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Multiple
Priorities: The Life of an Adult Learner |
| Working
a full-time job (sometimes two), raising a family, being involved with
the community, volunteer activities, and school--this is what I typically
hear adults trying to juggle as they continue to pursue their college degree.
Due to the flexibility of courses being offered at a distance, many adults
are finding it possible to return to the virtual classroom and fulfill
their dream of finishing a bachelor's degree or moving on to a master's
program.
As
adults, many of us have learned to manage multiple priorities in our busy
lives. Being able to fit a college degree program into an already hectic
life is becoming more common than in the past. However, it is important
to note that the flexibility of the courses offered at a distance does
not mean that they are less rigorous and/or less time consuming. The flexibility
of these programs affords you the opportunity to study at times that are
most productive for you, to save time driving to a campus for class, and
not to miss a class because of a change in your work schedule or because
you must go out of town. All of these are very important features that
allow you to fit a college program into your life. |
|
By
Dawn Drake
Executive
Director
Alternative
Delivery Systems
University
of Wisconsin-Platteville |
It
is equally as important for you to determine what types of changes you
need to make in your busy life to accommodate your studies. Rarely have
I heard an adult say, "I decided to go back to school because I have a
lot of extra time on my hands." So, if the first paragraph describes
your life, you need to determine what types of shifts in priorities these
items will take as you re-enter college life. Some suggestions follow: |
| 1 |
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DETERMINE
THE TIME YOU HAVE TO STUDY. Look at your calendar for one week and
block off all times that you are committed to something. Then, go back
through the same week and see if there is any way that you can take half
an hour off your current commitments each day. Doing this will give you
more than 3 hours per week to devote to school. |
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| 2 |
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IDENTIFY
TIMES WHEN YOU ARE NOT PRODUCTIVE. For example, some people like to
stay up late at night, but are too tired to study at that time. So, why
not tape a show that you might watch earlier in the evening (when you could
be studying) and watch it when you are relaxing before bedtime? Or, do
some of the other items that don't take a lot of brain power, but do take
time (e.g., washing dishes, folding laundry, paying bills) and use the
time you would normally do those things to study. |
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| 3 |
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MAKE
USE OF ALL YOUR TIME. Determine time that would normally be wasted
during the day. For example, do you have a long commute to work? If so,
make some notes about your classes on an audiotape and play that during
your commuting time. Always carry your notes and/or a textbook with you,
so if a meeting starts late, you get stuck in an elevator, or you must
wait in the doctor's office for an appointment, you can use the time to
study or read. |
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| 4 |
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MAKE
SACRIFICES. Give up one activity that you normally do each week. If
this is a fun activity (e.g., pleasure reading, sporting event, etc.),
plan to give it up for one year and then go back to it, so you have something
to look forward to at a later time. NOTE: Do not give up all of your fun
activities. If this is a household duty (e.g., washing dishes, doing laundry,
etc.), rearrange family work schedules to share this responsibility for
a year. Again, don't do this with all chores or you will not have your
family support, which is necessary for you to succeed. |
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| 5 |
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FIND
EXTRA STUDY TIME. Look at the volunteer activities and committee responsibilities
that you currently are involved with on an ongoing basis. Decide the one
you like the least and resign your position. Use that time as study
time. Then a year later, you can go back to that activity or try
a new one. |
There
are numerous other little time savers that, when added up, will allow you
to spend time on your studies. The key is to find which ones will work
the best for you. Whatever changes you make in your life to accommodate
fitting a college degree into your future don't matter. What does matter
is that you recognize that some things will have to change to make this
work.
So,
sit down today and figure out how to manage your multiple priorities to
put education near the top. You won't be sorry that you made the commitment! |
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