EXPERTS LANE n FINANCIAL LITERACY
Doable New Year’s Resolution:
Higher Education
By Professor Laura Dorsey
A
dults spend a lot of time making New Year’s Resolutions.
Education is a popular resolution and according to many,
is one of the top personal goals. But we all know that a
goal without a plan is just a wish. The U.S. Department
of Labor estimates that some 34 million Americans over the age
of 25 have some college credits but never complete a degree.
Most people cannot put their lives on hold to go back to college,
but there are ways to make that New Year’s Resolution a reality.
At IBA Success, we have assembled some POWER tips for adults
who are making education resolutions this year.
P – PREPARE: Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu said that travelers
taking a long journey must begin with a single step. Today, many
travelers use GPS for their trip routes. However, GPS only works if
you have a specific destination in mind. Set short- and long-term
goals for this new journey that you will travel on. Be sure to make
the goals realistic. Choose goals that involve behavior that you
have control over. Remember that you are ultimately responsible
for your Success, but having a team of support to make this
journey with you will increase the likelihood of success. Do not
isolate yourself as a student and know that many of your peers in
the classroom are going through the same thing.
O – ORGANIZE: There are two kinds of organization: mental
and physical. Building on the goals set in your preparation stage,
you must organize all of the tools necessary for Success. Physical
organization means that you have all the physical tools, i.e.: pen,
paper, computer. Do you have a comfortable place to complete
your classwork? Mental organization is even more critical. You
will want to review your knowledge of the program that you
are about to enter. Before you rush into a class, do you need a
refresher if you have been out of school for a while? Do not let
this discourage you because GPS will always recalibrate if you
must make a slight detour to get some tutoring.
W – WORK: This is the hard part or, if you have done the
previous steps, can be the easy part. One of the keys to keeping
you focused on the work in front of you is motivation. Motivation
is the inner power and psychological energy that directs and
fuels behavior. All of us are motivated. The key to Success in the
classroom or on the job is to tap into, harness and direct that
motivation. This is where many students falter in their quest for
education. Remember your WHY and remember that Success is
a consequence of effort.
E – EVALUATE: You may need to evaluate the degree or
training program that is right for you and your situation. What is
your motivation or as the question goes now, What is your WHY?
Is your goal to complete the degree that you started? Are you
looking for a career change? There are many online aptitude
tests to determine your best choice of career fields based on
your specific personality.
R - RETHINK: To rethink means taking a fresh perspective to the
situation after you have evaluated your decision to return to school.
It involves using critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is a process
involving analyzing, questioning and challenging our underlying
assumptions. As you go through the process of planning your
return to higher education, keep in the forefront of your mind your
initial goals and remember that without a plan, they are merely a
wish. This is one of the most effective routes to Success.
It is important to recognize that going back to school is a major
life decision and takes commitment just like any other New Year’s
resolution. However, with our tips, you have the POWER for
Success.
The information is provided by Laura Dorsey,
S E Regional Vice President of the Infinite Scholars
Program. For more info visit infinitescholar.org.
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IBA Success Magazine
n
VOL 5, Issue 1