“Education makes people easy to lead, but difficult to drive; easy to govern, but impossible to enslave.”
- Henry Peter Broughan
It has come to my attention that many new students are nervous about going back to school during an economic recession. Some young adults have been forced to upgrade their skills by their company. Some 20 somethings have simply lost their job and are going back to school to learn new skills. Some are going back to school just to protect themselves and improve their income earning potential.
Whatever the reason is that has you returning back to college this September, there are a few things you should keep in mind. This is why I wanted to share some tips for everyone out there that is worried about going back to school during the current recession:
Forget about the recession & focus on knowing your stuff
I have a friend that works in the field I want to get into and he yells at me whenever I bring up the recession. He reminds me that if he still has a job then there is no reason for a college student to lose sleep over the recession. The one thing that this friend and other professionals I speak with tell me is to know my stuff.
Knowing your stuff doesn’t mean to cram at the last minute before exams or to memorize random facts. Knowing your stuff is the ability to transfer what you learn in college to the real world. It means to be able to apply key concepts instead of just memorizing the technical definition. Sure you can answer the question about equity investments correctly on your midterm but it won’t mean a thing if you don’t know how to apply it once you start working.
Think of going back to school as “riding out the recession”
There is no telling when the economy will fully recover but hopefully times will be better by the time you complete college. A Studenomics reader that only wishes to go by as Scott, informed me in an email that he was using the recession as the perfect opportunity to obtain his Masters Degree.
Whether you are continuing your college education or going back to school after many years you should remember that upgrading your skills is a better option than struggling to find work in a stagnant industry.
Recession proof your career/education
This will not be the final recession you ever experience in your life. If you find that your last career didn’t last just because the recession changed peoples spending habits, then maybe you need to find a more steady career.
If you want a recession proof career then you need to start by making sure your education is recession proof. Get the highest grades you possibly can to ensure they don’t hold you back from finding the job you desire. Take college courses that are in demand and have been in demand for many years. Just be ready to work hard while you completely forget about the recession. Remember, nobody ever drowned in sweat, so be willing to work hard.
Dowling is a Long Island private college with small classes, dedicated professors, and a diverse student body. Apply today to discover the Dowling difference.
photos: mickdansforth, mathteacherguy, bio photos
