"What You Think Adult Education Is And How It Pertains To You Personally".
As defined in Webster's Dictionary, "Education" is the instruction or training by which people learn to develop and use their mental, moral and physical powers; A gaining of experience .to train or develop (a particular power or skill). I feel adult education is learning to develop new skills and use your mental powers, that may have "gone to rest" over the years. .
Personally, as an adult, it's learning to learn again. I've talked for years about going back to school and to finally be doing it now means feeling good about myself. It means personal success to me. Somehow not feeling ashamed of myself for not seeking the opportunity of higher education sooner. Something to be proud of and that which will give me confidence in my personal and professional life.
As an employee, I"m learning new skills and refining familiar ones all the time on the job. But these skills are for this job only, on a narrower scale. What I develop and learn in the classroom, I can take with me everywhere in my professional and personal life. It will open more doors for me and give me the confidence to face new challenges. It means meeting a professional goal set for me and one my employer supports and encourages.
I feel it's empowering, liberating and confidence building. It will give me a greater sense of security somehow. Security to provide for my family and not feel limited in what I can do and where I can go. Jobs that require a degree will now be open to me. I"ll also have the confidence to go after them, to obtain them and perform them with greater confidence, as I will be armed with newly developed skills and knowledge.
It's also means sacrifice. Any free time I currently enjoy with my family will now be greatly reduced. My work schedule is extremely full now and leaves very little time with my family. I realize I must focus all my energy and time to successfully meet my goal of obtaining a degree.