The end of COLLEGE life & beginning REAL life

So, fellow students, here we are at the end of the post grad year.  How does it feel?  Are you all prepared to go out and face the big bad world and give it your best efforts? 

I am sure you are all like me, filled with hope and trepidation.  It reminds me of that song from The Sound of Music,  "I have confidence in me. " written by Richard Rogers.  The lyrics are very appropriate for us all.  I have paraphrased some of the lyrics below. http://www.stlyrics.com/t/thesoundofmusic.htm


What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Now that you have familiarized yourself with those lyrics from 1965 how do you feel?  Do you agree with the character, Maria's, fears and feelings of inadequacy?  Embarking on a new adventure in life is always an exciting time, filled with fear and worries, sweaty palms and anxiety causing stomach knots. 

As an "older" student, I know I am competing with all you younger grads, however, it is a bit of a comfort to me to know that you are also all competing with one another too. 

All any of us can do is, like the song lyrics say:

1. Do better than our best
2. Have confidence in ourselves
3. Dream of the things we are seeking. 

So all that is left is for all of us to ....GO!  Chase your dreams with confidence!  Live the life you want for yourself!

Onward and Upward guys, Onward and Upward.

I need a great paying job NOW!

Every new graduate needs to think of finding a job as quickly as possible.   Some people are very lucky and land a job right away, either through their internships, family/friends or by sheer happenstance (how's that for a seldom used word?)

The idea of networking is of course an excellent one.  I would suggest strongly that if you have not got a mentor yet, FIND ONE!  Keep in mind that during your internship you will  have a rather captive source of information and experience at your beck and call.  Your PR professional is your built in go-to example to follow. Be sure to ask any questions you may have in order to learn as much as possible.  After all, they will be EXPECTING you to pick their brains.  Your job is to learn the most you can in a very short amount of time. 

I was watching the Marilyn Denis show(click on this link and watch the entire interview) on the weekend and she had Robert Herjavec on.  He took questions from the audience made up of young professionals, and new graduates on how to write a cover letter, a resume and what type of jobs to apply for immediately upon graduation.  He said that he personally does not EVER read a cover letter and knows many professionals who do not either.  I found this to be AMAZING! He stated that it is very important to use your E-mail as an opportunity to grab the attention of the potential employer.

Mr.Herjavec also said that the resume should reflect your past experience even if you are looking for a less stressful job and are overly qualified.  He suggested that someone in that position explain in their email that they are deliberately seeking a less stressful job.  That way you are not simply dismissed as being overqualified for a junior or entry level position and more likely to gain the opportunity to explain your reasoning in person. 

He took a question from an audience member who was a new graduate of a marketing program.  He told her to apply for a low level entry job where she will learn the most and probably make the least;  but most importantly to remember that this job is the one that will prepare her for the job she really wants in a years time.  By that time she will  have the experience to go out and land the job of her dreams.   

The trick is to remember that although we are newly trained and may even be more up to date on social media and the such, we don't dare come off as being cocky or smug. So it boils down to keep your eyes and ears wide open and your mouth shut to learn all you can as quickly as possible.  Remember, God gave you two eyes, two ears and ONE mouth  

Onward and Upward fellow graduates.  Onward and Upward!

So are you sick of school yet?

Because I have been in school for a few years now, I often get asked by friends and family, "Are you sick of school yet?"  Or else, they ask me the dreaded, "Are you going to be able to find a job right away?" 

First let me address the fact that for the last 4 years I have been in school right through the summers.  I have learned so much in my academic life. I have LOVED every single moment (well maybe not EVERY moment, I could have done without all the exams --lol)  I have been at two different schools and found them vastly different with pros and cons for both. 

If I could realistically continue in school for the rest of my life without the financial responsibilities that go with it I would in a heartbeat!  However, sometimes you need to be practical and say, ok enough is enough....for now!  Who's to say I won't return again later, but right now, I need to take a break from learning at school and put all that knowledge to use in real life.  Cause, yes, I must admit, I am a bit "sick" of school at this point and anxious to get on with using my hard earned skills.

