing with them doesn't make me a disrespectful daughter. In fact, when I stand up to them because of my beliefs, it's proof that they raised me well. They raised me to stand up for what's right, even if it's hard.

2. Vulnerability is not weakness. Needing the love and support of others doesn't make me less independent.

1. Not everyone is saving sex for marriage. Not everyone is engaging in casual sex all the time. Not everyone is in a relationship. Not everyone is single. Most people are somewhere in-between the extremes we see in TV and movies.

What life lessons did you learn outside of school?