How to Study for a Midterm Effectively

As a saying goes "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." Studying in advance will always bring benefits. It is about organizing yourself properly. You don’t want to feel anxious, right? This trend of leaving for tomorrow what could be done before is usually expressed in many fields. When it comes to procrastinating an exam preparation, this can be terrible! 

Homework, shopping, bills ... I'll simply do it tomorrow. Who has not left something for later, something that could have been done way before? This is all about a procrastination issue. Below are some tips to fully understand and change this harmful trend. 

The causes of this bad habit 

If you want to get good grades, consider making smart choices. If you lack of responsibility you should analyze everything deeply. Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is at times accompanied by guilt and paralysis to act. Truth is, this is rarely linked to laziness. As previously mentioned, studying the night before can only lead to anxiety. 

Fear of failure

Ccertain decisions, projects or even missions, you may feel somehow incompetent and not ready to receive criticism. For this reason, you implement the worst technique and in the end, you do not face what you must! 

The need for perfection

You want everything to be perfect. Maybe you didn’t have the proper location to study, odds are, you were facing an issue with your lover, etc. This extreme desire for absolute success and pretty much unattainable goals can inhibit the perfectionist in you. 

Fear of success

This is linked to the so called fear of emptiness. It is about failure to do anything to somehow delay this deadline. 

Sense of urgency

However, this habit is not so dramatic. Some students can only work under the influence of anxiety and stress. They somehow create a sense of urgency and even find it totally stimulating. It is like an adrenaline related state of emergency. 

Tips to Act right away! 

Having confidence

It's easier to say it than to feel it! Procrastination is often linked to a huge lack of self-esteem and an underestimation of competence. In these cases it is important to learn to work on yourself, maybe alone or with the help of a therapist. You will soon focus your energy to your homework and you will get to work! 

Manage time better

The clock is your worst enemy! To keep the minutes and days from flying, learn how to properly organize your life. Make a list of things you need and want to do, but try to draw reasonable goals. It is always best to start with 3 or 4 things to do during the day than with and endless list of objectives to meet. You can study at least 1 hour per day, especially if you start in advance. Not to mention the pleasure you will feel once all the tasks are performed! 

Comfort 

Imagine for a few seconds the feeling of comfort you will actually experience once you finish homework and the many chapters that you needed.  It is about time to get better! Start studying in advance. If you begin earlier, 4 hours per week will do! 

Categories: College Life   Tags: how to study for a midterm

5 Great Writing-Intensive Internships

By the time you’ve declared a major in English, Journalism, or Communications, you know you want to write as a way of making your living. You also know—hopefully—that the best way to ensure a job after college is to gain some experience in the workforce as a writer. Most of the time you’ll spend your summers in college working to build credentials for that future resume, but where do you start? In order to get that experience, you’ll need to land an internship. It can be challenging to find a position, but with a little creativity and some helpful tips, you can find great summer internships that focus on building out your writing. 

1. Newspapers

If you plan to save some money and go home for the summer, one of the first places you should contact is your hometown newspaper. Every town has one of these, and they are usually more than willing to give the local college kid some assignments to take on—or to take off of someone else’s plate! It’s ok to start small here; what you’re looking for is experience and clips to add to your qualifications.

2. Non-Profit Organizations

Students looking for internships would do well to look here for a place to practice their writing skills. In interning for a non-profit,  you’ll be be exposed to all different types of writing including (potentially) press releases, Website copy, electronic (and paper!) newsletters, grant-writing and more. You may need to decide before you apply whether you’re more interested in PR and marketing or in fundraising, as at larger organizations these are frequently different departments. 

3. Publishers

Most cities, even small cities, have at least one publisher in town. This could be the group that puts out the local wedding, dining, or recreation guides at local businesses or it might be larger book publisher. Writing is at the forefront of their businesses, which makes interning for a publisher ideal to an aspiring writer. 

