5 answers
Matthew
Student
Cascade, ID
1
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Are we ever too old to continue educating ourselves?
Are we ever too old to continue educating ourselves?
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5 answers
Prachee J
2
Answers
Updated
Prachee’s Answer
Hi Matthew!
We are never too old to learn-I look at learning as a key skill that we need to carry and nurture throughout our lives!
As a middle- aged professional, I have to learn new skills and advances in my field every day. I happily embrace that new learning. I learn through some great free courses on Coursera and LinkedIn that are relevant to my field. Sometimes I like to take paid courses especially to upskill. Infact, I recommend keeping an annual budget for learning new skills both within your industry and beyond.
I have seen 80 -year- olds who are trying their best to learn new technology. It keeps them busy, their minds sharp and active. Beyond this, it becomes another way for them to connect with youth! It’s a win-win situation—the elderly stay active and informed, while the youth gain valuable teaching experience and an appreciation for lifelong learning. I hope you get a chance to teach some skill you know, to the seniors one day!
We are never too old to learn-I look at learning as a key skill that we need to carry and nurture throughout our lives!
As a middle- aged professional, I have to learn new skills and advances in my field every day. I happily embrace that new learning. I learn through some great free courses on Coursera and LinkedIn that are relevant to my field. Sometimes I like to take paid courses especially to upskill. Infact, I recommend keeping an annual budget for learning new skills both within your industry and beyond.
I have seen 80 -year- olds who are trying their best to learn new technology. It keeps them busy, their minds sharp and active. Beyond this, it becomes another way for them to connect with youth! It’s a win-win situation—the elderly stay active and informed, while the youth gain valuable teaching experience and an appreciation for lifelong learning. I hope you get a chance to teach some skill you know, to the seniors one day!
Malcolm Nicholas
Chief Technology Officer
2
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Malcolm’s Answer
Absolutely not, we are never too old to keep learning. Lifelong learning is a key part of personal growth, career success, and helping society. The world is changing fast with new technology, different job settings, and evolving social norms. To stay on top of these changes, we need to keep learning. In our careers, those who update their skills and adapt are highly valued. We can learn formally by taking courses or degrees, or informally by reading, attending seminars, or using online learning platforms.
Education is also vital in our personal lives. It helps us understand complex issues, make smart choices, and contribute positively to our communities. As we grow older, our experiences expand, and our curiosity about the world should grow too. We should nurture this curiosity. Knowing about current events, social issues, and global challenges helps us engage in community activities and understand others better. Learning new skills or hobbies can boost our mental sharpness, delay cognitive decline, and improve our quality of life. So, education is not just about career success but also about personal happiness and staying connected in our social circles.
It's never too late to start learning again. This journey not only keeps us relevant in our jobs but also enriches our personal lives, helps us make informed decisions, and allows us to make a positive impact on our communities. It encourages mental flexibility, emotional understanding, and a sense of purpose.
If you're unsure where to begin, start with something you enjoy, like revisiting math. Math is a great foundation for understanding many things. You might also enjoy the film "Counted Out," which explains why math is so important.
Education is also vital in our personal lives. It helps us understand complex issues, make smart choices, and contribute positively to our communities. As we grow older, our experiences expand, and our curiosity about the world should grow too. We should nurture this curiosity. Knowing about current events, social issues, and global challenges helps us engage in community activities and understand others better. Learning new skills or hobbies can boost our mental sharpness, delay cognitive decline, and improve our quality of life. So, education is not just about career success but also about personal happiness and staying connected in our social circles.
It's never too late to start learning again. This journey not only keeps us relevant in our jobs but also enriches our personal lives, helps us make informed decisions, and allows us to make a positive impact on our communities. It encourages mental flexibility, emotional understanding, and a sense of purpose.
If you're unsure where to begin, start with something you enjoy, like revisiting math. Math is a great foundation for understanding many things. You might also enjoy the film "Counted Out," which explains why math is so important.
Jerry Bires
career coach
53
Answers
Carbondale, Illinois
Updated
Jerry’s Answer
Matthew,
In short. never. Be it through a hobby or formal education, keep moving forward. Aspire! I'm 75. I hit the gym, lift weights, play chess and perform I.T. services for a church community. I need to devote time learning to cook. Such activities fend off dementia; allow participation with others and make one more interesting. One career component to this is the following.
We're living in rapidly changing times. Our weather, technology and our ability to work globally are in flux and evolving. E.g., who knows where artificial intelligence is headed and how will it affect your future work opportunities? One thing will remain consistent and valuable. Your ability to communicate effectively. And what can assist you in communicating more easily and therefore become even more employable? Language. Make an effort to learn to speak, write and read a second language. Or two. Your worth will increase dramatically. Get a college degree or higher in courses to which your interests gravitate. Determine how well you perform activities about which you are passionate. Because if you are not good to great at something, why should someone hire you to perform that function?
