Distance Learning: A Mental Checklist

Learning is a lifelong journey, and even if you've already completed your schooling, you may seek to continue your education. Maybe you need a refresher, or an upgrade, or maybe you just want to get a hobby. But it's a busy world, and the older you get, the less time you have to sit in a classroom. A course in distance learning can be a wonderful way to enhance and complete your post-secondary education, while still leaving time to give the rest of your life the attention it deserves.

The experience isn't compromised, though. You still get to participate in a program led by an instructor with industry-relevant experience, with the goal of teaching you useful life skills. You simply don't have to devote the time to enter a classroom. But going along with this, you still have to make sure you're prepared to go back to school, even if you don't literally have to go back to a school. If you've decided you want to give it a whirl, here's five things to keep in mind before beginning your foray into distance learning.

1) Know what you want to get out of it
Firstly, it's important to examine your motivation for continuing your education. Do you need to upgrade your existing career, or get a new one entirely? Are you doing this for business or pleasure?

Any approach is fine. One of the benefits of continuing education is that it can fulfill so many different purposes, as a career enhancement, a life-changer, or simply entertainment on the side. But what you want out of it will affect your approach. If you're participating for pleasure, or to pick up a hobby, don't stress and treat it like a do-or-die scenario. On the flip side, if your career is banking on this education, give the course the respect, attention and priority it deserves.

2) Choose your subject
Now that you know why, focus on the what. Centennial College possesses a broad variety of continuing education courses, many of which have distance learning options. Knowing why you're taking a course goes along way towards narrowing down that list. Choose what you need for your career, and pick something that's the right mix of relevant and engaging. Simply emphasize the engagement angle if it's for fun.

3) Do you want to learn online or via correspondence?
There's more than one way to learn from a distance, with different elements to each method. Firstly, you have the option of doing your classes entirely online, receiving notes and assignments through a 24-hour virtual classroom and submitting assignments through email.

An advantage to this approach is that it's paperless and confined to a single workspace in the form of your computer.

But perhaps you don't have access to a computer regularly, or maybe the internet is too distracting to work next to. Or maybe you feel you learn better when you read and write with physical materials. In that case, you can do print-based or correspondence courses, where your materials are mailed to you. Assignments can be dropped off at the college, or mailed in. Either way, you can communicate with your instructor via email or on the phone, so that aspect's identical.

4) Know your workspace
Regardless of you preference for digital or physical work, you'll need a good, reliable place to do it in. Ask yourself where you'll be doing this work.Your home may be the obvious answer, but think on it in a bit more detail. You need to ensure you pick a space where you can focus and do your work in peace, be it a desk in your room, or a couch in a living room. But you may also have to accept that your home isn't always an ideal space. It could be distracting, or messy, or full of family and friends, or a television or other entertainment that calls to you. Consider leaving that space if necessary. Libraries are excellent places to do work. So are community centres, or even the coffee shop down the road.

There's plenty of options. Don't leave it up to chance. Know where you're working before you even begin.

5) Keep a regular schedule
One of the advantages of distance education is its flexibility. You can fit it around other, more immediately pressing responsibilities, like family or work. However, it's still school, and you still need to pass. Discipline is required, and that includes scheduling. If you're serious about your schooling, make one and stick to it. Know what time you have to block off, and make sure that when that time comes around, you're in your workspace, with your papers or your computer, ready to hit the books. Granted, that time can be whenever you want it to be, but it should still be stuck to. Find a place and a time to learn and do assignments, and do whatever you can to make sure that's when you work.

Distance learning can be educational and convenient, allowing you to advance your career and life when you have the time, in a place you're comfortable with. Approaching it with the right attitude will allow you to make the most of it, and engage in a truly enriching life experience.

