More and more young adults are finding themselves in the unique situation of graduating high school, and having the opportunity and means to go to college, but not knowing what they want to go to college for. Instead of enrolling in college anyway, only to switch courses and educational choices several times, and winding up losing out on credits or money or both, a lot of individuals simply choose to move out of Mom and Dad’s house and into their own place or a place with a friend, and get a job. This is all well and good, but what happens if five, ten, or even fifteen years pass, and suddenly you find that the job you’re working isn’t the only you really want, but the one you really want is one you’re not qualified for? The answer: continued education.
Continuing your education in spite of not going to college, or even after attending and graduating college, may not seem like an easy choice to make, but believe it or not, once you’ve made the choice to do so, you’ll find that the school selection and course enrollment process is not as difficult as you might think. For one thing, continued education schools are often private in nature, or bare-bones in terms of the courses offered, which means that you don’t have to write a pages-long essay or compete with other applicants in order to secure a spot on the enrollment list. And second, because continued education schools are often considered to be trade or vo-tech schools, some of them are very specific as far as what they offer, so you won’t have to risk enrolling in a school that cannot meet your educational and eventual career needs.
While there are many careers that you can work your way up in without secondary education, there are others that require even a basic course certification in order for you to get started. These include: school bus and public transit drivers, big rig drivers, tow truck drivers and mechanics, and real estate agents. All of these careers have plenty to offer in consistency, reliability, and income, but you need to get certified in order to get started on one of their paths. For these and other careers, a continued education school makes the most sense.
Before you settle on a particular continuing education school and its continuing education courses, thoroughly research the courses that the school offers. If you’re not certain if a particular course is the right one for your desired career path, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. Check on accreditation and course requirements, as well as graduation requirements. If you have a potential employer in mind, speak to them about the school you’re considering – they should be able to tell you if that school’s educational offerings are on par with what they require.
Most importantly, don’t let a busy work or family schedule get in the way! Many continued education schools offer night and weekend classes, as well as online courses and “expedited” courses, so there are always options that you can select to make your busy schedule and your desire for certification co-exist.
