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by Christina Couch
It seems there's always
something getting in the way of
you seriously working toward the
degree you just know will
improve your personal and
professional life. In fact, for
most adult students, learning
how to overcome personal
obstacles is practically a
prerequisite. Meet these
students who've discovered the
online learning loophole for
overcoming four of the most
common roadblocks to your
education.
1 - The Kid Factor
Anyone who's heard the
pitter-patter of little feet
knows that parenting is the most
time-consuming, life-changing,
endless, thankless, selfless job
on earth. But that didn't stop
Beth Marshall, a full-time
mortgage closer and mother of
four from somehow squeezing an
online bachelor's degree in
business administration from
Strayer University (Newport
News, VA) in between soccer
practices, dance classes, and
family dinners. Kicking her day
off at 8 a.m. and heading to bed
at 2 a.m., Marshall says she's
tired, but committed to becoming
a better educated person. "I
have no regrets about going to
school because everything that I
learn, I utilize it in my work,"
she says. "I'm going to pursue
my master's after I graduate."
Donald Asher, author of "How to
Get Any Job With Any Major" (Ten
Speed Press), says that parents
who return to the classroom need
to restructure their home lives
in order to be successful
students. "They're going to have
to re-train their family," Asher
comments. "They're going to have
to get their family to leave
them alone and set aside time to
study." Delegating
responsibilities at home is
exactly what gave Beth the
ability to jump back into the
classroom. Each of her kids
takes care of their own school
responsibilities, while her
finance handles the cooking and
pitches in at home.
2 -The Job Factor
Tack an extra five to 10
hours of work onto an already
hectic week? Are you nuts? For
working professionals who clock
in from 9 to 5, the thought of
wrapping up a long day at the
office only to log in more hours
in front of a computer screen
seems about as appealing as a
root canal, however, Kim
Pivirotto insists it's not that
bad. A criminal justice major,
Kim balances a full-time
internship with Naval Criminal
Investigative Services in
Washington D.C. with online
classes at the University of
Massachusetts Lowell (Lowell,
MA). "I work until about 5:00
and go home and log online on my
own time," she says. "I usually
try to work on the weekends, but
I have a social life, too."
Students like Kim and Beth make
coursework a priority and devote
what little free time they have
to catching up on assignments or
getting ahead for the next week.
Both use breaks in their
workdays as well as weekend
hours to lighten the stress of
school.
"I go online every day, even if
it's just for five minutes,"
Beth says. "On Saturdays, I'm at
my kids' games and I bring my
homework with me . at lunch
time, I read over my material,
that way it's easier when I come
home from work."
3 - The Financial Factor
Time may not be the only
thing blocking your educational
path. For many students,
returning to the classroom boils
down to one factor: greenbacks.
Although spending for an extra
credential will cost you in the
short term, this is one
sure-fire investment that's
guaranteed to pay off. CNN
reports that those holding a
bachelor's degree can expect to
earn, on average, $900,000 more
over the course of a lifetime
than those armed with just a
high school diploma; students
who make it to the master's
level earn a walloping $1.3
million more than their high
school counterparts. If visions
of a big pile of cash aren't
enough to motivate you, perhaps
the thought of losing your
current job will.
"It used to be doctors and
research scientists that faced
the challenge of lifelong
learning, but now all of us do,"
Asher says. "In order to remain
competitive, you have to embrace
it. If you fight it, you'll be
left by the wayside."
Before you get stressed out,
remember that online learning
scholarships, student loans, and
tuition reimbursement programs
will help you find the capital
you need to get back in the
books. Ask your employer and the
schools to which you'll be
applying about the types of
financial aid available for your
educational endeavor.
4 - The Friend Factor
Chances are, your social
life is stretched thin as it is.
In between work and family
responsibilities, there's never
enough time to have a relaxing
meal or take in a movie with
friends, much less go out of
your way to make new friends.
Laura Roberts, a master's
student in the low-residency
contemplative education program
at Naropa University (Boulder,
CO), was surprised to find that
in her program, making friends
and earning a degree didn't
conflict. Having completed her
undergraduate coursework at Bank
Street College of Education, a
brick-and-mortar campus in New
York, Laura discovered that she
connected with both professors
and students just as well in an
online format.
"The classes are so engaging and
so involved in this odd way I
never would have predicted," she
explains. " I was closer to the
instructors [at Naropa] than I
was at Bank Street. The human
element is almost inherent in
the classroom discussion because
people are sharing their
personal experiences. It was
very revealing."
To connect with your classmates,
check out online programs that
incorporate live chat rooms and
group study projects into the
curriculum. Also, ask your
admissions officer about what
on-campus programs you're
eligible for, and whether
professors hold virtual office
hours when they'll be available
to answer questions. |