This leads into the second dreaded question about finding a job immediately. 
I am positive that like the majority of new grads, regardless of age, a job is at the top of their list.  Living in a financially depressed area like the Niagara Region is a bit devastating.  I am of course willing to travel to have a job, but I need to have the funds to pay the gas to get there till my first pay check.  A vicious cycle.  The problem is I NEED to get a job immediately.  We are dying financially right now and I can't afford to be picky about work.  In the past six months I have applied to over 500 jobs and I am at the point where I will take what I can get. 

Will I apply to positions I have trained for?  Of course I will and ideally I will get a job in one of my fields.  If not, hopefully I will be able to apply what I have learned to whatever job I do land and of course I will keep applying to jobs in my field even if I have to take a job I don't particularly like for now.

My wish for everyone is to have us all in Spock's words "Live long and prosper." 

Onward and Upwards

Two movies to watch this week

I don't know about the rest of you, but having a week off school spoiled me.  While I did actually do some schoolwork (REALLY) and some badly needed housework, I also found time to sit and couch surf the TV channels.  I must admit to being a movie buff and I did manage to watch all the contenders for OSCAR on Sunday.  However, I also come across a movie I had never seen before with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts (two pretty major league stars) called Larry Crown. 

If you have not seen this movie I  recommend you watch it and look at it from my perspective of things.  Larry Crown (played by Tom Hanks) is an employee of a company who decide to fire him because he has not got a college education even though he has won employee of the month 8 times.  He finds a much lower paying job as a waiter and decides to go to college.  Julia Roberts plays a teacher who is disillusioned with her life and job and feels that she doesn't make any difference to any of her students.  She learns differently.
Here's a clip from the movie

 



I was also reminded about another movie about mature students returning to school, with Rodney Dangerfield in it called Back to School.

This movie is about a successful businessman who wants his son to get an education and gets told by him "you didn't go to college so why should I"?  So Rodney Dangerfield decides to set an example and enrolls in college.  It is an "ANCIENT" comedy from 1986 that I think people can still relate to.  Here's a clip for your viewing pleasure

Both of these movies show the general public two things.  1.  You are never too old to learn and 2.  just because you have a few years under your belt doesn't mean you can't have fun learning. 

I personally feel that way.  Life provides an education all by itself, just not always on paper.

Onward and Upward.Tom Hanks

Fears mature students face about school

Today I want to address some common fears mature students face when returning to school.  Many fears are not realistic, but they exist nevertheless.

• I haven’t studied in years. I’m out of practice.                                          
• What if I am too "stupid" to learn this new stuff and have  wasted my money?
• How will I juggle my home life and school life?
• What if I can't catch on to what the professor is teaching and never "get it"?
• I haven’t written a test in a long time.  I’m worried, anxious and nervous, scared to death.
• I haven't written a paper in over 20 years.

• I don’t know how to use a computer well.  Everything at the college seems to involve computers or the internet.

• What is up with all this math?  I don't even know the metric system.  When I was in school we were only taught the imperial system.

• What if I don't find anyone to talk to and can't make any friends?  What if I feel so self-conscious I give up ?  Am I too old to even try to learn something new?

•   I feel like such an outsider.

• I'll feel old and stupid next to everyone else.  What if i don't relate to anyone?  All my friends are my age so I'll feel awkward around them and I will feel so OLD around all the young kids.

• I doubt my own abilities. I won't be able to keep up with my younger classmates in a formal learning environment.

 I now realize a lot of the above fears are not necessarily an age thing....everyone fears new things at first.  It boils down to the following questions:

Would you rather look stupid for a couple of years then have a successful, good paying job? Or would you rather look stupid your whole life working at some low paying, menial,  dead end job?

My best advice is this:  Just be proud of what you are doing for your own self and your own future no matter what age you are.  Be proud that you are doing a good thing for yourself.    
Meanwhile, onward and upward.                                                                                    You are NEVER to old to learn  

 

 

.
 

 

 

Why I LOVE College

Things I LOVE about College.

Today I want to concentrate on some of the things I LOVE about college!

First of all let me tell you.  I am a major reader.   I mean a MAJOR reader!  I LOVE to read.  I read before I started Kindergarten and have barely put a book down since.  My house is FILLED with books.  I enjoy everything from sci-fi and biographies, to medical and legal tomes.  Now that you are aware of my “addiction” issues, perhaps you can appreciate why I LOVE College.  It is such a wonderful way to quench my desire for knowledge!