4. Visitor’s Centers

If there’s a historical landmark, a body of water, a festival, or a tourist site nearby, there’s sure to be a visitor’s center.  What might that have to do with writing?  The people who run these centers need someone to write web content, copy, press releases, and ads for whatever local attractions they’re trying to promote.  

5. Lawyer’s offices

You know you want to write, but the idea of law school is lingering at the back of your mind, a lawyer’s office would be a prime place for you to intern. Writing plays a huge role in the life of an attorney; somebody writes all of those legal documents, right?  Drafting briefs, letters, and motions to clients and to the courts will give you some writing experience as well as some insight into what it’s really like to be an attorney.  

These are just some suggestions about places to look for a summer internship for writers; it’s likely you can think of more—after all, you’re a creative writer. Be encouraged: writing takes place at pretty much every business you can think of; it’s up to you to offer them your skills in return for that resume-building experience you’re looking for.

The author works for an online algebra tutoring company and loves to write!

Categories: College Life   Tags: writing internships

Top 5 Tips a Graduate Would Give Someone Just Starting University

To start a university education is to open yourself to a whole new world. Maybe you are leaving home for the first time, or maybe you have been on your own for a while and have decided that college is for you. Either way, it's easy to become overwhelmed with all of the new opportunities. Here are a few tips to help new university students make the most of the college experience.

1. Choose your living arrangements carefully.

In trying to save money, many college students live far away from campus, in run-down apartments, or with incompatible roommates. These things may seem like small hurdles initially, but when over time they become difficult to bear. Choose an apartment within 15 minutes of campus, and talk to your friends openly and frankly about your sleeping habits and standards of cleanliness before deciding to live together.

2. Know your advisor. 

Your faculty adviser can help you choose your courses and plan your schedule so that you can meet your goals. It is important to have a plan each year so that you can fulfil all your course requirements and graduate in a timely fashion - if you take only the minimum number of credit hours or do not plan for courses that are only offered once every year or two, you may not graduate on time. Meet with your adviser prior to enrolment each semester, and if your adviser is not helpful, request a different one.

3. Stay healthy.

Universities, with their large student populations and cramped housing, are a veritable breeding ground for germs. Visit your student health centre and make sure your vaccinations are up to date - a flu shot is a must, and many schools also recommend being vaccinated for meningitis. Try to maintain a healthy diet, and get plenty of exercise. Being ill is miserable when you are busy with coursework and away from your family - do what you can to protect yourself.

4. Branch out.

Especially if you start your time at university with a clear career goal in mind, it's easy to zone in on courses in your chosen field and miss out on interesting and diverse classes. You can find courses on almost anything, from opera to wine tasting to Harry Potter. You may never have another opportunity to explore this variety of learning opportunities - take advantage of it! You never know what will change your life.

5. Make time for fun.

College students like to party. Give yourself permission to have a good time. No, you don't need to start every weekend on Wednesday or develop alcoholism, but for the full college experience, you need to have fun. Check out the local establishments that make your town unique. Join a club or an intramural team. Protest something. The friends you make in college will stay with you for life.

At university, you will make memories that will stay with you for the rest of your life. These tips will help you balance work and play and make the most of your time at college.

Abi writes for Richmond, the American University in London. Richmond have a range of popular business subjects courses such as the business admin degree, visit Richmond to learn more.

Categories: College Life   Tags: tips for graduates

To Cheat or Not to Cheat in School

If you are used to cheating when you are still in high school, you must realize that cheating then is a lot more different when you are already in college. Sometimes, cheating during high school is not a big deal. But when you cheat in college, you will damage the university’s credibility and it is worth more than just a suspension from school. That is why most colleges don’t tolerate this kind of act, and expel students who are caught cheating. And now, it’s time to think how cheating in school can affect your whole life and you as a person. 

To Cheat or Not to Cheat?

1. Cheating in school doesn’t only happen during an exam when a student copies the answers of his classmate because his paper is still blank and there are only five minutes left to answer. In fact, submitting a plagiarized essay is another form of cheating.

