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The "excuse" for college I've heard lots of excuses for not going back to college. I can sympathize – I'm a master of excuses and chief procrastinator myself. Recently, I was speaking to a friend about my dissatisfaction with my job. I told her I was considering going back to school to get more credentials, but that I wasn't sure I had the time or energy. "You don't need more college," she said, "you need to change your job. You just have to go do it!" This startled me. Was I using college as an excuse to avoid a frightening career move? Getting another degree would be fun, and it would give me a sense of accomplishment to fill the gap I'm experiencing in my work life. But do I need it, or am I just indulging myself while I delay more important decisions? In my experience, sometimes an excuse does serve a purpose – although it's not always apparent until later. I had an excuse not to go to college the first time around. I needed to be independent so I got a job instead. Now, I can say I did the right thing. I wasn't ready to get the most out of college, and the experience I gained was invaluable. What about when I did go back for my bachelor's degree – was I avoiding something else then? Maybe. Then, as now, my job was unstable. But instead of dealing with the job situation directly, I decided to add new skills to my resume mix. Again, looking back, I think I did the right thing. I was stuck, and my studies gave me the impetus to get moving. I was bored, and my courses were stimulating. Just as with physical exercise, I discovered muscles I never knew I had. I was feeling undervalued and unappreciated, and in college I developed new friends and a network of support. When I graduated, I was still in the same place – same career, same job, same employer. But I was a different person. Applying my new skills and perspective to my existing job, I turned it around to be more satisfying to me and more valuable to my employers. Going back to my friend's challenge – she's right. I don't "need" more college. Do I need to "go do it?" Yes, but the "do" means to me broadening my horizons, and the "it" means fulfilling my dreams. Can I do this without another degree? Probably. But my experience tells me that I'll do it better if I go back to college. 7/10/02 TOP |
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