The School of ‘Self Teaching’ Is The Answer for The Unemployed or Displaced Worker, and Young Students!
Replace Facebook By Reading ‘Faceless Books’ of Math, Science, and English To Further Your Educational Career- Oriented Goal!
by Miriam G. Aw
Seemingly it appears that there are more youngsters (And adults) worrying about getting onto the ‘Facebook’ social network site at every chance they get than hitting ‘faceless books’ of mathematics, science, English, and so forth!
Something has terribly gone wrong with prioritizing objectives and goals in life. What is considered to be more important in the long run when it comes to furthering one’s own education is becoming a distancing second or third on the achievement list of accomplishments.
Have society become so desperate to the point that socializing on a pretentious social network via the Internet is given more credence than academic and vocational books that can help to elevate their awareness in any career choice they chose to pursue in life?
One generational group of youngsters I have in mind are those who attend middle school/junior high school, which is the perfect time for them to begin learning practically any field of interest, such as nursing, pharmacology, medical terminology, legal research, engineering, computer programming, and so forth.
During this time in these youngsters lives when they should begin studying a particular field of interest, and by the time they enter high school, these same area of studies can be continued to heighten their knowledge.
Wherefore, by graduation time, these same youngsters can further educational goals, academically or vocationally, by attending a post-secondary educational institution of their choice to advance their skills, and/or begin working in their chosen field at an entry-level, and/or attend school on a part-time basis getting both work experience, and an advancing education.
Some people might say that this is already being done - it’s called getting a “Vocational education.” I should know. I graduated from a vocational high school where it prepared students upon graduating to pursue a career as a licensed practical nurse, registered nurse, laboratory technician, or any other facet of the medical field. Also, photography, cosmetology
(Without the letter “R’s“ as good old Madea (Madea‘s Big Happy Family) illustrates in the play version - Very funny stuff I might add), secretarial with short-hand, and many more fields of interests.
By having these youngsters to start learning specific areas in the medical field, legal field, math, or science field, for example, it will give them ample room to advance themselves by the time they graduate from high school, thus answering the call of various employers who seek knowledgeable individuals fresh out of high school, or college, to fulfill much needed positions with ease.
However, during these difficult jobless times for so many individuals who have found themselves between a rock and a hard place raising a family, caring for their elderly parent(s), and/or are seeking employment on a daily basis only to exhaust their funds by doing so, are seeking ways to improve their educational status by attending college, or through some program designed to advance themselves on a socio-economic level in order to increase their chances of becoming employed.
But what if you cannot afford yourself to attend college, or partake in a program geared to advance your preparedness skills for the work place? What happens when taking ‘online courses’ is not an option due to cost?
It has been my experience that when you take the initiative to learn more about something, or someone for that matter, this “Self-Taught” method helps you to increase your chances and knowledge multi-fold, which is a positive plus whenever you are propelling yourself toward fulfilling an objective, or goal, in life.
To take the initiative of ‘teaching yourself’ or to be ‘self-taught’ can be one of the best things a person can do for him, or her self, especially when you cannot attend college for whatever reason, or you cannot sign-up to register for a program that is geared toward helping others to advance themselves for the work place.
Although there are millions of books to choose from that details specific information about any field of interests that are pertinent to your course of action, it is still one of the best avenues to take whenever you need to learn more than what you currently know, or think you know, or to brush-up on a few things that you use to know.
Today, the emphasis of getting a college education have discouraged a large population of people to the point of increasing hopelessness in so many individuals. As a result of this outcry in the U.S. to get a college degree, it is literally unraveling this country’s moral of feeling useful. To be blunt, it is insulting!
When does having a college degree mean that you are smarter than a fifth grader? I know a lot of people who hold college degrees, and believe me, a great majority of them are dumber than those who do not have a high school diploma!
And yes, I am speaking about EVERYONE, and no one in particular! So please, it is time to get off the college degree ‘soap box’ and get down to the nitty gritty!
I do not believe that a cashier who has a college degree is better than a cashier who doesn’t have a degree. Period! A bank teller who has a college degree does not mean that she or he can count better than a person who does not have a college degree! And to take it a step further: A custodian who works at a hospital who have a college degree does not mean that he has better custodial skills than a person who’ve been doing the same job twenty-years earlier without a degree!
Point fuckin’ blank!
