Getting schooled: 5 Good reasons to keep learning

Just as learning to surf can be a life changing experience so too can learning new skills that bolster your education.

But education is not just about going to university and piling up degrees; it’s more about the learning process, which increases our skills, expands our knowledge and enhances our lives. Kelly Slater even credits a big part of his success to continually increasing his knowledge of the waves and learning to read the ocean better. 

There are many good reasons to invest in further education and to keep learning, here are my top five:

1. It opens your mind

High school education is typically a standardised curriculum that’s force-fed to students, which they are encouraged to regurgitate back. So unless you were privy to attending a school that used alternative learning methods, then you probably haven’t had the most inspired education. Investing in study beyond school – whether that’s an apprenticeship or a full-blown degree – will open your mind to new information, new ideas and new perspectives, not to mention learning new skills.

2. And your networks

Attending a college or university can also open up your networks and can give you exposure to what’s happening beyond your backyard. You can connect with people of all ages, from all walks of life and from locations all over the world, especially if you participate in programs online. And as the old adage goes, “It’s not what you know but who you know”, so meeting new people and expanding your network while furthering your education can only be a good thing.

3. Builds confidence

One of the best things about learning is that it will challenge you and encourage you to think about things differently. Learning also helps you to feel more confident about your ability to handle different situations and tackle new tasks. When you know why things are done you increase your awareness, which can make you feel more prepared and ultimately more confident. There’s also a great sense of satisfaction to be gained from completing a course or program that you’ve elected to do, especially if it’s something you’re really interested in or naturally good at.

4. It opens doors and provides opportunities

Continuing your education and earning extra qualifications can open up new opportunities. When you gain new knowledge and enhance your skills, you’re also setting yourself apart from others and just like contesting for waves; a competitive edge goes a long way when vying for jobs. Investing in further study also means investing in you - education plays a big part in boosting your potential earnings.

5. It’s readily accessible (and often free)

There’s no shortage of tertiary education providers and many governments provide subsidises for recognised programs as well as offering education and training grants. There’s also been a recent explosion in online learning, much of which is free. This means that knowledge once taught to a lucky few is now readily accessible to anyone with a smartphone or laptop. There are many great online learning providers – my personal favourite is Coursera, an education platform that partners with top universities and organisations worldwide, to offer free courses available for everyone.

The true value of education can never really be quantified and will mean different things to different people. Regardless of it’s worth, and in the words of the legendary blues singer, songwriter and guitarist B.B. King, “The beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.”

Posted by: Jaclyn Knight, on October 27, 2015
Categories: Articles

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