Comment from Bill Holland on 2008-06-24

2008-06-25T00:40:26Z

I've often heard it said that education is the "key" to opportunity. I interpret that to mean that it is NOT the door, or the vehicle, that will transport you to success. It is, instead, the means of making things available: it "opens" the door - you still must go through it yourself and pursue whatever lies on the other side.

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A comment on: What's your background? Did your University education help?

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Comment from SWB on 2008-06-24

2008-06-24T18:49:17Z

From a teacher's perspective, I think many people overlook one of the most important aspects of higher education: learning HOW to learn. I remember paging through my physics and math books at the start of each semester and thinking "This doesn't mean anything now, but in a few months I'll (hopefully) know what this stuff means!". And it didn't just apply those technical courses that comprised my major and minor. Even the required humanities classes -- many of them anyway -- evoked that same anticipation. Maybe it's because I enjoy learning so much that I switched from research physics into physics eduction.

Another example of the value of an education is my sister's unexpected career. She studied audiology in college (at the same school I attended) and fully expected to find a job in that area when she graduated. However, there were no good jobs in her region and she was not willing to move to another part of the country. As a temporary measure, she took a relatively menial job at a large corporation, fully expecting to return to speech and hearing when an opportunity presented itself. As time went on, however, she was promoted upward through the company, based on the fact that she had a college degree and was thus able to learn new skills. She eventually moved into upper management as head of the Personnel Department! She has never used the audiology degree, but she has continually used her ability to learn new things.

We are told (by people who study such things) that today's high school and college students should expect to have at least 3 or 4 distinct careers during their working lives. As technology evolves faster and faster and influences society more and more, many jobs will simply disappear, many will change drastically, and some will be created with astonishing speed. Their education doesn't end with a diploma or degree, but will likely continue throughout their lives. That means the ability to learn is every bit as important as the material being learned. To me, a lifelong teacher, that prospect would be daunting. I've been doing the same thing my entire working life, and it's exactly what I prepared for in school. My students, on the other hand, have grown up in such a changing world, so it doesn't seem to bother them.

There are exceptions, of course, but one of the things that a college degree indicates is the demonstrated ability to learn a variety of topics reasonably well. The better schools are preparing their graduates for this new world by emphasizing life-long learning skills more than ever before.

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A comment on: What's your background? Did your University education help?

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Comment from Chroncide on 2008-06-17

2008-06-18T02:28:12Z

Thank you for answering my question, i now realize i have alot to think about before i jump into conclusions about what i'd like to do in the future. You're lucky to find something you loved so much and make a living doing it. I really like the "Do What you love" part and think that this part really completes your answer, Thanks Leo.

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A comment on: What's your background? Did your University education help?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comments for What's your background? Did your University education help?

Comment from Bill Holland on 2008-06-24

Comment from SWB on 2008-06-24

Comment from Chroncide on 2008-06-17