On Broadening Your Studies in College: A Personal Tale

So, you're leaving high school behind for college, and have sat down to begin choosing your college courses. You know what you want to go to school for, you've picked your area of study, and you've registered. Now that you're picking those courses, you may find yourself staring at a page of mandatory electives, or areas of study your program covers that you're not interested in. If you're fortunate enough to enter college knowing what you want to do in life, you may ask yourself why you should care about these extra courses. After all, in high school, we all had at least one subject we didn't like. Whether it was math, or french, or geography, there was at least one class that we were glad to leave behind when we arrived at college.But don't write electives off, and don't be afraid to take classes that seem to have little to do with your chosen profession. It isn't the same in college, with its emphasis on giving students valuable, useful life skills that open a path to employment. Take, for example, the case of Anthony Geremia, a student who benefitted hugely from an area of study he didn't originally think he needed.

Anthony entered Centennial College as part of its joint program with the University of Toronto, studying Journalism. He knew what he wanted to do, and that was write stories. English and essays were his strong suit, and he was going to parlay that into a career creating copy for newspapers, magazines, websites, and radio. But, as part of the course load, he was required to study digital photography, and even needed to purchase his own digital SLR camera to do so. Anthony balked at this. He wasn't into photography, and didn't intend to pursue a career in it. As far as he was concerned, he was a writer, not a visual artist. But he needed to for the program, and so he did. Over the course of two semesters, he grudgingly learned all about the camera, photo composition, and Photoshop. Little did he know that he would soon be grateful he had.

When school ended and Anthony searched for part time work, it turned out that his photography skill made him extremely appealing to employers. Freelance photography opened doors to easy money and part-time work, and an entirely different, fun career path. He wound up working for a newspaper as a photographer, a school photo company taking class pictures, and a school board doing photography and making media for their summer camp programs. It was that last one that inspired him to change tracks in life. He'd enjoyed doing media work so much that he eventually returned to Centennial for a grad certificate in Corporate Communications and Public Relations. And he'd earned enough money from his work that a post-grad was within the realm of financial possibility. Indeed, most of the money he made was thanks to photography, and the opportunities for employment it gave him.

And to think, all of these opportunities came from a subject he hadn't even wanted to take. So, don't write electives off. When picking your courses, dabble. Choose unusual, strange things you have no experience in, and expand your skill set. You never know what you'll turn out to be good at, and what will give you a job, money, and a career. College is about picking up useful life skills, so there's never really a wrong class to take. You may just discover a new path in life, and be happier for it.

5 Reasons Why College is The Right Choice

If you're coming out of high school, it's hard to avoid a certain bias against community college. University is seen as having prestige, while college is for those that couldn't make it there. The truth is, when you look at the world we live in, college is one of your best choices for getting your career going. Colleges are about putting down the textbook, getting your hands dirty, and learning life skills, for gainful employment. Here are five reasons why college may be right for you:

1) You need a job when it's all over.
According to StatsCan, the gap between adult and youth employment rates is high throughout Ontario, with Toronto's youth employment rate sitting at 43.5%. It's hard finding work right now, because everyone's looking. If you want to stand out, you'll need something to separate yourself from the scores of young people with bachelor's degrees. You need a shortcut, a way in, and that way is through the college system. That's because…

2) Colleges give you skills you'll actually use
That's how you distinguish yourself from the crowd: Anyone can be a learner, but you make yourself into someone who can actually use the things they've learned.

A pair of examples from Centennial College: If you wanted to go into media, you could go to a university to learn writing, theory, and best practices. However, if you attended the college's programs, you'd go to the Story Arts Centre, and have access to a working television studio, video, audio and post production facilities, and digital imaging labs with the latest software. More importantly, you'd learn how to use them, and produce content to put in your portfolio.

Another example: Say you want to be a nurse. You can study medical sciences at a university, or you can gain practical, on-the-ground experience at the Nursing Lab at Morningside Campus, designed to replicate a real hospital floor as accurately as possible, ensuring that you know exactly what you'll be doing when you graduate.