2. Students usually cheat during an exam not because they are dumb enough to know the answer, but because they don’t have the desire to analyze the questions and the effort to write the answer.

3. Students cheat not because they don’t have the time to study, but because they lack the will to devote their time to studying.

4. When you cheat, it is just the same as you’re proving to your professor that you haven’t learned anything. You will then be marked as “Failed” not only in the specific subject, but for the entire course.

5. Your attention will be called by the disciplinary board and you will be given a disciplinary action such as a one-week suspension, or worse, you will be expelled from the university.

6. Repeated cheating will gradually become a habit. And a negative habit like cheating in school will already be part of the student’s system and will still be practiced even beyond the school, later in his life – whether in his professional career or in his future family.

7. In school, you will lose the trust of your professor. In return, you will lose your own integrity.

8. You will realize the negative effects of cheating later in your life when you  are already looking for a job. Why? Because you will fail every time an employer will call your previous school for a background check.

9. Cheating is just a temptation everyone can resist.

Cheating in school gives you a lifetime consequence. If you cheat in college, don’t expect to get a recommendation for future opportunities such as a scholarship program for a graduate school. And if you think you’re good at hiding and your professors hardly notice you every time you cheat, then you’re wrong. They are, in fact, good at catching. So don’t mess your whole future just because of one false move back in college.  

Categories: College Life   Tags: cheat in school, cheating in school

How to Tackle Your Nerve Wracking Exams?

Exam time can be stressful and nervous. Being nervous or anxious can create problems in facing your exam successfully. It hinders your performance and answering ability during the exam time. However it is much important to be confident throughout the exams and before your exams. In order to take part in exams, your mind needs to be calm and peaceful. It helps to answer the exam papers effectively with good performance. For certain people, exam times are phobias. Do not worry anymore. You can follow these tips to get through your exams without any inconvenience.   

Plan and prepare

Trying to cover all lessons in just 2 or 3 days before exams is a common mistake that every student would do. This will lead in forgetting the lessons that you have stored in your mind so far and could make your mind complicated. It is imperative to prepare and plan yourself at least 6 months prior to the exams. So you can learn step by step without any hassles or interruptions. Also preparing short notes for the main lessons is also essential. It helps to go through the lessons easily and recall them before exams.

Work according to a time table

Working according to a time table is vital to plan your activities effectively. It can be used to complete your each activity successfully on time. Sticking to a schedule is also useful to manage your time and you would not miss any essential task that needs to be done on the particular day or time.

Answer past papers

This is a good technique to checkout your memory and how far you are ready for the exams. It is also a good opportunity to study the lacking areas which you are finding difficult to answer. Also it is a kind of practicing before exams. 

Set a target and reward yourself

Try to have a target each day. For instance, you can target a lesson to be covered within a particular time frame. If you have achieved the relevant target, then you can reward yourself. It motivates you more and makes learning interesting. 

Do not forget your day today activities

Do not forget to follow your day to day activity routines such as, eating, exercising, sleeping and leisure activities. All these activities are necessary human needs that help in relaxing your mind. 

Take a break 

Studying whole day is not practical and it will make the entire day bored. Instead studying for hours, you can follow a pattern to make it more appealing. Take a break when you feel tired and cannot concentrate anymore. Watching a funny video clip, listening to music, playing a game or any interesting activity can be done to relax and inspire yourself. 

Don’t keep awaked

Another mistake is, keeping yourself awaked whole night before the exam day. You may lose recalling ability during the exam. Your mind needs relaxing and plenty of sleep. So have a good sleep for at least 6 hours on the day before your exams.

If you follow these simple facts, exams are not going to be phobias anymore. You can face it without any fear and pass with good results. 

Jane Taylor is an experienced lecturer at a leading university. Blogging is her leisure time activity and she loves sharing her teaching experience with others. These days she is writing articles about translating and interpreting services. Follow her on twitter.  

