There comes a time in our lives when we find ourselves stuck in the middle of the road. The journey requires energy to go on or go back, and we simply can’t find the motivation. This lack of energy, stagnation and dissatisfaction can happen at any time – in our sophomore year at college, in our late sixties, or more commonly in the middle of our careers. It’s completely valid to feel this way, but we cannot spend our lives being stuck in that rut. So to get out of their ruts, many professionals decide to turn to academia and continue their education. Are you in a similar situation? Does the idea of continuing where you left off seem attractive to you? If the answer is anywhere near a yes, then you’ll want to read on, for here is how you would stand to benefit from a return to academia.
- A New Beginning
Employees and office workers often find themselves drained and missing their school and college days, where life was hectic, structured but filled with new information and experiences. If you are in a similar situation, then here’s some good news for you — many of those who find solace in academia choose to make it their career, and now, you can too, for what better place to begin a new chapter of your life than where it all began? Those who want to not only join the field but also excel in it can opt for a Doctor of Education degree (EDD). So much is within your reach, and you don’t even have to spend your daylight hours and nights toiling away at an educational institute as online edd programs are a great option that is readily available for those looking to spread their wings in academic situations. Through a Doctor of Education degree, you can find placement in academia as not only a highly valued academic but as an educational professional in civil and private organizations, public institutions, and even the government. If, and when you succeed in your academic aspirations, you’ll find yourself in an environment of comfort, routine, nostalgia, and most importantly, growth, which brings us to our next point.
- Boost In Personal Growth
Scientists and mental health professionals wholeheartedly believe that learning should be a lifelong process rather than something that stops the moment you’re done with high school or college. Not only does learning improve your brain functions by providing your brain with healthy, new material to process, but it also allows you to learn more about your strengths, weaknesses, and limits. You’ll never know where new interests will take you or how new interests will help you overcome weaknesses that have barred your progress in the past.
Making the decision to pursue an advanced academic degree is essential to improve your life. Not only do you get to devote time to personal development, but you also get the chance to expand your circle of colleagues, thus broadening your worldview and area of experience. It’s a win-win scenario, folks.
- Increases Salary And Chances For Promotion
This point stands firm for several reasons. First, as mentioned in the previous point, through your studies and work in academia, you’ll get to learn more about your strengths, weaknesses and limits, which will allow you to tailor your job performance to what best suits you. Second, an advanced academic degree is a sign of commitment on your part towards self-improvement, which garners respect from colleagues and superiors alike. And the more respected you are at work, the more chances you have of being recognized for a promotion or a salary raise. Third, an advanced education can sometimes be a necessity for people who want to move up the career ladder. It is universally acknowledged that the more demanding and in-demand the position is, the higher the educational requirements will be. Expanding your educational career will allow you to expand your professional career.
Furthermore, higher positions are directly linked to higher salaries—a CEO does earn more than a clerk after all—so the more advanced your degree, the better positions you’ll get, the more you’ll earn. Such is the circle of life under a capitalist economy.
- Improves Your Lifestyle
Did you know that focusing only on your taxing job can cause burnout? In fact, according to the World Health Organization, focusing too much on your job can actually distance you from it and increase your feelings of negativity towards it too. It sounds quite counter-productive, doesn’t it? That’s because it is. So the solution to it is academic-related, as you may have guessed it. By diverting your focus on something other than your work, you can cut down on the stress that you garner from placing all your attention on it. Less stress means a healthier lifestyle; folks, it’s common sense.
Besides the emotional lifestyle, once the money starts pouring in courtesy of your qualifications, you’ll be able to support a healthier material lifestyle too: better food, better clothes, membership to the gym, maybe a few therapy sessions, money for vacations, and some funds for the occasional splurge too. The list goes on and on.
- Increases Your Ability To Support A Career Transition
Are you tired of your profession? Have you reached that point in life where you’re wondering if you made a mistake selecting your field so are thinking of switching? Well, in that case you need to keep in mind is that no matter what the field, you’ll have to have a certain amount of knowledge and a particular degree to fill the requirements needed to fill a well-paying position. Maybe you’re an accountant looking to become a writer, or perhaps you’re an engineer eyeing up botany — each field has its own requirement, and the higher your qualifications are, the greater your chances will be of finding a sustainable position. So buckle up, and get that degree!
Now that you know the benefits of continuing your education, you might be a little more convinced that going down that path is the way for you than you were in the beginning. As children, we don’t really pay much attention to how valuable and life-altering our education is, but we come face to face with reality as adults. The good news is that it’s never too late to do what you love. Whether you’re ten years old or 100 years old, the world of academia embraces all, so if you feel that this may be your calling, answer it and begin your life anew.