This paper examines students' perceptions of how intentionally taught 21st century skills have transformed their lives. Personal development education (PDE) encompasses interpersonal and interaction skills that are required for students to function and succeed in global-oriented 21st century colleges and careers. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is a reform movement bringing 21st century skills into the mainstream. Embedding 21st century skills such as communication and collaboration is necessary and timely, meeting the requirements of the CCSS English-language art's listening and speaking standards. This paper explores students' perceptions of how PDE influenced their ability to communicate more effectively and work collaboratively with a range of peers and others. Therefore, as the value of this education is recognized, this paper also offers practical implementation and application strategies for core curriculum.