What Can You Do to Ensure That Your Learning and Growth Continues After You Graduate
Never stop learning after graduating.
Christopher Waldeck
Christopher Waldeck
Comedian and Entertainer
The most important concept for graduates to remember is to never stop learning. This may seem like a simple concept, but many graduates forget that as we grow older and move on to new stages of life, we must always keep wary of how the skills we learned during one part of our lives will need to be consistently refined. New skills will need to be added to our arsenal of ability as well. While college is considered to be the signal that one is prepared for the real world, in order to maintain it, we need to do whatever it takes to stay on top. I'm not talking about ways of extreme competition, but rather consistently adapting oneself to be proficient in the changing market of skills and knowledge that is demanded.
In order to remain on top, we must adapt and continue learning. We can't just assume that we are done with education because it truly never ends. We are always going to need to learn new topics in order to stay on top and refine our skills that we already know. The latter should be apparent when one is still studying in college. If one is used to typing on a computer or using a piece of technology for note taking, one might eventually need to write notes by hand in order to maintain handwritten penmanship. These basic skills must be consistently trained and retrained in order to maintain effectiveness. Khan Academy is an excellent resource for refining mathematical, history, and science skills. Massively open online courses also provide new ways for maintaining and gaining new skills at a discounted price. Let's also not forget books that can provide information about skills and provide problems for people to solve. Lynda.com is also an excellent way to get certified in various technologies and different leadership skills through self-learning. Though, it might be expensive without the student discount. Nevertheless, having a open mind with certifications in technical software can be helpful.
The same can be said for the knowledge that we learn as students. The knowledge doesn't end just because we graduate college. College is merely a qualification for a signal of success at a future position of employment. The knowledge that we can apply is limited and will need to expand. Good ways to do this is to spend thirty minutes on a new hobby or reading everyday. One can also take advantage of apps with flashcards for improving vocabulary. I personally used apps to improve my vocabulary everyday. I started at first by learning ten new words and then putting them into sentences so I could be proficient when utilizing them. Reading classical and modern books can offer a plethora of new words that may not be as easily accessible through apps. Personally, I prefer to read hardcover or traditional books because it's easier for me to read them and concentrate, but it's honestly personal preference regarding what medium one obtains one's literature.
Even students pursuing graduate school will need to learn more vernacular than what is required in graduate school examinations. This is necessary for communicating with various colleagues in any professional field post-graduate school. School provides a picture of what is going to be used and needed, but it's up to students to learn what is not being taught in order to fill in the knowledge gap and advance to the next level. We must understand that we are all students in life and we need to keep learning in order to remain useful in the economy today. This advice is not only useful for finding a job and holding it. It's also useful for personal development as well. Learning and staying consistently up to date with current events, learning new ideas through books, and staying mentally healthy are essential for survival and living a satisfying life. Think of the wonderful ideas that one can learn that aren't being taught in a structured curriculum that one can pursue to learn how to create innovations and mesmerizing content.
This all seems like common sense, but the most successful people are the ones who never stop learning. Many people do stop and often it affects them when it comes to understanding new ideas or solving solutions to new problems. History shows that those who learned differently and continuously learned new ideas become innovators and can lead through numerous situations. We live in a world where we are taught in a structured environment, and the problems that we face are becoming less and less structured. Teaching oneself to learn and learn constantly for personal and professional development can help succeed in the professional world and live a satisfying personal life as well.
I wrote this because when I graduated I realized just how different the world was than how I had been taught to learn. I realized that I needed to learn more in order to distinguish myself among colleagues and also to interact with various professionals and people. Learning has also allowed for me to relax after working full time as an account executive. Going to bed with negative thoughts or stress can hurt one's sleep and reading a chapter from a good book or reflecting on what one learned is excellent for reducing stress and allowing the mind to wander with productive and creative thought. For all who graduated this past spring, I congratulate you on passing college and I welcome you to the world of unstructured and peaceful learning. To those who are in school, find time to practice learning on the side of school and you'll be well prepared to continue after graduation.
This post was written for the #Graduation for LinkedIn Student Editorial Calendar. Since i'm about to finished graduate school this Summer, I thought this would be an excellent month to provide an article for undergraduates who are graduating. As always I hope everyone enjoyed this article and you are welcome to leave feedback in a comment below.
Others also viewed
Explore topics
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/never-stop-learning-after-graduating-christopher-waldeck
0 Response to "What Can You Do to Ensure That Your Learning and Growth Continues After You Graduate"
Post a Comment