But not everyone has the foresight coming out of high school to pick that path. Fortunately, if that's the case, you haven't been locked out of the experience. That brings us to another advantage…

3) Colleges are perfect if you need an upgrade
If you've already gone down one post-secondary path, and have decided you need to pursue an alternative, colleges have you covered with a broad variety of graduate certificate programs. Short and affordable, they're designed for people that have already completed post-secondary education, and are looking to acquire a new set of practical skills, to make themselves employable. And speaking of employability…

4) Colleges can clear the path to employment for you. Take a moment and ask yourself: What does life after school look like to you? Job applications? Interviews? There's a way to cut to the front of the line.

Centennial College lets you cut the search out, with many of its programs geared towards getting students involved with employers before even entering the job market. Firstly, of course, there's the broad selection of co-op programs. On top of that, many of their programs have field placements built into them, letting you enter the workforce and develop a network before you even graduate. The school's Applied Research and Innovation Centre is also dedicated to getting students involved in research and development projects with outside companies.

That's the secret to employability: Networking. Getting an in with a company. If you're lucky, they'll hire you out of the program. And even if they don't, you have contacts, and a network to use. You've beat the rush. If this hasn't convinced you, there's one more factor…

5) You don't have to give that university education up. Believe it or not, you can have it both ways, thanks to their joint programs. You'll go to a University to learn the theoretical aspects, head to college to learn the practical side, and at the end of it all walk away with both a degree and a diploma. Currently, Centennial is partnered with the University of Toronto and Ryerson University for different programs. Get the university experience, get the college skills, and get employed today.

It's a tough job market out there, with the work only going to those who stand out. Colleges can make you leap out of the crowd, by giving you useable, practical skills, programs that fit your needs and a way to get directly involved in the job market you want to be in. If you're ready to work, they're ready to see you put to work. Have a look at what the college has to offer and get your career moving.

College Students: It's not Just about Grades

Making the transition from high school to college can seem intimidating. Colleges in Toronto can be similar to high school in some ways, but very different in other, more important ways. Perhaps the largest immediate change a college student will face is the fact that your instructors don't monitor you anymore, no longer taking attendance or measuring tardiness. You have more independence, and more options for where and how you get your work done, because you're now expected to monitor your own life. But there's one more shift in behaviour you need to keep in mind, and that's the fact that your education is no longer solely about grades.

Make no mistake, grades are important, and you still need to make them to pass your courses, and get your credits and diploma. But don't get hung up on them, or on the difference between a 79 and an 80. Instead, focus on the learning experience itself, and what you can get out of it.

Think about it for a moment. Why do you go to college? The idea behind college is to make its students employable, to help them launch their careers by providing them with useful, practical, industry-relevant job skills. Getting a solid GPA isn't a guarantee of a career, and an employer will never ask you during a job interview what your final grades in school were. It's less about what you know, and more about what you know how to do. Your skills are what will get you the job and launch your career.

Centennial College understands that it's no longer about memorizing the multiplication tables, or analyzing Mark Twain. It's about showing you how to do things and giving you job skills. When you're done your education, you'll be entering the working world, starting a career, earning money and becoming an independent human being. College is about preparing you for that, making sure you have those job skills.

So when you study, don't simply do it to pass the test, to generate the correct answer on command, to earn the A+. Instead of focusing on passing the test, focus on learning. What are you getting out of this course? What will you need to know when you enter the working world? Pick up the skills first, and pass the test second, and understand that the school is there to provide you with a service, and not the other way around. You're not there to make a professor happy, or to serve the school. Rather, the school is there there to provide you with something valuable, and that's job and life skills.

Don't be afraid to venture outside the classroom, too. You're in your program because you're passionate about something, meaning you're surrounded by others who are also passionate. If you have an interest, there's a club or organization on campus for you. And while you're doing that, get to know your instructors. In college, they'll be industry professionals with real-life experience, and more importantly, connections. You can network with them, and get a leg up in your chosen industry. Similarly, get to know your classmates. They're looking to become the next generation of industry professionals, after all, and can form the foundation of your own professional network of contacts.

