Have you ever thought about going back to school

Joyce Bigelow | Jan 23, 2014

Have you been out of school for a while? Have you thought about going back? Many adults return to school in their 30s, 40s, 50s or older. Some go back to get a high school diploma. Some go to college or take job-specific training. Others go back to take a class they missed the first time around. Still others take special interest courses.

There are benefits to going back to school. You can gain skills and certificates needed for a new job or a change of career. It can help you earn more money through a raise or a better job. Getting out to a class can provide social time. It keeps your brain active. And, there’s pride in success.

Going back to school may be hard for adults. Things don’t have to stand in the way of your dreams, though. There are programs that can help. For example, both Career Edge (Northbrook) and St. Lawrence College (Sharbot Lake and Sydenham) provide employment services. These are for people who are unemployed or working part-time. Their staff can help you with career options, re-training and school choices. They may be able to connect you with help paying for school.

The saying “If you don’t use it, you lose it,” is true. We lose skills and knowledge over the years. You may need those skills to take higher education or for a new job. At Northern Connections Adult Learning Centres, they can check your current skills. Then, they can compare your skills with those needed for your goal. If you want to improve your skills, they can help with that, too.

Northern Connections has free courses to help you with school, work and life. Maybe you want to learn (or re-learn) how to write an essay. Maybe you should pump up your skills to pass a college entrance test. Maybe it is your math or computer skills you need to work on. You can work on any or all of those things at either site - Sharbot Lake or Northbrook.