Making Further Education Exciting, Not Strenuous.
July 24, 2017 by ThySista
Filed under Education, Opinion, Weekly Columns
(ThySistas.com) Something that many adults often think about, is further education. Further education can fill people with dread. It’s a big change, and a part time job may be needed, extra care for children, and more. What if you’re the oldest one in the class? What if you just don’t understand the course material? All of these worries go through the heads of adults when they’re thinking of doing this. However, there are plenty of ways to make further education exciting rather than strenuous. Using the tips here should make it more manageable, and make you feel better while you do it!
Do Something You’re Really Excited About
The first step is to do something you feel really, genuinely excited about. Going into further education at all is great, but if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons, chances are, you’re going to struggle and wonder why you’re going through it all.
Make sure you have that excited feeling in your stomach when you think about doing the course. Make sure you know this is something you are interested in. There’s no guarantee that if you do this you’ll find it easier, but at least you’re following your heart rather than doing something purely for money or because you think you’ll get a better job at the end of it. Most people find that by following their passions, they end up where they’re supposed to be. This is the perfect reason to go with your gut and do something you really want to do, and not something you think you should do!
Use Tools To Help You Get Everything Done
There’s no denying that an adult in further education can feel overwhelmed with everything they have to do. Depending on the way they learn, they may have a full time or part time job, as well as kids to look after, a family to support, and of course nobody wants to lose their friends or their social lives! This is why using tools to help you get everything done is a must. For instance, a service such as GradeBuddy can ensure you don’t need to spend your time note taking, and can listen instead. Although you may be making less money while you study, it could also be a good idea to invest in great tools to help, such as a decent laptop.
Find A Learning Style That Suits You
Finding a learning style that suits you is key to getting the most out of any course. If you’re the kind of person who likes to learn in the comfort of their own home and finds they don’t need much one to one help, an online course could be the way to go. However, many people find it more beneficial to get out of the house and actually see lectures for themselves in person. Speaking to others who are doing the course can be super helpful too, as they can give insight and tips that you may never have thought of before. If you do decide to do an online course, don’t forget that there are usually online forums you can use if you need to ask questions.
Remember Your Reasons For Doing It
To help you keep going when times are tough, it’s a good idea to remember all of your reasons for doing the course in the first place. Before you start, maybe you could make a list of what these are. Some people even like to create a vision board to help them get a better idea of where they could be when they’ve finished the course. Do you want to create a better life for your family? Do you want to buy your first house? Enjoy more job satisfaction? These can all be goals of somebody going into further education. Try to keep this list somewhere convenient and look over it daily if you need a little motivation.
Things will get hard; they do for everybody. The key is not to give up and take it one day at a time. It’s a short term challenge for long term gains!
You should never be afraid of bettering yourself, so don’t put your education off any longer. It can be a risk, but stepping out of your comfort zone is usually where the magic happens. If you have a course that you can’t stop thinking about, look into doing the right one for you and go for it. Taking the initial step is usually the hardest. Leave your thoughts and tips below!
Staff Writer; Sherry Short