College doesn't have to be intimidating. You're on your own, with unprecedented independence, and the freedom to learn at your own place. The structure of high school is gone, and with it, the need to focus solely on grades. Think differently about how and why you're learning, and you'll leave college with the tools and experience you need to enter the next chapter of your life.

Education for the Student on the Go

Everyone has a right to education. It's one of our most basic needs. Even if you've already been through the post-secondary experience, there's plenty of reasons to continue that education. Maybe you're looking to upgrade your career, or get into a new field, or ensure your skills are current and relevant. Or maybe it's not about your job at all, and you simply want the personal satisfaction of picking up a new skill or hobby.

However, a good school recognizes that there may be simple, practical, but very much present barriers to getting that education. For one reason or another, some people aren't able to haul themselves to a classroom. That's why distance learning exists. You can get educated, and you can live your life enlightened. More importantly, you can do it at your own pace, and fit it around the rest of your life instead of the other way around.

Maybe your 9-5 is occupied with work that you don't want to give up, or even can't. Everyone's life is different, and maybe you've got too many commitments in yours. You have a career, you have a family that needs attending to, your health is an issue, or transportation is an problem. Or maybe your life got busy, and you feel like you need to put your education on hold. Either way, you're in a place where you'd like to be at school, but it just doesn't feel realistic given your circumstances. At Centennial College, we want you to receive the education you're entitled to, no matter your situation.

The program comes in two flavours. The first is online, where materials are made available and submitted through the internet, and you're connected to a 24-hour digital classroom. Or, if the virtual space isn't practical for you, and want to physically handle assignments, there's a correspondence, or print-based option, where course materials are sent to your address. A facilitator, or tutor, assists you with assignments, which can be mailed in or physically brought to the school.

Make no mistake, your still getting the full college education experience. This kind of education will still provide you with the benefits of a physical classroom, including being led by an instructor who comes with relevant industry experience, a hallmark of Centennial College. In fact, you can talk to them any time, by phone or by email, and you have 24-hour access to the online classroom while still being in the comfort of your own home, so you may, in fact, have an advantage. In addition, the difficulty of these classes has not been scaled down. While you can work from the comfort of your own home, you need to be focused, self-motivated and self-disciplined, able to work independently. The real advantage lies in your new ability to pace yourself. If you feel ahead of the game, speed it up. If it's difficult, slow it down.

So, if you're ready to keep learning, and want to take things at a pace more suited to your busy life, have a look at what the college has to offer, and get educated on your terms.

Financial Planning Program - First Step to become a Finance Professional

Are you aspiring to become a finance professional for your career? Looking out for a financial planning program in Canada? There are many colleges which offer such programs to individuals so that they can grow in their dream career aspect. Here in Canada, there is Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards who certifies an individual to become a Certified Financial Planner and start with your legal practice.

Here are few steps shown as how a student can can become a Financial Planner and get on for industry practice:

1. A certified planner has to deal with different people to help them in managing their finances while meeting their needs. If you wish to grow as Financial Planner, take up a Bachelor's Degree from reputed college in Canada. There are options for subject specialization such as:

• Accounting
• Economics
• Business Math
• Insurance & Risk Management
• Estate Planning
• Income Tax
• Retirement
• Investments

Apart from Canada, there are many well-known colleges which offer Finance related courses that meets the requirements of being a professional finance planner. The subjects learnt are estate planning, financial planning, employee insurance & its benefits and few others.

2. Professional Financial Planning helps you to gain relevant experience along with offering you Financial Planning Certificate after which you can apply for Level 1 Financial Planning Examination Certificate & CFP Award. The prior one needs to be taken either in the month of July or November at test centers across the country. The paper contains questions persisting to the core-curriculum courses learnt for bachelor ate degree.

3. You must opt for Certified Financial Planner exam in the span of maximum five years after the program is completed. After this only, you are eligible to opt for exam and if you want to opt for this certificate, a criteria for three years of work experience is required.