Categories: College Life   Tags: exam advice for students

Written Assignments vs Exams. Are Sitting Exams Becoming A Thing Of The Past?

Critics of tests and exams often argue that such assessment tools are neither valid nor reliable. They hold that a student's performance on standardized tests is a better measure of the examinee's attention span and understanding of the test makers' logic rather than a measure of content mastery. Judging a student's understanding of a semester's worth of information based on a 60 minute exam seems especially unfair to students with test anxiety.

Though written assignments eliminate some of those concerns, exams remain a standard assessment tool for good reasons. Most teachers use a combination of both tools to fairly evaluate each student. Consider the unique benefits of using exams and written assignments:

Benefits of Exams

Sitting exams ensure that students are not receiving outside help. In the technological age, plagiarizing is becoming easier and easier. In a controlled setting, students must draw upon their own resources to prove that they understand material.

Many jobs require high-stake performance evaluations. Though you will likely never have to identify lines from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, you may have to memorize the product codes of every fruit and vegetable in a grocery store.

Exam grades are easier to quantify. Assigning a grade based on responses to multiple choice questions is easier than creating and using a rubric for a writing assignment. Exam grades are viewed as more objective and therefore are easier to explain to angry students and parents.

Exams are inevitable. Testing starts in elementary school. In order for the government to collect national samples, standardized testing methods are as simple and objective as possible. Teachers are encouraged to shape their curriculum around state instruments, so they create tests to prepare students for bigger tests. The PSAT is practice for the SAT, high school exams are practice for college exams, and college exams are practice for the GRE, LSAT and MCAT.

Benefits of Written Assignments

Students can take time developing their ideas. Proponents of written assignments argue that test anxiety puts many students at a disadvantage. A smart student can easily get a bad test score if they are sick or having a bad day. Written assignments take more time and energy, so they are a better assessment of a student's understanding.

Though exams can test higher order thinking skills, written assignments always do. Written assignments can be open-ended; students can pick their own topics, allowing them to apply what they are studying to things they are actually interested in. The research process helps students get a more comprehensive understanding of material than simply memorizing facts.

Writing is a dying art. Many high paying occupations require writing, so students who excel at writing will have a strong competitive edge in the job market.

Should teachers expect all students to perform equally well on exams and written assignments? Should teachers assess students only by their strengths? Teachers should ponder these questions while bearing in mind that high stakes exams probably are not going anywhere anytime soon.

Richmond University are the American University in London offering Batchelor degrees in history and psychology, as well as good number of postgraduate subjects.

Categories: College Life   Tags: exams, written assignments, sitting exams

3 Most Coveted Online Courses as Per Popular Survey

Online education is becoming more and more popular by the day, and there can actually be no doubt about the fact that these are immensely useful. Not only are these online education courses much cheaper than the regular college courses, requiring no more than the course fees without the requirement for living far from home and taking on several additional but related expenses. Moreover, these courses are also highly beneficial for those who have already launched a career and need some further education to help them along. Besides, a lot of people opting for online courses are those that wish to change tracks in their career. 

There are a wide variety of online degree programs on offer for those interested. According to recent statistics, however, there are a few courses that have been picked up by students from across the globe more than the others. There are various reasons behind the popularity of these particular degrees; mostly, however, it is the potential of these courses in the job market that has drawn people toward them. 

Computer and Information Technology

In this age of information, there is naturally a huge demand for this particular course. There is a lot of demand in the job market for people with formal education in information technology, thanks to the rapid digitalization of practically every aspect of our lives. The computer is used in practically every corner of the world, and there is a huge amount of contention for jobs in sectors like network administration and online computer support. Moreover, advanced degrees in highly specialized branches of this particular science can also secure you jobs in the realm of cyber crime and security.

