finally going to college

[konchog uma]

when i got out of high school i went travelling, and never really got back to school. Now at 35, still figuring out what i want to be when i grow up, i think that i want to get a two year degree in graphic communication / web design from my local community college.

 

anyone have any feedback on that plan? is anyone in that field who has any helpful advice?

 

thanks

[Protector]

Ah yes, high school is already stressful and college is worse

It's better to figure things out before college life kicks you in the nads for a few years

Good idea, and now it's back to the learning life

 

If you want to start an online business call me and I'll direct you to the right people

If I find these people again

[GreytoWhite]

Congrats!

[ralis]

Good for you! College is wonderful!

[konchog uma]

thanks everyone

 

@rv, i have serious leg injuries and basically am looking for a desk job. Screens don't bother me. I will continue my yoga and daily workout routine, and take many walks, but something sedentary is precisely the ticket for me. i have blown out my knee over and over again lifting heavy objects and unloading trucks etc.. manual labor is not for poor delicate me lol

[Aetherous]

Not sure what graphic design pays or how easy it is to get a job in that field...both important things to consider. You may also want to look into the different types of IT work...it can be very lucrative.

 

Oh and...diving back into college after all that time will most likely be incredibly shocking. You can do it!

Edited January 5, 2013 by turtle shell

[RiverSnake]

Best of luck to you. Be true to yourself in all things.

 

-My 2 cents, Peace

[Aaron]

thanks everyone

 

@rv, i have serious leg injuries and basically am looking for a desk job. Screens don't bother me. I will continue my yoga and daily workout routine, and take many walks, but something sedentary is precisely the ticket for me. i have blown out my knee over and over again lifting heavy objects and unloading trucks etc.. manual labor is not for poor delicate me lol

 

I would suggest researching the need in the job market for the degree you want to pursue. Many technical degrees offered are not necessarily in high demand in the job market. Also stay away from technical schools, such as Everest or Devry if you can. I would suggest an actual community college or university for your degree. In most cases these degrees are much less expensive than the technical schools in the first place. Since you are 35 you might even get special consideration for your age, not sure. Good luck either way. I didn't go back to school til I was 23 or 24, so I know about starting late, but it was worth it. Oh, by the way, I'm 43 and installing office furniture now, so I unload trucks every day with a bachelor's degree under my belt. In my experience it's best not to put too much faith in those sorts of things.

 

Aaron

Edited January 5, 2013 by Aaron

[JohnC]

Awesome that you want to develop yourself!

 

Around college I would recommend that you check into whether you need a degree or not. Read education of millionaires, and consider going out and doing it on your own.

 

But if you want to jump into a company, yea you'll need a degree.

 

John

[GrandmasterP]

Good man.

It's never too late to go back to college and 35 is no age at all, although it maybe seems so to you right now.

It isn't though.

Associate degrees are a great way in especially the vocational ones as they lead to paid work plus community colleges are a super place to study for mature students as you'll be amongst more students similar to yourself than you would tend to find in a kidult-predominant first degree mill.

Good luck and best wishes to you.

I'm a lecturer (philosophy of education) in a uni, PM if I can ever be of any help. Don't know your subject at all but have colleagues and chums who do.

[Jeff]

Sounds like you have a plan.

 

Make it so...

 

Best wishes.

 

[konchog uma]

thank you all for your feedback

 

@turtle shell, i will look into IT careers. i happen to be pretty good at art and graphic design, and i think web development/design is also a good industry to get a degree in

 

@aaron, yes no guarantees, and i will be attending community college

 

@johnc, i have tried to get a job without a degree based strictly on my portfolio and it hasn't worked out. i get occasional freelance work, but i would benefit from a degree.

 

the best thing about having debilitating leg injuries is that i can go to school for almost nothing because of my income bracket (i live mostly on disability check, which is next to nothing) so i won't accumulate horrendous debt. Its almost like a recreational thing, or something i can drag out for 3 years and not care a bit about.. so nice! every curse has its blessings

[Vanir Thunder Dojo Tan]

what little time I spent in college last year was awesome, and I regret not having been more determined to follow up in the following semesters (though it was not wholly my own "fault", but a combination of distractions and obligations that I was unable to register for classes in time), but fully plan and intend on attending chemeketa community college here in salem as soon as I get familiarized with my present situation... no money, no job, community service obligations... college is kind of a liberty I cannot currently attain...

