I am pro education. If you know me, or have read a handful
of my blogs, you could probably tell that is true. But I’m not just pro
college; I am pro knowledge through whatever outlet it can be acquired.
There are so many ways you can obtain new information and
new skills besides going to college. You can find a mentor in a field you want
to enter, like photography, and learn from them. Books, obviously, are great
sources to learn about history, art, science and anything else you’d like to
learn. You can start at the bottom of a company fetching coffee and learn
everything you can by watching and asking questions, and then work your way up.
You can go online where there is no limit to what you can learn through articles,
blogs and video tutorials.
As you can see, there are lots of options out there for you
to learn something new whether it’d be for personal enlightenment or for your
current or future career. So if you have all these options, why should you
consider college? Well, the way I see it, college incorporates all of the above
outlets to obtaining an education plus
there are additional benefits to being connected to a college.
How Different Options
for Learning Are Incorporated Into the College Experience
Built-In Mentors
As I had just suggested, you could find a mentor in your
field and learn from them. That means you’ll need to seek out somebody
knowledgeable and willing to teach you. I have that at MPTC. In fact, I have
several mentors who are professionals with experience in their fields. They are
my instructors. And I didn’t have to search them out; I simply signed up for
their classes. They are the college’s built-in mentors.
Traditional and Technology-Based Learning Tools
I mentioned earlier that you could learn through books and
the Internet. I’ve been asked to use all kinds of learning tools throughout my
time here at MPTC. I’ve been assigned to read online articles and view video
tutorials. Through searching online, I’ve been asked to find information and
additional resources. I’ve also read textbooks about customer service, grammar
and JavaScript. If I wanted to step outside of the required reading, I could
find a fresh batch of new books each semester in the library about topics
relating to any of the programs offered at the college.
Real-World Experience
So, how do you get real-world experience by being a college
student, like the example I gave about the individual who works his or her way
up the ladder by learning from the higher-ups? You become an intern. Oftentimes, interns are college
students. If you work hard and learn from them, they may hire you after you
graduate and you can start climbing that ladder. As a student in the Wisconsin
Technical College system, I have access to a statewide online employment
information system that posts internships (as well as jobs). It was probably
the best perk I received as a student, because it is how I found a job.
Actually, my current employer found my resume on this site and contacted me.
I’ve had instructors who’ve notified my classes about
competitions that not only offered real-world experience but also, for the
winner, offered something nice to ad to their resume. In fact, I was told about
three graphic design competitions I could enter right now. I would not have
known about them if it weren’t for my instructor.
The Additional
Benefits of Being Connected to a College
Equipment and Discounts
I’m not going to lie, college costs money, but it can save
you money, too. Let’s suppose I would have decided to learn about video
production and editing by myself instead of enrolling in a program at MPTC. I
would have to buy a camera, a tripod, microphones, and a couple of lighting
kits. Well, that would have been more than I could afford to buy, especially all
at once! But, I enrolled in a program where I have access to that equipment, so
I don’t have to run out and buy a soft box or a boom mic.
If I weren’t a student, I wouldn’t have received a student
discount on my editing software. The cost of these professional software
programs is pretty substantial, so I’m glad I was able to save a nice chunk of
money by attending school instead of purchasing it on my own.
Services, Resources, and Activities
As a student, you have access to resources you may not have
access to if you weren’t connected to a school. I’ve probably said this more
than twice in my blog posts, and I know I have given this advice to a lot of
incoming students: Use the campus’s resources and services. They are free. Use
the library; use the career center; use the counseling services. These are all
things you have access to, and it’s one of the greatest benefits you have as a
college student.
Being connected to a college, you have the opportunity to
take advantage of free entertainment, free speakers and free food. Some events
even give away prizes. If I weren’t a student and didn’t attend events, I
wouldn’t have the new Blu-Ray player I won playing BINGO in the cafeteria last
year. It’s not something I necessarily needed as part of my educational
experience, but it’s definitely one of the perks of being a student.
After Graduation
There are perks even after you leave campus. As a graduate,
you are an alumnus. You are invited to networking opportunities, and you still
have access to the career center should you need help updating your resume or
finding a job.
Speaking of resumes, one of the most obvious benefits of
going to college is that, at the end of it all, you get to put something on
your resume. In the education section you’ll list your degree. It’s one line of
written proof that you’ve learned something.
As I said at the beginning of this blog post, I am pro
education. In fact, I enjoy learning for the sake of learning, and it’s been
beneficial to me as well as my employers. I encourage everyone to learn,
whether it’d be by attending college, on your own, or by some other means. We
as a society can never be too educated nor can we have too many educated
people. So if you’re thinking about learning something new, I hope you consider
college as an option because it does have its perks!
