To stop and think before one acts is a skill.

Prudence means being careful about the choices one makes, to stop and think before one acts and to avoid unnecessary risk-taking.

By making use of previous experiences and gained knowledge to prepare oneself to make as much of an informed decision as possible.

Basically, using common sense, wisdom and planning to reach one’s goals. Why is this a great skill to have or to learn to have?

While the law states a student must be at school during certain hours and days of the week for a set number of years, the real motivator is to provide an environment in which students take, have and keep ownership/authenticity of one’s learning process to reach one’s personal excellence. Make the most of it while you are there.

It might be a skill one has mastered already, but if not, here are some tips on how to learn this.

1. Internal deliberation. Think about what you want to do, write it out if this helps, make a mind map.
2. Focus on what you know. Think back to situations in which you dealt with a similar challenge, what worked and what didn’t.
3. Put awareness into action, combining number one and two to create strategies out of them.
4. Decide which strategy to use. Look at the guidelines of the assignment and choose the strategy that you think fits these.
5. Take action. Use your plan to fulfil your assignment or any other situation.

The benefit of prudence is being able to handle challenges in life. You will experience the feeling of comfort and ownership about the short-term and long-term goals in your life. Prudence will improve your physical and mental wellbeing which will lead to higher achievements and improving job opportunities for you.

Remember, education is an investment in oneself!