AnneOnCollege.net

So, in my reflections and contemplations I think about how my future degree will impact my future career, truly. Or maybe it is the contemplation of the existence of any future career. There are more and more layoffs each day. People are starting to dumb down their qualifications just to avoid being passed over for a position they are more than qualified to perform. This is something I recently decided to do. Sad thing is, I do not have that high of qualifications. I have tons of experience. I am capable of doing so much. I cannot find a job.

I by no means regret the decision to return for my degree or feel education is unnecessary. Quite the opposite, really. I love learning. I want to learn so many things. I want to finish my Bachelors and get my Masters. If I am still unemployed my Masters will have to wait, but it will be something I do pursue. I want to get my Bachelors in something completely different than finance or accounting or even business. I want to return and possibly study computer technology. I am good with problem solving. I like taking apart computers, laptops, you name it. I have looked into the courses needed. Some day.

As I contemplate my future prospects and opportunities I also try to find what it is I want to do for the rest of my life. Is it accounting? Is it computers? Is there something else? Am I missing something? Do I even know what I want to be when I grow up? So many questions needing answers. And regardless of this I am optimistic. There is doom and gloom on the news every day. My husband was recently laid off. Neither of us is working and I am optimistic. Something good is on the horizon. This education thing will pay off. Maybe not in the way I first intended, but it will pay off.

So, if you are contemplating your education, think about what is it you want. What do you want to gain from this pursuit? Will it improve your career, life, outlook? Or is this something you want to do for you? And, if money is a problem check out some of my earlier posts on where you can learn something new at no cost. What I have determined is the economy will rise and fall and I will have little control over that. But I have full control over my personal betterment. Now I need to study for my final in project management. Then it is on to managerial/cost accounting. Only one more year.

In honor of inauguration day and the changing of the guard, Fastweb wants to give one lucky subscriber the opportunity to win $1,000. Just log in on January 20th and you are automatically entered for a chance to win. So, do not delay. Head over to Fastweb and get your entry. And I hope you were able to watch the swearing in ceremony to mark this important day in our country's history. But if you were not so fortunate take heart, I am embedding it at the end of this post thanks to TPM TV and YouTube.

And while you are there check out more great scholarship offers such as:

Applicants must:

1. be Upromise members or the child of a Upromise member (Not a member yet? Click on this Upromise Membership link (www.upromise.com/scholarshiprules).
   
2. be United State citizens or legal permanent residents who reside in one of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C.
   
3. have a combined family adjusted gross income of $65,000 or less (see financial section instructions below if applicant is independent)
   
4. have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (or the equivalent).
   
5. be high school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll during the 2009-10 academic year or students who are already enrolled in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university or vocational-technical school.
   

It is mid-year and everyone is coming off the holiday high and hitting those books once again. While many may be focused on the return to school or looking forward to Spring Break (woo hoo), now is a great time to apply for some great scholarships. Remember, those student loans will have to be paid one day, why not lessen your burden and win some money to pay for school.

Previously I have mentioned FastWeb and Scholarships.com and feel them to be so valuable that another mention is just what is needed. First, sign up for an account with FastWeb. They send you email updates on new scholarship and internship opportunities. Additionally, FastWeb sends reminders of scholarship deadlines. If you favorited a scholarship and forgot about it FastWeb will remind you; and in plenty of time for submission. But wait, there is more. FastWeb has tons of resources ranging from how to prepare for college, write an essay, the advantage of applying online, etc.

Scholarships.com is more than just a great site for finding scholarship opportunities. Scholarships.com has valuable resource information on applications strategies, area of study specific scholarship opportunities, listing by grade level (high school, undergraduate, graduate), listing by state, and other financial aid opportunities. You do not know what is available if you never look.

Scholarships are not the only way to prepare and pay for college. While web surfing yesterday I came across a great article: BargainBriana.com on Upromise. Upromise is a great way to save for school. Many of us shop online and Upromise is just the place to shop your way into college savings. Every time you shop through Upromise a percentage of the money spent is put into your Upromise account. Use this money to pay off a student loan or to further fund that 529 account of yours. I have saved over $500 since starting with Upromise. To do this I applied for the Upromise credit card and pay for everything I can with it. I earn 1% on all purchases. Now, I am not condoning going into credit card debt to save 1% for college. That would defeat the whole purpose. I pay the bill in full every month. If you are unable to budget for this then I would suggest not getting the credit card. But shop through the Upromise links and you will still earn a return on your shopping investment; and who doesn't like that.

Enrollment is easy and free. Get involved in a community of people who share your interests. Tell them what YOU want to learn. Try it out. What you do you have to lose?

Some of the classes being offered are:

This month, today, I start Project Management. It will be a lot of work based on the syllabus. There are two chat threads each week with three posts required for each, homework, tests, mid-terms and finals, and a report due Wednesday of week four. In case you are new, I am an online student. Up until a two month ago I worked a very demanding full time job and with the extreme ruralness of my community online college was my only real option.

As with any new course, I am excited and nervous, and ready to learn something new. This course should be a great help since I am an extremely disorganized person. Not the best quality for a bookkeeper and accounting major. Oh, I can meet deadlines and get my work done, but something always falls by the wayside. Usually my family and personal life gets the shaft. So, I am going to give this class my attention and walk away with something useful for my life, not just my job or education.

What classes are you taking this semester? As I stated earlier, I take one class each month. January is Project Management, then it is Managerial/Cost Accounting in February, followed by Auditing in March, and Income Tax Accounting in April - talk about your perfect timing. I am definitely hitting the home stretch. Question will be whether having this degree will really help me find a good, long-term career position. I hope so, or else it is going to be one really expensive piece of paper!

Ah, the joys of school and the sadness of a break that has ended. Here is to all of you heading back to class today. Good luck and remember, Spring Break is just around the corner!