Conduct this Google search: what professions will be in demand in ten years
Then substitute another/related job title or profession to see if that provides a different or expanded list. The results, because of our changing world, may or may not be entirely on target but you'll get an idea. AND you may find out that a certain country may be where that opportunity is most likely to be...hence, my advice about learning multiple languages.
Be sure to go to LinkedIn and search by job title for individuals who now or previously held the job title in which you’re interested. Their profiles should contain valuable information about their duties, work history, career progression, associations/organizations of value to research and more.
Good fortune to you moving forward.
In short. never. Be it through a hobby or formal education, keep moving forward. Aspire! I'm 75. I hit the gym, lift weights, play chess and perform I.T. services for a church community. I need to devote time learning to cook. Such activities fend off dementia; allow participation with others and make one more interesting. One career component to this is the following.
We're living in rapidly changing times. Our weather, technology and our ability to work globally are in flux and evolving. E.g., who knows where artificial intelligence is headed and how will it affect your future work opportunities? One thing will remain consistent and valuable. Your ability to communicate effectively. And what can assist you in communicating more easily and therefore become even more employable? Language. Make an effort to learn to speak, write and read a second language. Or two. Your worth will increase dramatically. Get a college degree or higher in courses to which your interests gravitate. Determine how well you perform activities about which you are passionate. Because if you are not good to great at something, why should someone hire you to perform that function?
Conduct this Google search: what professions will be in demand in ten years
Then substitute another/related job title or profession to see if that provides a different or expanded list. The results, because of our changing world, may or may not be entirely on target but you'll get an idea. AND you may find out that a certain country may be where that opportunity is most likely to be...hence, my advice about learning multiple languages.
Be sure to go to LinkedIn and search by job title for individuals who now or previously held the job title in which you’re interested. Their profiles should contain valuable information about their duties, work history, career progression, associations/organizations of value to research and more.
Good fortune to you moving forward.
Jonathan Marker, PMP
4
Answers
Updated
Jonathan’s Answer
It's easy to answer this simply: no, you should never stop learning.
In the short term, like reading a book, a story, or an article, you can learn about a wide range of topics. Every day, I enjoy reading one nonfiction article about a new scientific discovery and two articles by or about my favorite fiction authors. Follow your interests, whether they seem simple or fascinating, and try to learn one new thing each day.
To really understand what you've learned, teach it to someone else. This not only helps you learn better but might also inspire the person you're teaching.
If you're thinking about taking a formal course, choose something that 1) keeps you interested throughout, and 2) challenges you enough to boost your confidence in that subject. My dad always said that interest fuels effort. As long as you're interested, you'll be able to tackle challenges and discover new skills. If you ever lose interest or find the challenges too tough, it's okay to move on to something new. I encourage you to continue a similar process until the day you die—hopefully at the ripe old age of 100 with a smile on your face and a legion of the people you inspired at your bedside.
While society often values degrees and certifications, learning shouldn't just be about getting a better job. I've met many well-educated people who focused so much on credentials that they lost touch with who they really are.
In the short term, like reading a book, a story, or an article, you can learn about a wide range of topics. Every day, I enjoy reading one nonfiction article about a new scientific discovery and two articles by or about my favorite fiction authors. Follow your interests, whether they seem simple or fascinating, and try to learn one new thing each day.
To really understand what you've learned, teach it to someone else. This not only helps you learn better but might also inspire the person you're teaching.
If you're thinking about taking a formal course, choose something that 1) keeps you interested throughout, and 2) challenges you enough to boost your confidence in that subject. My dad always said that interest fuels effort. As long as you're interested, you'll be able to tackle challenges and discover new skills. If you ever lose interest or find the challenges too tough, it's okay to move on to something new. I encourage you to continue a similar process until the day you die—hopefully at the ripe old age of 100 with a smile on your face and a legion of the people you inspired at your bedside.
While society often values degrees and certifications, learning shouldn't just be about getting a better job. I've met many well-educated people who focused so much on credentials that they lost touch with who they really are.
Lisa Rodriguez
Registered nurse
14
Answers
Catonsville, Maryland
Updated
Lisa’s Answer
Never too old. Always keep your brain active. I am 65 and I work full time as surgical recovery nurse. I am also learning to speak Japanese. My daughter lives in Japan and my grandson is 1/2 Japanese. I am also a mixed media artist. If I am not learning something, I would get very bored. I think I am a better student now then I was when I was younger.