Why and How to Keep Learning after College

The saying might be annoying, but it’s true: Your college years pass by in an instant. Now that you’ve graduated and you’re out in the adult world, education might seem like something from your distant past. You might even find yourself missing the classroom and learning in general.

Being a graduate definitely has its perks, but who says your education has to stop after college? The best part is, you can always go back to college, but you don’t have to. Education is all around you – you just have to know where to look. No matter what your interests are, you always have room to learn more.

So, how exactly can learning continue to benefit you? More importantly, how can you easily get a post-college education? Read on to find out.

How Does Learning Benefit You?

You may be thinking, “What’s the point? I already went through college. Why should I pursue learning any further?” Well, for starters, you learn something new every day. You can’t avoid learning – so why not take on some extra homework and find somewhere to learn?

How will post-college learning be beneficial to you? Here’s just a few examples:

• You can enhance your career. If you take on new challenges, you’ll develop skills that will help you advance in your field.
• You’ll update your life skills. Building these street smarts helps you make smart decisions in your personal and professional life.
• It will enrich your life. It’s exciting and fulfilling to learn something new.
• Most importantly, it will keep your mind sharp.

Take Some More College Classes

Before you look elsewhere to learn, consider the obvious option in front of you. You can go back to school anytime, whether it’s to learn supplemental skills for your career or just to learn about something that interests you.

If an actual college is too far away or too expensive, consider taking online classes. Thanks to the beauty of technology, they’re more in-depth than ever.

Join a Club

When it comes to your interests and hobbies, taking a class on them might seem a bit too serious. Luckily, you can still communicate with others who share your passions by joining a club. Look around your town for club opportunities, and online on sites like Meetup.

Do you like cycling? Join a cycling club so you can ride with other people. Love working on cars? Join a car club. How about reading? There are probably book club meetings at your local library.

Read

Speaking of reading, it’s one of the most easy and effective ways to continue learning. Ask your friends for some recommendations and head to your library.

It helps to get into the habit of reading at a specific time of day. Try reading instead of watching TV when you get home from work, or at night before you go to bed.

Too busy using your eyes and hands? Try audiobooks. They’re great for when you’re at the gym or doing chores.

Attend Local Lectures

Speakers often come around to colleges, bookstores and libraries. Check out those places’ websites for lists of upcoming lectures and readings.

You can hear authors talk about their newest book or professors talk about their research. If you’re looking for a talk from a specific person or subject, try an online search to see who might be around. No matter who you see, you’ll leave with some new information and hopefully a feeling of inspiration.

Find a Mentor

Reach out to an older friend or colleague whom you trust and have a friendly chat about their experiences. You can talk about career growth, politics, etiquette, philosophy or wherever the conversation goes.

Whether it’s over serious subjects or just light conversation, there’s nothing like actually sitting down with someone and having a heart-to-heart.

Follow News Networks

We should all watch the news more every day, but it’s hard to make time to actually sit down and watch. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to get news updates at the touch of a button.

If you’re a social media butterfly, you can follow news outlets on Facebook, Twitter and more. You can also download apps from the biggest news outlets on your smartphone.

Not so tech-savvy? Most news is online, and you can subscribe to email updates as well.

You’ll keep learning for your entire existence on this beautiful planet. Maybe it’s about time you get a jump start and find places to enrich your learning experience.