| Over two million adult Americans go to school every | | | | and medical assistant. |
| year, according to the National Center for Education | | | | 6) To find a new career. Were you in a job that was |
| Statistics. People start or return to school for many | | | | recently phased out? Are you still using DOS while the |
| reasons. The following list is a sampling. | | | | rest of the world is using Windows? Sometimes it isn't |
| 1) To learn more about a hobby or an interest. Do you | | | | your choice to go back to school, but the skills you |
| long to play golf? Have you always wanted to learn | | | | have learned and the life you had been leading now |
| write, knit or play the guitar? Then maybe adult | | | | seems passé. New job opportunities are |
| education classes are for you. These classes could be | | | | created every year for people willing to be trained or |
| offered through a university or college extension | | | | retrained. Programs like the Microsoft certification |
| program or through a church or community center, or | | | | programs and schools that train people to do new |
| they may be at a place of higher education for credit. | | | | occupations in just a few months have been created |
| Participating in a class or two can teach you | | | | specifically for people like you. |
| something new or how to do something with more skill | | | | 7) To change careers. A student named Raeeka |
| than you already possess. And if you take a class for | | | | arrived to the world of music on a road less traveled. |
| credit--say, European History to help with your | | | | She had been a corporate lawyer for a few years |
| genealogy project--you might find the basis of an | | | | and was very successful, but financial gains did not |
| education that leads to a second career. | | | | fulfill her passionate longing--to be an opera singer. So, |
| 2) To learn a foreign language for travel or fun. Have | | | | in her mid thirties, she gave up law and started over, |
| you always wanted to go to France or India or China, | | | | moving to a new city, taking new classes and making |
| but are worried about not speaking the language? | | | | new friends. At first she worried about how she would |
| Enroll in a foreign language class so you have the | | | | be treated by the other students, many of which who |
| basics to make your travels easier. Classes are usually | | | | were more than 15 years younger. But her classmates |
| categorized as "conversational", "for travel" or by level | | | | waylaid her concerns. And this past May she |
| (i.e., French I, Spanish I, etc.). Any classes will teach you | | | | graduated and has been demand as a soprano at |
| the basics--such as how to say yes, no, ask for | | | | opera companies around the country. |
| directions, inquire as to where the bathroom is, order | | | | 8) To follow a dream. Like Raeeka, you may have a |
| food, etc. | | | | dream. Maybe your dream isn't so specific. Maybe |
| 3) To set a good precedent for your children. Maybe | | | | your dream is to just go to school and finish your |
| you didn't get as much education as you wanted. | | | | degree. Or maybe you already have a degree and a |
| Maybe you want your child to stay in school and to | | | | career, but you've always dreamed of an advanced |
| learn as much as possible. Sometimes the best way | | | | degree. It's not too late to explore other subjects, to |
| to lead a child is by example. If you do your homework | | | | take courses in something you'd really love to delve |
| every night, so will your child. And you can sit at the | | | | into more deeply. |
| table together and use it as bonding time. | | | | 9) Work is paying for it--so why not? Will your |
| 4) To get a career. Did you not have time to go to | | | | company pay for classes? Then why not take a few |
| school like you wanted? You had your children at a | | | | in something that interests you or something that your |
| young age, or the opportunity or finances wasn't there | | | | boss would be interested in having you take. Many |
| and now you are thinking of what you'd like to do with | | | | corporations will pay for their employees to work on |
| your life. The thing you currently get up and go to | | | | MBAs in the evening or on weekends. If one of your |
| every day is your job; you wouldn't call it a career, but | | | | employee benefits is paid education, why not take |
| now you are ready for one. Going to school, whether | | | | advantage of this opportunity? |
| a trade school, a community college or a university, | | | | 10) To meet other, like minded adults. Would you like to |
| can get you on track to create a career from your | | | | widen your social sphere and better your skills? Take |
| current occupation. | | | | a cooking, wine appreciation or any other kind of class |
| 5) For career advancement. Maybe you are in a job | | | | where you can meet new people and practice a new |
| you love but you aren't sure what the next step is: do | | | | art. Then you can dazzle old friends with new |
| you want to become a manager or a specialist? | | | | knowledge, and share your excitement with new |
| Additional education can make the difference between | | | | friends. |
| paralegal and lawyer or between medical receptionist | | | | |