Criminal Justice

This is one of the most popular courses taken by students all around the world. The best part about this particular field is that these are available in really advanced online masters degree programs; aside from this, some of these courses are also designed especially for people who are already in the field, in order to equip them to get further in their career, and also to become better equipped to handle their job much more efficiently. Needless to say, what really has played the role of being the biggest factor in drawing students is the course’s highly vocational nature.

Psychology

This had indeed become one of the most popular subjects taken by students all around the globe. While the demand of this particular subject is more or less uniformly huge in almost every regular college, the online graduate programs in this field have surpassed even that. The reason behind this can be seen from the fact that the online courses involve a lot of practical work like preparing case studies based on actual people. Moreover, some of the courses also include a semester of internship with a practicing psychiatrist or psychologist, something that acts as invaluable hands on experience when the time for embarking in the career arrives. Besides, this field also has a huge number of branches like child psychology and behavioral psychology. 

Stephen Strings is one of the most prolific bloggers in the field of online education. He likes to write highly informative articles on subjects like online business degree, courses on criminal justice and a variety of such other online education degrees. He is currently associated with ww.EDegreeUSA.com, the online information portal for pursuing e-learning courses.

Categories: College Life   Tags: online courses

Top 5 Tips to Get You Ready For Your GCSE Exams

Now that the festive season is behind us thousands of teenagers are starting to refocus their attention at their forthcoming GCSE exams. For many this can be an anxious period in the school calendar as many have put-off revising or weren’t able to devote as much time as they’d hoped.

It’s common for nerves and the anticipation of the exam results to play on your mind. You don’t need us to tell you not to worry. That’s why we’re not going to, instead we’ve come up with 5 easy tips that’ll help you make the most of the short time you have remaining. Whether you’re on the tail end of your revision programme or just getting started, these tips could help make the difference.

Within your GCSE examins, markers are looking for candidates to evidence their understanding and demonstrate the ability to develop a reasoned argument. Many ‘how-to’ revision guides and articles will offer a full programme for GCSE revision, we could but we’re concentrating on those who don’t have that time.

Here’s your guide to last-minute GCSE revision:

1. Prioritise, prioritise… prioritise 

Time is ticking so we need to prioritise between tasks, either on a sheet of A3 or on the calendar on your smart phone, enter all of your exam dates, location (hall no., classroom no., etc) and any other exam day information. Then work out the time remaining and issue yourself with challenging but achievable daily targets (study periods may vary depending on your daily commitments but remember this is your last chance to make a difference). Dedicate as much time as possible and stick to it, the effort and time you put in now will be reflected in the results you achieve at the end. 

To encourage yourself to keep to these targets make your calendar public, stick your A3 sheet up in the kitchen or living room, or share your iCalendar dates on your smart phone with relatives. This will tie-you in to the targets you’ve set and involve everyone in your action plan. Sharing these dates will also lighten the pressure as you’ll be able to discuss your progress with your family.

2. Facts, figures and dates

If last-minute is an understatement, you’ll need to start with the facts, key dates, theories, iconic or memorable people and locations, etc. Begin with identifying the basic, core information, this will be easier to digest and will help you ease into your revision rather than attempting to wade through thick notepads or folders of black and white printouts. 

Now you’re on the right track – starting was always going to be tough!

3. Do what works best for you

Throughout each term you receive endless printouts and bits of paper from your teachers. Now with the added load of past exam papers, revising could again feel like an uphill struggle.

If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch you could try an online revision tool. There are loads out there so picking one that suits you is key. Visual and interactive resources are often the most effective – watching GCSE revision videos direct on your device can turn weighty subjects into bite-size clips that are easy-to-follow. LearnersCloud is one of the leading online resources for revision and exam prep as their tutor videos follow AQA, Edexcel and OCR exam specs and cover GCSE Maths, GCSE English, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. 

If you don’t have access to a smart device you’ll need to work from your notes and course textbooks.

4. Don’t waste time, revise what’s needed

Often handed out by your teacher at the start of each term, you should have an overview of your course syllabus, which lists all of the topics covered in your exam. If you can’t find these you can always access your exam boards specification online (AQA, Edexcel or OCR). 

