Greenup County Connection
Continuing Education
Anne Stephens
For The Ashland Beacon
It is back-to-school time for our kids! If you are an adult, are you going back to school? Are you considering going back to school? We have all heard that you are never too old to learn and that we all learn something new every day. Do you think that is true?
We all need to actively learn new things daily. We know that we should exercise our bodies to stay in good shape to move around, but we also need to exercise our minds to keep our ability to think clearly. Learning is a lifelong process. There are many ways to learn, but the structure of school is a tried-and-true way to learn. If you are retired, you may even qualify for college classes with free tuition! Contact me if you are interested in that and I’ll be get that information to you.
The following information is about continuing education for adults. As always, for more information on this or any other educational or community topic, contact the Greenup Extension Office.
School is not just for kids! Learning doesn’t end with high school graduation or even college graduation. Professional people must continue their education to stay current in their jobs. If you don’t have a job that you love or you have been thinking about changing jobs, maybe you should go back to school.
Many classes are offered so working people can fit them into a busy schedule. If you never finished high school, there are ways to complete your diploma that can directly affect your lifelong income. A high school graduate can expect to earn more than those who did not complete high school. The more education and experience you have, the better you can expect to do in the job market.
Pursuing a high school diploma is important, as is pursuing further education and training after high school. Job opportunities are limited for those who have not completed high school. The number of occupations requiring at least an associate degree has risen and will continue to go up. Some occupations pay better than others, so select the right program to meet your needs. Visit http://www.collegeboard.org/ to search programs that will help you further your education. Beyond high school, education and training programs include community and technical colleges, four-year colleges and universities, online education, school-to-work programs and trade school programs.
Projected job growth rates, according to employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, predict that the following occupations will have the highest growth: Registered nurses; Home health aides; Customer service representatives; Food service workers; Personal and home care aides; Growth rates vary by state and demographic area. Kentucky jobs projected to have the most openings include retail, food service and health care.
Having education and training beyond high school is related to lower crime rates, improved health and stronger decision-making skills. Not only do those with high school diplomas have a better quality of life than those who do not, but college graduates clearly are also better off than those with a high school education.
Weigh the cost of your education against what you can expect to make starting out full-time after completing your degree, whether you are going to a four-year school, technical college, or job training program. Regardless of which you choose, you want to make sure you will be OK financially in years to come. For those who need more hands-on career training, a community college or trade school might be best. If you want to become an electrician, for example, a trade school will provide you with the proper training at a lower cost. It is smart to go to a school that fits the job training you will need.
Most important, do not base your career choices only on what you think is available but on what you enjoy and are skilled at doing. Resources are available to help you decide what you enjoy and can do. Tools such as career interest inventories can help you decide which direction you want to go in life. Go to http://www.careerpath.com/ for more information.
One way to get ideas about things you like to do is volunteering. Many community service organizations have opportunities for volunteering in a variety of topic areas. Your county Extension service has agents who work in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, family consumer science, youth development, community economic development, arts education, and arts activities. Let us know if you have interest in any of these areas and we would be happy to guide you into a volunteering opportunity.
For more information, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606.836.0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144 Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability. UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING.
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