Education: You're Not Done When You're Done
Part four: Practical Personal Transformation
This article is part of an ongoing series on Personal Transformation. Links to the previous articles can be found here:
Formal Education will make you a living. Self-education will make you a fortune -Jim Rohn
Formal Education can be summed up in four words: It's only a foundation.
The problem for most is that college has become the “end all” in our society.
The typical trend for many today is to finish school, settle down, and go into a trance for the rest of their lives.
What would you think of someone who started building a house, but when they completed the foundation, they decided that was adequate and moved in.
Then they complained about the rain, the heat, the cold, and the lack of conveniences.
We would think of them as fools.
Unfortunately, that is what many people do with education.
Once the foundation is done, they stop building and “move in” to their complacent and inadequate lives.
Primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools are the most obvious examples of formal education.
Apprenticeships and various types of classroom skills training would also fall into this category.
Nothing wrong with any of these, but they’re just the beginning, not the end.
The Goal of Formal Education
To varying degrees, most adults have at least the basic education required by law in our country today.
The goal of formal education is to teach basic functional and social survival skills. As the old saying goes, “reading and writing and ‘rithmetic” are the basis for just about everything else in life.
At the college level, formal education generally takes a more focused role, allowing students to concentrate on areas that will take them into their career phase of life.
Not that Necessary For Success In Life
This may shock some, but my personal observation is that, except for professions that require some sort of certification or specific preparation for licensing (Teachers, Engineers, Medical personnel, etc.), formal education at the college level is not that necessary for success in life.
Except for trade or technical school programs that teach a focused skillset. But, even these programs have OJT or Apprenticeships.
Is that shocking to hear?
Please don’t misunderstand.
I think everyone who can, should attend some form of higher education whether trade school, technical college, or university.
Practical Lessons Learned Outside of the Classroom
For many reasons, college can be an invaluable experience, especially for young people:
The transition from dependence to independence
Development of self-discipline
Learning how to make friends and interact with folks from all walks of life
Becoming confident in one’s own abilities
Except in situations where licensing or certification is required, a formal college education is not really necessary for success in life.
There is a whole world waiting out there (mostly for free) which you can never learn in a college or has replaced what you could learn in college.
Many Earn a Useless College Degree Simply Because it is Popular
Take my own experience, for example. I spent more than four years obtaining a college degree in Business Administration.
The only reason I went that route was because I had no clue what I wanted to do in life and it seemed the safest.
Today, however, almost all of the same education is offered on YouTube or other internet sites.
For free or close to it.
Formal education is usually much more expensive than self-education.
Another issue that has become more and more prevalent today is the radicalization of higher education.
Most public and many private college & universities have, for the most part, become ideological hotbeds.
Many graduation requirements at the university level have more to do with ideological indoctrination than education.
You either submit or be canceled from society, sometimes literally.
With that being said, college-level education may be the place some mid-lifers will have to start in their personal transformation process.
But, thanks to the internet, there is a better, more convenient and affordable way to go . . .
Technology Has Changed Everything About the Delivery of Education
For mid-lifers (or anyone) who needs to complete a higher level of formal education, the advantages in today’s technological environment are huge.
Personal Experience Makes a Huge Difference
First of all, don’t discount your experience. Many curriculums will give credit toward degrees for life/work experience. This is particularly applicable to military training and career fields.
You have the advantage of years of experience over a younger student.
Wisdom gained from experience is invaluable when making decisions for future direction.
It can be used not only for direction down the right path, but also for steering clear of wrong paths and rabbit trails.
Experience gives you a good sense of personal likes & dislikes, skills & abilities, and wisdom that can only come from work.
Utilizing Assessment Tools
Second, with the maturing of the Internet, there are a great number of career assessment tools and online personal education options.
These can help you clarify and learn how to combine your Passion (desires, dreams, goals, and values), your Propensity (gifts, skills, and abilities), and your Personality (God-given nature) to guide you in the right direction.
Classroom to Online - The Great Transition
Third, there are career field programs leading to certifications and degrees at all levels, all on-line.
This allows for working full-time and doing school from home at your own pace and schedule.
Online degree programs are more convenient, less expensive, and much more focused on the needs of today's marketplace.
During this time, one can design and map out their own Personal Transformation Plan.
Points to Ponder:
Education never ends - where are you on the learning scale?
Have you ever really taken the time to understand your unique personality traits?
Do you know what your main skill sets are?
Have you discovered something that you love doing so much that it doesn't even seem like work?
What would pursue if there were no obstacles in the way?
Have you settled for a level of comfortable misery in life because the process of personal transformation takes more effort than you are willing to put out?
What pain point would motivate you to take action?
It’s not too late to make that transition.
It’s never too late, except in your mind.
So then, what is it that's holding YOU back?
There is no “one way” to be educated.
In fact, we are constantly learning and processing information.
However, as in our example of the boat, the most productive way is to add the rudder of knowledge, the paddle of wisdom, and the sail of understanding.
Then you can take action to direct your course in life with much more confidence and enjoyment.
Self-Education Builds the House Upon the Foundation
Next week, we’ll take a look at what Self-Education might look like and how it can change your life.
Until next time, friends …
Thank you for those encouraging words! I’m a 70 year old grandma seeking God’s guidance daily and always learning new things ☝️