Granted, there are myriad of positions that warrant degrees, but not in the way you, nor I, believe. If you are talking about a person who seek to become a physician, for example, which you and I know will take some years of intense schooling, and hands-on experience at a teaching hospital, then yes, a college degree may be necessary (And passing the state board examinations). The same thing is applicable for an individual who is interested in becoming an attorney.
By all means, yes, a degree is necessary, but it should only be applied toward a field interest that involve intricate formulated equations that involve measurements, building, and so forth, such as engineering, architecture, bio-chemist . . . You get the gist.
And for all of you who tend to nit-pick credentials of the highest order, perhaps a degree may be warranted in the field of “Tattooes.” Don’t laugh. This is an expression of Art, although home girl here will not ever entertain the thought of getting tattoos on my body, but there are needles involved, sterilization, and if I had it my way, I would involve OSHA (Occupational Safety Hazard Association) in the licensing process. But I digress.
Although ‘self-teaching’ yourself medical terminology, office procedures, how to take vital signs, research basic information pertaining to a legal case for rebuttal (Defense or Prosecution), just to give a couple of examples, is one of the best avenues to take. It will, however, take discipline and drive in order to achieve the level of understanding. And whenever you find yourself not understanding what it is you’re reading, then there are a plethora of information that are available via Internet, the library, and yes, through your local lawyer, medical practitioner, nurse, etc.
Never be embarrassed about asking questions, especially when it pertains to your academic or vocational growth. To learn is to ask. And when you do not ask, you will not know, nor grow in your quest to learn more. Plain and simple.
‘Self-teaching’ or to be ‘self taught’ is ignored and dismissed having no importance deemed by educational institutions throughout the U.S. To ‘teach yourself’ a particular career area is not considered, nor deemed, valid. Therefore, only if you have attended an accredited school deemed by the State you live in can validate your credentialing course of learning is acceptably embraced, and counted as bona fide education.
However, there is another avenue you can take, and that is “Credit by Examination,” which is simply taking a test, and if you pass, you can upgrade your educational status by receiving a degree, such as an Associate’s degree, or a Bachelor’s degree. Cool, huh? But not many people are aware of this bit of info, but it is noted in many of the post secondary educational institutions’ catalogues. Take a read when you get a chance to do so. Try EduNation at www.edunation.com to learn more about it!
Did you know that the majority of wealthy business men you know of, or heard about in the media, do not hold college degrees? And to add insult to injury, they achieved their level of wealth by simply “teaching themselves,” about the business they are involved in, and/or have been ’Self Taught” by using sheer observation, using common sense, diligence, discipline, and spiritual awareness within themselves!
There is a lot to be said about teaching yourself the basic essence of a field of interest. It is my stance that middle school/junior high school aged youngsters CAN and WILL learn medical terminology! After all, don’t they use abbreviations and acronyms whenever they text their family members, friends, etc., via their cell phones, or through the use of a laptop, or desktop, computer?
So what’s the problem?
Colleges today have become greedy-minded mongrels with watered-down courses that are designed to make money, and NOT to educate our young, nor the old. Today, you have mini-model courses that offer either certificates, or diplomas, for EACH mini-model taken in school.
For example, there are separate courses: medical billing, medical coding, medical office assistant, medical records, medical assistant, medical secretary, and so forth, all of which are certificate or diploma courses. So, if you was to go to school and you decided on taking a class for Medical Records, but you did not take a Medical Assistant class, then the likelihood of you getting hired is low for any of the two I’ve listed above.
Why? Simply because medical records is just that . . . Dealing with records - even though it’s in the medical field. The medical assistant class should have had taught a bit on medical records, but more than likely, depending on the school, it would have been omitted from the course. And yes, medical assistant versus medical office assistant are now seen today as being two different entities! Thus, more money is shelled out to take these two separate courses.
When I attended medical office assistant school in 1976, you received EVERYTHING, to include medical records, phlebotomy, vital signs, in other words, the whole nine yards, that prepared you to work in ANY capacity in the medical field, except for being a physician, of course!
In addition, you could have worked at the hospital, medical center, private nursing home, domestic household care, etc., and got paid very handsomely I might add!
