Thursday, May 16, 2013

Ask Isa: What do you do when you're sick of college?

We've all had that moment when we feel like if we have to write one more essay or take one more exam we will lose our mind.

I felt that way during the last semester of my Master's degree. And I love school. I mean, love it. 

But by the end, I just wanted to be DONE. 

With that in mind, check out the following question from the Ask Isa inbox

Dear Isa,

I am at the end of my college career and I realize that I am behind in credits. I do not want to be here anymore. I almost feel like I am done with school completely. My brain just does not want to function like it used to... 

I want to start working and begin creating. I want to piece together a team and build a company. I really want to take a job offer and run with it. Then I will take online courses while I am working at my job to finish my classes at my own pace over the next year. This is what I want to do. 

Do I tell my future employer that I am not actually done yet. Or, do I continue living in the moment and doing in my heart what I know is best for me to be successful?

Sincerely, 

Done

Dear Done,

While as you can see above I can totally relate, about six months after I graduated with my Master's I found myself looking online for professional development classes because I missed school. 

The time we have in college to learn and grow exclusively is a gift that we don't always appreciate while we're there. We have our whole lives to work - and while work is great because you get paid and often do get to create, it's also really hard (and grueling especially in the beginning while you are learning and working your way up) and very competitive. 

But of course, I also understand not everyone loves school like I do, and the college format doesn't perfectly fit everyone's personality type. Some entrepreneurs need to get out there right away! So if you have a job offer from someone who clearly understands you haven't graduated yet (be very honest about this) but is willing to hire you while you finish your degree online then go for it if that is what you really want to do. 

The only thing to be careful of is getting too far behind; I've seen some students get so caught up in work that a degree that would have taken them two years takes them six, and the money they could have made after finishing the degree would have been much greater than working without one. 

This is a very personal decision and obviously there are many factors to weigh. The best thing you can do is to find someone who has a job you aspire to and ask their advice; explain your current situation and ask what he or she thinks would be best. I also recommend taking the situation to a career counselor and/or college advisor. 

The great thing about higher education now is that it's becoming increasingly flexible to fit students' diverse needs. Keep seeking advice, and remember to enjoy the learning process as much as possible. Once it's over, it's over, and learning to appreciate learning itself will serve you long into your career. 

Sincerely,

Isa

Have a question? You can ask it anonymously in the Ask Isa inbox and it may show up on the blog. You'd be surprised how many people your question will help.

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