4. CFP's Board Examination is a vital step while you're planning to become a professional in this field after opting for it. It is a 10 hours test which each student needs to appear for which is taken in March, July and November. This exam's form needs to be filled up online and consists of seven areas where any individual requires passing it on for each section. There are few tips and relevant information which is available over internet while you plan for taking up this exam. Once any individual passes this exam successfully, he or she is bound to get certificate adhering to the standard principles to fetch CFP Award.

5. After CFP certificate comes the Level 2 Financial Planning Examination (FPE 2) for which FPE1 Certificate and with that one year of three years of planner's experience in the industry is required for being qualified for the exam.

After you get passed through all these exams including three years of work experience, you may apply for FPSC for CSP Certification.

Exploring Diverse Career Options While Obtaining the Eligibility Criteria - Time to Think

So, you have just completed your high school, and are now looking at various courses that prospective colleges offer. However, deep down you know that you still have to cover a lot and obtain eligibility to apply for the chosen courses.

Or you may want to take some more time to explore various career options that arts and science fields have to offer. You may also want to identify your specific interests while understanding the skills requirement for a particular career.

Most students enter universities or colleges without knowing what they want to do in their lives and what they like to study. And they regret their decision later in life. It's a great idea to enroll in a general arts and science course, in order to bridge the knowledge gap and explore your interests and career options, instead of just getting into any course. Don't be afraid to take this step, as later on you will realize how important it was for you to build a career in a field that you loved the most.

The reasons for choosing a program in general arts and sciences can be endless. But Centennial College can help you reach every single goal of yours. Whether you're interested in earning credits for college studies, exploring your interests, or just seeking expert guidance for your career in a related field, the program makes the right choice for you. Here are three reasons why you may want to consider this program:

1.It drives you towards academic success.

As the learning takes place in a college environment, it becomes more enjoyable. The reason being, you have access to more advanced resources, such as library, computer labs, and expert counselling. You learn in a friendly environment. Your instructors no longer treat you as school kids. They don't monitor you yet they offer immediate help and support whenever you need. While refining your concepts in humanities, social sciences, psychology, communications, arts and sociology, you also grow personally.

2.You have the choice and convenience to choose the program length.

You may be thinking if it is possible to choose the program length. Believe it or not, Centennial gives you complete freedom to choose the program duration. Actually, it depends on your future goals. The general arts program runs for two semesters and the duration depends upon what career path you want to choose and what GPA you need to enter a college arts or science program.

3.The general arts program can lead you to the right career path.

Take a moment and ask yourself: How many people around you are happy with their careers? They keep complaining about why they couldn't pursue what they loved to do. Do you want to see yourself standing there after a couple of years? It is very well possible to build a career in an area that you love the most. There is a way to explore your interests and pursue them.

Centennial College has strong student support structure to provide help with both personal and academic concerns. The faculty at the school of advancement are skilled and dedicated to help you reach your goals.

For example: Say you want to pursue a career in hospitality. The industry offers several diverse fields, such as restaurant operations, travel and tourism, heritage and culture tourism, kitchen management, catering, festival and conference and so on. In what area do you want to work?

Most students coming out of high school are unaware of the diverse career paths that a particular sector offers. Fortunately, the general arts program offers you the foresight to pick the right path.

5 Tips for Choosing the Right School of Business - A Personal Tale

It's hard to avoid the skills and abilities, and employment prospects that business administration education offers. And it's even harder to keep a count of the colleges that offer such programs. But the hardest is to select the right school of business.

Have you also decided to enroll into a business administration marketing program? Are you feeling overwhelmed with the college choices? Don't stress out. Although finding a college can be intimidating, stressing out won't pay you.

There are certain situations in life when we have to go out of our way to determine the answer. Choosing the right business administration college is one of these times.

So, what you do to find the best marketing college for you?

You may want to follow Jennifer's footsteps. She has faced it all a few years ago that you are facing now. She was in a similar situation after completing her high school. But what counts is that she successfully overcome the confusion and selected the right college for herself.

