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The New Chapter: The Benefits of Continuing Education

After more than four grueling years of engineering school, I never wanted to see the inside of a classroom again. That might seem melodramatic, but it’s exactly how I felt on graduation day. Then, I was too overwhelmed with a move across the country and the start of a new job to worry about furthering my education.

However, by the end of my second year working, I found myself back in a classroom under the guise of “professional development.” Slowly, class by class, I began enjoying the formal learning process again. In each session, I applied the content directly to my daily work (unlike my physics or calculus courses) and would be excited for the next class. By that point, I noticed more desire to take business courses at the local university.

Continuing my formal education, whether by pursuing a degree or informal professional development courses, has taught me a lot. Not only have I learned more about myself, but I’ve learned more about the world around me and the industry in which I work. Every course has taught me better communication skills, introduced me to incredibly inspiring people, and pushed me beyond my perceived limits. Overall, it has opened my eyes to the value of formal and informal continuous learning processes.

Networking
One of the greatest benefits of continuing my education has been the people I’ve met: highly skilled professionals who have taught me about personal branding, the art of negotiation, and supply chain management. Each leader has generously provided their time, honesty, and insights into success.

Exposure to Other Professional Disciplines
My first class in my master’s program focused on marketing, and, honestly, I did not expect to learn anything that would affect my day-to-day work. However, I discovered takeaways after every session. While marketers study the best color combinations and wording choices for advertisements, they also examine the best ways to pitch ideas to consumers, build trust, and be strategically creative. The exposure to a marketer’s approach instantly changed the way I interacted with customers and coworkers alike.

Personal Development
Each class has challenged me in unique ways. In my negotiation class, for example, we were asked to negotiate the price of a fixed object at a big box store. This assignment pushed me outside my comfort zone while teaching skills that could be used in and out of the workplace. As a bonus, I bought an aloe vera plant for 10 cents off.

Career Changes
While I’m not currently looking to change industries or careers, many students in my cohort are. I’ve watched as many fellow students learn about other industries and network with each other for their next opportunity.

Sense of Accomplishment
Pursuing a formal education on top of working full-time requires a lot of time and commitment to the program. However, with the completion of each topic, I feel a sense of pride in working on a long-term goal. This has increased my confidence in myself and my skills.

Broadened World View
By enrolling in several courses, both industry-specific and not, I’ve come away with a different point of view. The classroom setting has exposed me to other perspectives, cultures, and strategies, with each continuing to expand my worldview.

Settng a Positive Example
My parents have always been an inspiration to me. They taught us to work hard at whatever we do. I will use this positive example with my own children someday, encouraging them to always increase their level of education as my husband and I are doing, and work hard at whatever they do.

Of course, these are just some of the immediate benefits I’ve realized since embarking on my journey of continuing education. The overall experience has been very rewarding, and I’ve appreciated the outpouring of support I’ve received. Although I had some early hesitancy in picking up another textbook, I have had no regrets. I know that whether my long-term learning continues in the classroom or beyond, it will be a part of the rest of my career.

This column originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of PCB007 Magazine.