Jenny Zhan | Teaching people to be, well, people

When taking a brisk stroll down Locust Walk, you can't miss being inundated with flyers advertising "The Real World: Wall Street" or "Finance 101 Information Session" - Penn students troubled by such mind-boggling questions as "what private equity really is" can often find their peace of mind at these Huntsman Hall specialties.

Right.

As if some of us actually care about what valuable insights the CEO of a toothpaste company has to offer.

Perhaps, you would rather be endowed with some practical knowledge that may actually help guide you through life. Something other than the 14 distinct investment strategies used by hedge funds.

Not to undermine the absolute essentiality of the typical "How to Make Money" info-session, but maybe just for a change, Penn can offer seminars more pertinent to our lives. Suggestion of an alternative: a "Life Skills 101" for those lacking in the common-sense department - which constitutes quite a significant portion of the Penn undergrad population.

No offense, but no matter how well you can calculate the market value of bonds, you are going nowhere in the real world without mastering some basic living skills.

For instance, as cliche as this sounds, do you know how to balance your own check book? Your less-than-adequate budgeting skills might explain that 15 percent interest PNC is ruthlessly charging you this month. Now there's something your Finance professor forgot to mention.

And what about how to file your income tax returns? Or applying for a traveling visa? Or even operating the laundry machine on your floor? You might be able to compare and contrast Shakespeare and Milton's views on death, but do you even know how to change a flat tire?

Rest assured, the day will arrive when Mom and Dad finally let go. Feelings of helplessness will ensue. You can only snuggly remain in your incubator for so long.

Eric Tsaur, a Wharton sophomore, termed this prevailing phenomenon the "Nanny Syndrome" - himself an accurately afflicted victim. In his case, the household maids at home are to blame.

For those eager to become more life savvy, Penn has a few offerings. Wharton Women, for example, hosts an annual Etiquette Dinner event each spring. Attendees learn about the dos and don'ts of proper table manners so as to avoid awkward mistakes when dining.

In the past, the 21-and-over crowd at Penn has ferociously fought over 15 coveted spots in a non-credit preceptorial entitled "Wine Tasting," where students were given the opportunity to enjoy the fine art of sampling wine.

Last year, the Wharton Council also devised a so-called "Social Norming" campaign. The objective, according to Wharton senior Jessica Trief, was to openly present to students the "true and updated statistics about relevant aspects of the undergraduate Wharton experience," including facts regarding student life.

As part of the campaign, Wharton Council sponsored an event known as "Senior Life Skills" for the class of 2006, which covered topics such as an overview of the 401 K retirement savings plan.

Meanwhile, students themselves employ a variety of methods for handling simple life situations. When self-reliance fails, some use the phone-a-friend technique, others cry to their parents for help and still more resort to popular Web sites such as eHow.com, where one can apparently "learn how to do just about everything."

But College sophomore Sarah Sanchez would rather attend a lecture or two to better prepare her for life. "Even though students have common sense by nature, I think most people could benefit from a crash course in practical knowledge," she said.

Indeed, in addition to offering a top-notch formal education and myriad pre-professional opportunities, Penn could further improve students' comprehensive learning experience with such tutorials on daily skills. It would provide a more effective way to help Penn students develop the proficiency essential for life by the time they graduate.

The nation had a good laugh after watching the infamous Miss Teen South Carolina video on YouTube.com. But in reality, CNN reported last spring that only half of Americans aged 18 to 24 could locate New York State on a map.

To save us from future embarrassment, we could all use a lesson on having common knowledge and completing common tasks. Even the best and the brightest.

Jenny Zhan is a Wharton sophomore from Pleasanton, Calif. Her e-mail address is zhan@dailypennsylvanian.com. Jenny from the 'Burbs appears on Fridays.

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