Once you’ve identified the key areas begin with refreshing your memory by reading through the end of topic summaries for each module in your course textbooks. Don’t worry if something feels completely new, for now this is only intended to help you establish the key facts, theories and points to cover.

If you’ve decided to use an online resource, make sure the content is separated by examination board. LearnersCloud categorises each clip by exam board and the unit it covers, useful if you’re really short on time.

5. Getting it done!

Now that we’ve established; how long we have left before the exams, how much time we aim to spend on revision each day, the key areas to cover and an approach to getting started – now we’ve got to get it done!

If you’ve reached this point of the article you’ll be shouting how! how! 

We won’t hold you in suspense, here’s two options; one for those who prefer to use an online revision resource and the other, an offline method.

If you take anything away from this article, which we hope you do of course – take every opportunity that you have to revise; whether you’re on the bus or at home waiting for your favourite TV show to start make use of the time to learn, revise and test yourself. 

Offline revision: Those of you who are revising with your own notes and the course textbooks we’d suggest you begin by collating your notes for each unit. If you don’t have these we won’t tut but your time will be stretched even more. Remember the end of topic summaries, you will need to work through each unit in your textbook and take notes on the key pieces of information. Try and be specific, limit your notes to the core points that’ll jog your memory when you’re reading back through. 

Once you’ve finished try using flash cards or small blank cards to condense your notes down further. These handy cards are much more accessible and transportable than thick notepads and heavy textbooks. They also limit your space to write notes so you’re forced to read through each point and think about the meaning in order to accurately minimise the note made.

Online GCSE revision: If you’re using LearnersCloud and you’ve customised your course preferences you can start watching content online. All subscription types mean you can transfer the subscription to your Apple devices, so whether it’s on your Mac, iPhone or iPad you can watch lesson tutorials, test yourself with the end-of-topic questions and review what areas you need to spend more time on. 

Whether you’re using an offline (flash cards) or online method - revision should be on going, at every opportunity read through or watch content specific to your exam board syllabus. This can help you work through difficult concepts and timeline stages of events. Repetition although not a tool for in depth learning can also help you to remember key points in the exam that then prompt your train of thought.

Final week before exams

This is crunch time, make or break, this could be the turning point for your future – ignore all of these clichés and statements, all they’ll do is create added pressure. You’ve revised the material; you’re still reinforcing your understanding – now it’s just the part to test all of that.

In your final week before your exams continue with these revision techniques but also look at past exam papers. 

Always remember that starting can often be the hardest part. Go through the steps we’ve suggested, put the time and effort in and when the invigilator says “put down your pens” for the final time, you’ll know that you’ve done the most you could in the time you had remaining.

Remember to take every opportunity to revise – best of luck from us all!

LearnersCloud is an online GCSE revision provider of HD tutor-led videos and apps. Covering the UK’s leading examination boards; teachers can access easy-to-integrate classroom resources or recommend students an ideal resource for independent revision. To find out more follow @LearnersCloud or visit the blog: Insights from the Cloud.

Categories: College Life   Tags: GCSE revision, GCSE exams

The Benefits of Studying in a Group

Finding the right techniques while studying can save time and make sure that the information is being absorbed, learned, and understood. One of the most effective studying techniques is taking part in a study group. Whether you are taking part in study groups that are led by an instructor, or informal study groups, there are a number of benefits that can be experienced. The following are a few positives to choosing to study with a group. 

The Ability to Have Questions Answered

When it comes to an instructor led environment in the classroom, there may not be time for questions to be addressed during the lecture. Students that have decided to take part in a study group can have their questions addressed and answered. The best part about this is the fact that peers and students will often answer questions differently than a teacher, providing the opportunity to easier understand the concepts that are being taught. 