I LOVE learning about new things, new words, new concepts and approaches to issues.  My grandmother lived in the same house when I grew up, and shared my quest for knowledge.  She read the dictionary every day to improve her vocabulary.  It became a game between us for me to try to guess her “new” word of the day. This just fed my addiction to knowledge.

Another thing I LOVE is the brainstorming sessions and team work.  It is easy for younger peers to think I know nothing about current events, technology or the latest social media fad.  Instead of opening my mouth, I find it beneficial to sit back quietly and listen to different ideas.  By doing this, I learn how others think without alienating anyone.

I also LOVE seeing the potential for greatness in my fellow students.  Their whole life is before them.  This is inspiring to me and even though I am twice their ages, I’m sure they will agree with me about this statement.  

Meanwhile, onward and upward.  Life waits for no one!

Life is hard, education doesn't have to be

I find myself comparing my viewpoints with some of my fellow students on all manner of issues.  They think they know everything and have their future all planned out.  Well, I am here to tell them that life does not always go smoothly and no matter how intelligent you are, or how much planning you do for the future, NOTHING ever goes according to plan in life.  

When I was 19 I was married and had a lucrative career working with my husband in advertising.  At 22, my husband died of cancer and I was suddenly a widow.  At 25, I married a man 17 years older than me and put my career on hold to raise two sons.  When my boys were in school full time, I returned to work.  At 35, after 10 years of extreme physical, mental and verbal spousal abuse, I escaped with my sons and what we could carry.  We slept on the floor till I found full time work.  Did this take courage?  You bet it did!  Did this make me grow up in a hurry?  You bet it did!  Did it give me a very different perspective on life from others my   age….you bet it did!       

    

Returning to school at an older age is not all negative!  One of the benefits of being surrounded by younger classmates is that I get to see educated minds at work.  It keeps my own mind young and in tune with society.  I love being involved with social media.  I love sitting back and listening to students discuss their “problems” and thinking of how I wish I could trade problems with them.  I love living the life of a “normal” college student vicariously. My fellow students are fine young people who will continue to grow and mature into even finer adults.

 Onward and upwards to the future. 

Mature vs Average Aged College Student

While the average 20-25 year old is in college, life revolves around parties, getting together with friends, going on holidays, college events and hanging with family.  The cares of running a household, caring for children at home, having to do secular work, housework and homework simultaneously is not even on the radar for most of them.

The average college student does not face the pressure of being over 40 years of age, and going into debt with $30-50,000 in student loans that have to be paid back within 10 or 15 years. 

Younger students are less concerned about finding that “perfect” job.  If this career doesn't work out, there is still time to switch things up and go back to retrain. Olderstudents like me, had better find what they want to do quickly and stick to it because the older they get, the harder it is to find work.

I am focused on the reality that I need to take advantage of any and all opportunities that come my way. Having a stellar workhistory, of going above and beyond the call of duty, having excellent references and people skills; means very little in today's job market.     College students in their 20’s do not face the challenge of having to compete for a job with someone half their age; and when they DO enter the workforce, they are not being interviewed by people who are their own children’s age.  They do not have the fear of being unable to find work and being viewed as redundant because of their age.

I have to trust in myself that there are still a lot of good years left in this old gal and I mean to live them to the fullest extent.  You are never too old to learn.  Onward and Upward
 

1.  

Onward and Upward is my motto

Going to college at any age can be a real challenge.  Try starting college when you are twice the age of the average student and it's been 25 years or more since you last sat in a classroom! 

This is exactly the daunting situation I find myself currently in.  Never having had the opportunity to go beyond high school for education until after the age of 45, I find myself a real anomaly.

Not only do I have the issue of my age and trying to retrain an old brain, but I also have the disadvantage of having a household to oversee and keep running.

Unlike my student peers most of whom live at home and still have family to rely on financially, I do not have this advantage.  I  have a husband and a son in college at the same time and all of us are trying to exist on OSAP to be able to pay the mortgage, utilities, gas for the vehicle and food.  This is like walking a tightrope without any safety lines in a hurricane! 

Although I face many challenges by attending college so late in life, there are many upsides to this experience as well. 

In the coming weeks, I will honestly discuss the ups and downs I face on a daily basis as a full time student twice the age of the other students in my classes.