By Martha Brockenbrough
Special to MSN TV

Remember that poem "All I Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum? Two decades later, it remains the sole piece of English literature that makes toilet-flushing seem like a deep and mystical act.

Still, the poem could use an update. Now that we're firmly in the reality TV era, I'm going to make the argument that all I really need to know I learned on "Project Runway."

To do this, I've enlisted the help of Fulghum's former art students, Jack Mackenroth, the HIV-positive hottie from Season 4 of the show.

Bing: 'Project Runway' | Watch clips and more| Jack Mackenroth

(Disclosure: Jack and I went to the same high school and spent lots of time in the swimming pool and art studio together. He was as awesome then as he is now, although I'd wager he spends less on hair bleach these days.)

"Project Runway" is on the cusp of its 10th season. There have been ups and downs over the years, but it remains a remarkable piece of programming.

More: 'Project Runway': Where are they now? | Ugliest designs on 'Project Runway'

Part of the magic of this show is what the designers produce.

Whether they're working with improbable materials like birdseed, coffee filters or Twizzlers, or making avant garde creations from organza, the designers demonstrate great creativity and skill as they race the clock.

Granted, the designers don't always make it work. But if you've never been inside of Mood -- which is a daunting catacomb of fabric, buttons, zippers, ribbons and thread -- you can't imagine navigating those aisles in just 30 minutes with limited funds. And forget doing that for challenge after challenge while you're bumping elbows with competitors, all on camera, all on not enough sleep.

The rest of the magic comes from what the show reveals about human weakness and its price. Whatever the bad behavior, the toll is magnified on the screen.

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So what valuable life lessons can you learn from "Project Runway"? Here are 10. The first five are Jack's, along with commentary from me, and the last are mine.

Don't talk smack about others.

This only makes you look bad, Jack says. During his season, Ricky and Victorya got into a fight, which cost them support. "Fans don't pick sides," Jack says. "They just dislike bitchiness."

This is true wherever you are. No one likes a nasty gossip.

Keep calm and carry on.

Remember in Season 9 when contestant Anya Ayoung-Chee lost her money? Thanks to the generosity of other designers, she managed to scrape together a meager $12 -- and she eventually won the challenge. In all likelihood, the judges picked her two designs over the others because she kept it together despite that near-fatal blow.

The lesson: At one point or another, life punches everyone in the gut. You can choose to lie down and cry.

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