Encouragement to Learn the Material

Finding the time to study is easier than finding the motivation. Many students become easily distracted and are unable to focus on the task at hand. Working with a study group is going to encourage you to study with the group, go over the material so something can be added to the group discussion, and so that you can help others in the group to clarify any of the teaching points that they don't understand. Studying as part of a group is a big motivator to learn and understand the material that is being presented in class. 

Recalling the Material Being Learned

Repetition is an important part of learning. We must take in the information through different channels like reading, listening to it, talking about it and writing it down in order to fully absorb and understand the material that is being presented. Taking part in a study group encourages repetition as you are talking about the lessons being presented with the group, taking additional notes, and even explaining to others in the group about any of the concepts that they don't understand. The study group can reduce the time spent studying on your own - and can often be more of an effective way to learn the material and further the education.

Developing Peer Relationships

Studying as part of a group is a great way to make friends with people in the same class. The peer relationships can come in handy when you missed a class and need to go over the material that was learned or are simply looking for motivation when it comes time to study for the final exams or tests. The peer relationships are an important part of the education and can become a valuable learning tool. 

The Ability to Ask the Instructor/Assistant Questions

In groups that are designed for study assistance led by the instructor or an assistant, you are able to ask questions about the material, get a clear answer, and even learn more about the information that is going to be covered on the final exam. This valuable tool can help to develop the relationship between the student and the teacher and is a great way to get more from the class that is being taken. 

There are various avenues that can be used to find a study group. You can inquire to the teacher whether there are any formal study groups scheduled, or create one with other students by stimulating interest in the class. Often a group will come together and become friends with one another, creating even more support surrounding the education and increasing the chances that they are going to excel within the class or the program.

Ryan Ayers writes and creates articles in the field of education. This article was written to explain the benefits of a study group and the encourage further study in this area with a Master of Education Curriculum and Instruction.

Categories: College Life   Tags: studying in a group, study groups

An Education Can Come From Anywhere

From an early age, children are taught that education is important. This is a correct statement because the importance of education will never falter. To succeed in any aspect of life, having some form of education on any given subject is not optional, but necessary. 

Education: The First Encounter

When most people hear the word education, the first thought that they have is usually about going to school. Yes, most education that happens on a large scale happens at a school, but that is not all. From the very beginning of life, the first education that babies get is taught to them by their mothers. A mother is the first teacher because she teaches the first skills that are needed to survive. Most people, even mothers, do not realise this but it is very important. This type of first hand education continues on until the child is old enough to attend school.

Learning The Basic Skills

In most places around the world, children first attend school around age 5. This is where the formal education, like math skills and reading comprehension, begin but that is not all that is learned. Children who attend school throughout the years are not only learning academics, but social skills as well. Interacting with their peer group on a regular basis educates them on personal relations. These interpersonal skills are important for lifelong progression because people are everywhere. Some studies suggest that the ones who have good people skills find it easier to progress through life.

As children grow into teenagers, their high school education helps to pinpoint certain areas of study and prepare the student for a college education. It is a known fact that going to college and getting a formal college education is an extremely good way to get prepared for a successful future. While it is true that some people may make it through life and be successful without going to college, that sort of success story is not as popular as we are lead to believe.

The School Of Life

However, even if they did not attend college that does not mean that they are uneducated. Self-taught education is a very real education that can be gained through personal research and avid reading. While the ones who teach themselves do not have the necessary credentials to prove what they know, in many cases practical application of lessons learned will speak for themselves. 

Any discussion on education would not be complete without mentioning the one school that everyone who has lived has attended. That would be the School of Life. The lessons we learn every day can usually be applied to many different situations and learning of other people's mistakes can help prevent us from having undesired outcomes.

Only a fool would argue that education is not important. On the contrary, getting educated might be the most important thing that can be done in life. How you take advantage and apply your education is up to you.

Gloria Haynes is a retired English teacher, who taught at Albany High School for 30 years. She now spends her days writing for her local newspaper and gardening with her grandchildren. 

Categories: College Life   Tags: education