For the first post, I wanted to share a bit of inspiration to start us off. I wanted to discuss a bit about pursuing your degree as an adult and how the Health Programs division, and the entire College, is here to support and encourage you every step of the way.
With September just around the corner, some of you will begin your studies at Peirce as first-time college students, others may be returning to the classroom after a long hiatus and some may be joining us from a different higher education institution. Stepping into a new academic environment can feel vulnerable, uncomfortable and downright scary, but it can also be empowering, and it’s a necessary step toward creating the future you envision for yourself.As an adult learner and current student, I have been reflecting on what it takes to pull it off, to get through it, to balance work, life, school and all the messy stuff that we hope to avoid until we reach graduation. I’ve come to learn that life will throw us wicked curveballs at the most inopportune times calling on us to dig deep, stand tall and keep moving forward.
So how do we balance it all? Getting organized, being able to prioritize and practicing effective time management are among the critical building blocks of academic success. The rapport we have with our faculty members and our willingness to reach out for help, guidance and clarification cannot be underestimated as an important part of the success puzzle. And leaning on our support system of family, friends, neighbors and community is vital, especially when things get tough.
What is it that keeps us going in the toughest of times? This may take some personal reflection. Perhaps it is our perceptions of ourselves and our ability to overcome failure. Perhaps it is trusting that our most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Perhaps it is seeing and believing in the final end result.
What does this mean for us? Higher education is designed to transform us as individuals, but expect turbulence along the way. Earning your degree is supposed to be hard; it’s part of what makes the reward of holding your diploma so sweet.
Completing your degree may very well be one of the hardest endeavors of your life. Hopefully, it will also rank among those most worthwhile. When you hit bumps in the road, and it’s likely you will, remember why you started and be kind to yourself along the way. Good luck!
Check back in each month to see what the Health Programs division has to say next!
