My Thoughts on Continuing My Education
Education has always been important to me. I’ve always wanted to learn things - needed to learn new things; sometimes for fun and sometimes out of necessity. There are many ways one can learn - we learn from our environment, situations, interactions with people, at our jobs, school and so forth.
Some people don’t get the chance to experience what it’s like going to a post secondary institution (sometimes by choice, and sometimes because it’s either unaffordable or simply unobtainable due to situational happenstance). I find that very sad, because I think post secondary education is a such a good learning tool. Not even necessarily the information you learn in class, or the classes that you take, but from simply being there and being around others who have the same mindset.
In this day and age, with a crappy economy and inflation (things cost more than what we’re getting paid), it pays to be smart. If you know you’re not going to be a scientist, don’t get a BSc. Don’t waste all that money or get into student load debt that you can’t pay back years later. The problem is, most of us enter post secondary directly after high school. In my case, I didn’t have a choice. For me, it was either get a job and your own apartment (not many 18 year olds are emotionally ready for that), or go to school. So I chose school, because it seemed like the smartest move, especially since my parents offered to pay for the first year for me.
When you’re 18, you most kids don’t know what they want out of life yet; and most don’t truly even know themselves yet (although they will think or say that they do). I know I did - I was so full of my own importance at that age, thinking that I could conquer the world. Well, I truly didn’t come into my own until my thirties and I can still admit that I’m constantly learning humility and more about myself each year that passes.
So, I went to school. My first year was an epic failure, the main reason because I didn’t try. I was too interested in going to dance bars every weekend and having fun with my friends. I ended up getting kicked out of school, and I entered the work force the next year. I did eventually go back to get two degrees, but not without great difficulty. It seemed like there was a new challenge or obstacle to face every time I turned around. I often got discouraged. Also, I was on my own at this stage of my life, and I had to attend school full time at the same time as hold a full time job to pay for my car, rent and bills. I often cried myself to sleep, dreaming about calculus, or I would throw my books across the room out of frustration. I had such anxiety over everything that I couldn’t sleep, and it would turn into this vicious cycle of never-ending work and tiredness.
Somehow though, I got through it all and came out with two degrees. Looking back, (how many of us have said this?), I wish I could use all the knowledge I have now to re-do that entire period of my life. To be in school, not have to focus on work and just study and do the best that I could. That would be the dream. I loved to learn, loved sitting in class and taking notes or doing lab work. I feel like I took it for granted, this ability to go to University and have a post-secondary experience. I never fully realized all the potential that was available to me. I wish I could use all the organizing and planning skills I have developed since then to go back and do it all over again. I wonder what that would be like.
Sadly, I’ll never know. Almost three kids later, and I realize my priorities and responsibilities have changed. I am forty years old, and while I could go back and audit courses once my children are older, I also have my full time business to attend to. I don’t know if I have put the dream of going back to school behind me fully yet, but I do know that becoming an adult brings with it hard choices. This is part of my learning experience since having kids and being mid-age.
As I realize this, I also know that I have a lot of learning experiences ahead of me. First, I do have my third baby on the way, so I’m going to realize quite quickly how difficult it’s going to be to have three kids, and holding a full time business. My husband works out of town, so I’m wholly responsible for the household while he’s gone, not to mention the many life challenges that have hit us hard at times.
Having my own business also poses many challenges and new learning opportunities for me. Between learning how to utilize certain social media platforms, tech tools, and other media for my business, and keeping up with the current trends, it’s been challenging, but also extremely fun and interesting. I’m always up for learning new things that will help me improve my business or my own personal growth. I use a notebook that I call my learning notebook, or my commonplace book to make notes on things I want to remember. I could pick up things from books, or YouTube videos, and I try to retain all of the useful information in this notebook. That way, I can come back to it later and use it as a handy reference tool.
I think that’s the key to not becoming stagnant; constantly learning, growing and restructuring your ideas and thoughts accordingly. Always be open to new ideas and try not to resist change too much, because life and our world is constantly evolving. We need to change with it just to keep up!
Sandra
