I always wondered what it would be like to go back to school.
I was never a great student. Sure, I did pretty well when the spirit moved me...or if I was challenged. But more often than not I cruised by, did well enough to move along...but that was about it.
By now, you are probably tired of reading about me returning to work. I won't go into it, but I will say that part of my plan involves going back to school. No, not to get my masters. Quite honestly in the Journalism field...or more specifically the video world, a Masters Degree doesn't mean anything except that you are probably in debt.
((Computer picture//Courtesy: Clipartguide.com))
No, I am taking courses that would help me in what I do. Or at least something related to what I do. I am trying to get my Web Design certification. Partially because I just think that it would be good stuff to learn and partially because if I am decent at it, I stand a chance of making some money along with redesigning both this site and my production companies sites.
It isn't costing me a fortune and I'm not going to be in debt by taking the classes. Heck, I got a package deal at the Computer School that I'm attending.
The schedule is simple...sort of. I'm taking 17 one or two day courses at 8 hours per day. If you are thinking that is a lot you are right, it is. I'm doing this because the school offered a package deal that allows me to take as many courses as I can for 6 months at a set rate.
The 1st class was this week. Photoshop 1. You might be asking "You are paying for that?". Yeah, I am. I am because it showed me things that I would never know trying to learn the program on my own.
The classes are good. The 8 hours fly by. Rather than just listening to 8 hours of lecture, we are in front of a computer actually working with the software doing training exercises. Really, that is the best way to learn.
I think the last actual class that I took in College was in the fall of 1987. That's a long time ago. A lot of things have changed. Never mind the fact that I'm older, most of the things I want to learn didn't exist. That is what makes it fun though. That is what makes it a challenge. That is what makes this a worthwhile adventure; the chance to learn and the chance to apply what I've learned. It doesn't get much better than that.
In the spirit, enjoy a clip from the 80's classic Rodney Dangerfield movie Back to School. Thanks You Tube:
That is a classic clip from a very funny movie.
ReplyDeleteYeah, going back to school can be tough, but I think hands-on classes like you're going through are great ways to do so. Besides being hands-on so you stay engaged and interested, they're also targeted to a specific area you have interest in, so it's much easier to see the application. Often, the hardest part of school was making the connection between what I was learning and how it would apply to me in the future. The best teachers were always the ones that could give real-world examples of how to apply what we were learning.