She took some time jotting down a few important points and came up with a route-map, which she followed diligently to make the right decision. She ended up enrolling into Centennial College's marketing program. Here is what you can also do:

1.Decide "must-haves"

Understanding your requirements and setting preferences is the first step in this process. What are you looking to gain from your business marketing course? Jot down the important points. These may include course content, skills and abilities you wish to acquire and affiliation from a state or national education body. You may want to find a college that offers you internship and employment opportunities.

Jennifer says that every individual has different requirements. Therefore, the list of must-haves may vary from person to person. What she suggests is to make your list of preferences on your own. Talking to family and friends can also help.

2.What about location?

It's a personal choice. When choosing a college, some people prefer their college to be close to their home while some consider the importance of being located near a metropolitan for internship and employment opportunities.

However, Jennifer insisted on the college's reputation as well as its proximity to a metropolitan city. And this is absolutely justified. It opens doors to numerous career opportunities. Centennial is located in the eastern portion of the Greater Toronto Area.

3.Assess Your Financial Needs

It's important that you determine the financial support you will need. Jennifer says that once you enroll in a course, you won't be left with much time to investigate your financial resources and work on campus and bank loan. Planning your finances before your enroll in a business marketing course allows you to spend a more productive and enjoyable time on campus. Centennial College helps students in working out their finances and applying for education loans.

4.Put yourself in a college student's shoes before committing

Why don't you take advantage of campus tour and walk a mile in a college student's shoes? How could you make such an important decision of your life without actually visiting the college? Centennial organizes campus tours to help students spend time interacting with faculty and students.

5.Know about employment opportunities

Of course acquiring business knowledge and skills is one of the most important agendas. But your ultimate aim is to find an employment upon course completion and build a successful career. Find out about college's partnerships with industry and how quickly program grads get the job and what starting salary you can expect.

5 Benefits of Studying Business Administration

There is something about business administration courses. This is why these are some of the most sought after programs, not only in Canada but throughout the world. The idea of attending a business school may seem old and conventional, but its benefits are hard to ignore. A business admin program can give you transferrable skills; help in personal development; open doors to diverse career opportunities and provide you with hands-on experience in a real-world setting even before you're a graduate. On the top of that, field placements let you develop a strong network to use. Let's take a closer look at these benefits:

1.You're equipped for a fast-changing business world

The business world evolves constantly and so do the skills and abilities required to sustain in ever-changing environment. More importantly, you need to update your knowledge to stay on the job. What you have learned in your school becomes less relevant with each passing day. If you're in a technical field, it becomes mandatory to go back to the school to learn about the latest developments and acquire more advanced skills. However, business administration programs prepare you for long-term careers.

It's a given fact that business environment is constantly changing. Therefore, Centennial College's business courses are designed keeping this in consideration. These programs give you well-rounded knowledge of the business world, preparing for long lasting careers. You're also taught how to brush up your knowledge from time to time and apply basic business administration fundamentals in different scenarios.

2.You not only learn business basics, but also grow personally

Business administration is one of very few programs that focus on your overall development. You don't have to be enrolled simply for the sake of obtaining business education. You get ample opportunities to explore your passions. May be you're more passionate about building strategies or deploying online media for personal branding. Maybe you develop excellent public speaking skills. There is a room for everything.

3.You're exposed to a diverse range of career opportunities

Which industry appeals you the most – hospitality, retail, healthcare or online? As a business grad, you can find a place for you in almost every industry. This is because you acquire a comprehensive and value-added knowledge of all aspects of business and management. You can apply your financial know-how to take strategic decisions, adopt a hiring mindset work in team to show results or come up with innovative business ideas. You can enter in any industry, in any area of management if you want.

4.You're ready to work with global companies

Centennial College understands that college grads are equally interested in international career opportunities. And this is why they have designed the course curriculum in such a way that prepares you for job opportunities with global organizations. The program faculty help you build your skills portfolio.