[JohnC]

 

@johnc, i have tried to get a job without a degree based strictly on my portfolio and it hasn't worked out. i get occasional freelance work, but i would benefit from a degree.

 

 

Yea man, what I mean is starting a company and doing it on your own. Call it Konchag graphic design... or what have you.

 

But like I said, if you are aiming to join a company a degree is important.

 

John

[Enishi]

For any degree that you want, go on job sites and look up the number of job openings for said field, along with stats on the number of regular applicants and other graduates. Career advisers at colleges really need to discuss this more, they tend to exaggerate the actual, objective opportunities out there.

[konchog uma]

helpful sites rv, thanks

[Immortal4life]

You've finally realized you aren't ever going to be anything awesome and great, and are accepting and working for a little bit above middle class life. It beats odd jobs and Mcdonalds. Haha, probably more people than want to will have to realize the same thing one day, but not today

Edited January 6, 2013 by Immortal4life

[Birch]

Learning coding and design is at present a good idea IMO. And if you don't intend to go for a job where people look for the paperwork then the college stuff (presently = $$$ in some cases but there are also fully zero cost - cept for bandwith, which is still cost- courses online) doesn't matter. Know-how (as in knowing how to do) matters.

 

Also, being on a Taoist forum, I would give your bazi a whorl.

 

---opinion from experience hiring, don't actually give much of crap about education---

[konchog uma]

You've finally realized you aren't ever going to be anything awesome and great, and are accepting and working for a little bit above middle class life. It beats odd jobs and Mcdonalds. Haha, probably more people than want to will have to realize the same thing one day, but not today

 

not even close. what is awesome and great about me has nothing to do with what class i fall into, economically speaking. and there is nothing wrong with odd jobs. The head of the Drikung Kagyu order today (Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche) worked at mcdonalds when he came to new jersey from tibet, and he was grateful for hte opportunity. He learned a lot there, and used it to polish his humility. There is value in everything if you are willing to be open to that value. But if you close yourself off and think you are better than that, you will only create misery for yourself and never learn anything.

[konchog uma]

Learning coding and design is at present a good idea IMO. And if you don't intend to go for a job where people look for the paperwork then the college stuff (presently = $$$ in some cases but there are also fully zero cost - cept for bandwith, which is still cost- courses online) doesn't matter. Know-how (as in knowing how to do) matters.

 

Also, being on a Taoist forum, I would give your bazi a whorl.

 

---opinion from experience hiring, don't actually give much of crap about education---

 

thanks for your insights.. i use tarot, but i like daoist oracles.. maybe i will check it out in regards to this

[Immortal4life]

not even close. what is awesome and great about me has nothing to do with what class i fall into, economically speaking. and there is nothing wrong with odd jobs. The head of the Drikung Kagyu order today (Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche) worked at mcdonalds when he came to new jersey from tibet, and he was grateful for hte opportunity. He learned a lot there, and used it to polish his humility. There is value in everything if you are willing to be open to that value. But if you close yourself off and think you are better than that, you will only create misery for yourself and never learn anything.

 

I guess that's why China has dominated Tibet. Such a shame.

 

By great I meant like something cool, like a famous DJ, Rapper, Fighter, Basketball player, Skateboarder, something cool and pimp, not boring. That's not called thinking you are better, it's realizing no one is better than anyone so do whatever it takes to be something in the real world and don't rationalize your life away by saying "well i'm too spiritual for the real world".

[Immortal4life]

---opinion from experience hiring, don't actually give much of crap about education---

 

Heh. Statements like these can often give you an idea of the age of a person and what generation they are. You sound like you were born between 1961 and 1979.

[konchog uma]

I guess that's why China has dominated Tibet. Such a shame.

 

By great I meant like something cool, like a famous DJ, Rapper, Fighter, Basketball player, Skateboarder, something cool and pimp, not boring. That's not called thinking you are better, it's realizing no one is better than anyone so do whatever it takes to be something in the real world and don't rationalize your life away by saying "well i'm too spiritual for the real world".

 

china's politics in tibet is a complicated and touchy issue. but your insensitive reference to it, on top of your constant stupidity, has inspired me to put you on ignore.

 

btw your arguements have nothing whatsoever to do with what i said.

[Immortal4life]

You can be sensitive, or you can be realistic. So many people in history have fallen because they had no one to tell them the truth.

 

I love Tibet, and hate China.

 

As a side note I wish the Tibetans would make their systems available to the public.

[Immortal4life]

Hahahahahaha! :D :D