So, my point is simple: Teach yourself in your chosen field of interest. Buy your books. Go to the library and take some books out. Rent your books. The choices are there. Options are unlimited. If you can take the time to read magazines of no importance, or get onto to any of your social networking sites, then you can take the time to “teach yourself” to improve yourself, and increase your knowledge in a field that you believe can, and/or will, elevate you financially, economically, and spiritually.
After all, aren’t you worth the effort? I think so. But then again, what do I know? A lot more than what you give me credit for . . . You can believe that, darlin’!
Peace, Miriam.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.
The Barbados consulate in Coral Gables, Florida, held a four-day event called "Barbados Comes (Back) to Charleston" over the weekend to promote the West Indies nation's historical ties to Charleston, South Carolina.
On Saturday at Charles Towne Landing, where the first English settlers to the Carolina colony disembarked in 1670, a "Bridgetown Market" featured a steel band, crafts, meat pies, peas and rice, and educational exhibits.
British planters settled Barbados in 1625, imported African slaves and grew cotton, tobacco, indigo and sugar cane, the crop that made them rich.
By 1670, tiny Barbados held 60,000 people, most of them enslaved Africans, according to anthropologist Toni Carrier, founder and director of the Lowcountry Africana project.
Vast tracts of available land in Carolina took the overflow, and for the next two decades, the majority of English colonists and the slaves they brought with them came from Barbados, she said.
Unlike previous generations, some baby boomers believe they've already given their children enough, and they plan to spend the money they've saved on themselves.
In a survey of millionaire boomers by investment firm U.S. Trust, only 49% said it was important to leave money to their children when they die. The low rate was a big surprise for a company that for decades has advised wealthy people how to leave money to their heirs.
"We were like 'wow,'" said Keith Banks, U.S. Trust president.
Whether to leave an inheritance is a decision increasingly faced by many of the nation's 77 million baby boomers, and it's becoming all the more complicated by the troubled economy.
Boomers are caught between the desire to enjoy their long-awaited golden years and the pressure of various financial concerns, such as fear of outliving their savings and the need to help parents, children or siblings who have their own money struggles.
Many boomers, who range in age from roughly 47 to 65, simply believe that after years of hard work they can spend their money as they choose, experts say.
They spent their lives building businesses and careers, often at the expense of their health or personal relationships. And after years of footing the bill for their kids' pricey educations, they see no reason to curb their spending impulses in their later years.
Besides, they figure, their kids will get something since nobody can synchronize their demise precisely to the emptying of their bank accounts.
Stoners may spend a lot of time on the couch and craving
White Castle, but they apparently don't let their bodies go to pot.
People who smoke marijuana regularly are less likely to be obese than non-pot smokers, according to a new study by French researches.
"We found that cannabis users are less likely to be obese than non-users,"
Dr. Yann Le Strat, French psychiatrist and co-author of a new study in the
American Journal of Epidemiology told
MSNBC. "We were so surprised, we thought we had [made] a mistake.”
Using data from two epidemiologic studies of
U.S. adults, researchers found that between 22% to 25% of participants who didn’t smoke pot were obese.
But only between 14% and 17% of those people who admitted to taking a toke at least three times a week were overweight.
Fewer American adults are smoking cigarettes, and those who still smoke have cut back on the number of cigarettes they smoke, but the rate of decline has begun to slow, health experts said on Tuesday.
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing an estimated 443,000 Americans each year.
"Any decline in the number of people who smoke and the number of cigarettes consumed is a step in the right direction. However, tobacco use remains a significant health burden for the people of United States," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in a statement.
Two cops were wounded in a gun battle that capped off a terrifying spate of shootings that killed three and marred Brooklyn's West Indian Day Parade.
The surge of violence wounded eight and put the number of people shot over the weekend around the city to at least 48, including two people who were killed Sunday night.
It came the same day the Daily News reported that 24 people were shot in the 24-hour period beginning 6 a.m. Saturday.
The violence during the holiday weekend culminated in a deadly shootout about 9 p.m. Monday on Park Place in Crown Heights, when Leroy Webster, 32, shot Eusi Johnson, 29, to death after they had a fistfight, cops said.
A stray bullet from Webster's pistol pierced through the head of 56-year-old Denise Gay, who was sitting on her front stoop nearby with her daughter, cops said. Gay was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police arrived and Webster began firing at officers, who shot the gun-wielding man several times.
SHOPPING FLAKES - the place to buy beautiful shoes, handbags, items for the home, and more!