5.You're prepared for smooth transition to the workplace

When school ends, most graduates wait for employment opportunities. Some may also consider enrolling a professional diploma to enhance their employability. But as a business administration Centennial College graduate, you're already prepared for smooth transition to the workplace. The school of business incorporates extensive case analyses, directed research and experiential learning. You gain real-world work experience even before you graduate, through a co-op placement.

Why it's never to late to go back to School

The public perception of a person's path through Toronto education has for the longest time been "one then done," with every student following the same basic route: High school, post-secondary, and then onto the workforce, without a glance back. The idea of continuing education, or further education later in life carries certain stigmas around it which should be dispelled. There are many benefits to pursuing education further down the road. It can enhance your life, it can forward your career, and it can be done on your terms, without disturbing the life you already lead. Let's take a closer look at these benefits:

1) The world is changing, and it pays to keep up
Really, you should never stop learning. The world advances and evolves, and it can benefit you to stay current. More importantly, though, you may have to. As the times change, so does what you need to know to stay on the job. What you learned when you were in school may now be less relevant to your career, and keeping abreast of the technology and practices of your organization is a never-ending process.

If you're in engineering, or machines, or computing, or anything else involving technology, it's particularly essential to learn about the latest developments, and the practices that go with them. After all, if there's one constant to technology, it's that it's always changing. The good news is that with continuing education, you'll never have to fulfill the stereotype of the old-timer that doesn't understand the gadgets that kids are using. It's entirely possible to stay on top of technology. Furthermore, there's a social good to be done. If you know best practices, you can contribute positively to society, particularly if you're in education or personal care. College education can ensure you're up to date with those best practices.

2) You can get a whole new career, or augment your existing one
Even when it isn't essential, keeping up to date can get you noticed in your workplace. If you're any sort of professional, an educational certification specifically stating that you're knowledgeable about the latest standards and practices can provide true proof of that professionalism. You could see promotions, pay raises, or even brand new opportunities.

Or maybe you're tired of your current job, and want to get into something you can be passionate about, or where there's more room for advancement. After all, industries like hospitality are rapidly growing, and you can use your education to specifically go where the jobs are.

But this doesn't have to be about your job, or advancing your career, or even money. Maybe you're not interested in changing that. And that's fine, because…

3) It can be for your personal growth, too
You don't have to be enrolled simply for the sake of your career. Maybe there's something you're passionate about that you want to learn more of, like how to fix your car, or dancing, or even another language. Or perhaps you want to keep your mind sharp, or get out and socialize with people that share your interests. Whether you're a beginner, or an expert looking to update their knowledge, there's room for every interest. And you can find room for it too, since…

4) You don't have to give up years of your life, or your job.
A good college program will understand your needs: You need money to keep living, and cutting your job out to go back to school makes the financially-savvy side of you twitch a little bit. A good post-grad curriculum doesn't have to follow the traditional class structure. You could participate in single-day workshops, or weekly ones, or single specific classes. And those classes can be in the evening, or on weekends, perfect for your 9-5 workday. Aside from variable class times, there's even another option entirely…

5) You don't have to physically go back, either.
It turns out you no longer need to literally go back to school to go back to school. Maybe it's the commute, or time, or the location, but if the idea of dragging yourself down to a classroom isn't appealing, there's distance learning, where you won't have to put your job or career or family or personal commitments on hold.

With distance learning, you can keep working, and have an academic workload you can shift around as necessary. Online learning is led by a professional instructor, same as a class. You can access the online classroom 24-7, and access course materials and assignments when you have the time. There's even Correspondence or Print-based courses if you're taking it offline.

Centennial College's School of Continuing Education can give you the chance to upgrade your job or life skills, with its selection of flexible, practical programs. Whether in the classroom or through distance learning, you'll be connected to professionals with real-world experience, ready to pass their benefits on to you. It's never to late to learn, and the school is flexible enough to teach you on your own terms. Have a look at its programs, and let them guide you through the next step of your lifelong learning experience.