EP 23: Continuing Education as an Adult

We talked about making College Decisions as a high schooler back in Episode 11, which you can listen to here. This is NOT a part two of the episode. :) We're talking about going back to school or continuing formal education as adults as all three of us have decided to do just that. We share our experiences with the different formats we've chosen, talk about different forms of learning that is popular these days and why we've decided to continue to expand our knowledge. Are you going through the same thing or thinking about applying to a program? Let us know on our social media pages!

Transcript

EP 22: Continuing education

Hey, y'all welcome to United AI. As friends podcast, a show where we try to unravel the complexities of our multicultural friendship and existing as millennials in today's world every other week, we'll get together for a deep dive into how our friendship has survived and have some laughs while doing it.

We're your hosts, Amanda Justine and Taylor.

[00:00:23] Justine: Welcome back. Taylor and Amanda and everybody listening out there. 

[00:00:29] Taylor: been so long since we talked to each other two seconds ago. 

[00:00:32] Justine: I know, I know. So for this week, we're going to talk about. Continuing education or going back to school or going back to get a certification for a specific career field. We did talk about. College decisions picking out a college and picking out your major, or at least our experience in that, in the college decisions episode. So if you haven't listened to that, you can, but this is. More for those again, who are returning back to education. And so we'll just Look at what we're doing, because we're actually experiencing that. We've got Amanda. Got me. Taylor is gonna, or Taylor, you did your thing with paralegal, but I'll have you guys. Share your little speil. Yeah. I'm just sure. A Brief thing of what you're doing or what you have done with the continuing education. 

 I'll go first. Let's see. So, For college. I went to school for advertising and marketing communication and even public relations. But then I did a certification for human resources. And that was like paid for by my job, which is great. And that got me the certification for the SHRMCP. And then now I'm doing my master's program in human resources. So that's what I'm doing right now. And that's why I'm in London. Who wants to go next? 

[00:02:03] Taylor: I'll go next because mine is really short. So I went to college and got my degree in anthropology with a focus in gender and sexuality. I got a job in education doing absolutely nothing with my degree because of the wonderful market collapsed in 2013. And I'm still working in there, but I was originally going as a pre-med. I did my stuff for pre-med and then just never applied to med school. And I decided, you know what? I like law more than I like medicine at the moment. So I went and I did an online certification for paralegal and still haven't gotten a job for that because COVID happened as soon as I finished getting my certification for that. every time I get, I do, I was like, I finished something and then crisis happens. But right now I am in the process of looking for a new job, but I still have my current job. So that's it. I do have plans to go to law school. I just need to be at a better place financially. 

[00:03:02] Justine: I do want to go back to that question. Later on, so I know that in the college episode, and I know Amanda, we need to get to your little spiel. 

But are you also gonna look at scholarships and.

[00:03:13] Taylor: but the thing is not so many there aren't as many ships for continuing education when you're not like a single parent or you were in the military. It's those are very, it's very niche. So with most law schools, it depends upon your score. So the goal is to get as close to a 180 as possible, and you can get a better scholarship opportunity. And I have looked not, gonna lie into a lot of the type of program I want to go through. It would be as opposed to the normal, like the standard, it would be like a four year law school, a five-year law school program where you have, I think it's in Brooklyn. They do three days a week of classes, weekends, and then one day during the week. So like you can work and still go to school that in That option instead of having to not work and go to school, which would be a bit more of a stress that would take longer, but I would be able to both provide what I need for home and what I'm going for it, law school, but the better scholarship opportunities are with the out of state schools, like in the south. So like the university of Georgia has a lot of scholarships are really good down there. So I dunno. 

[00:04:34] Justine: You might have to repeat that later with throughout the questions, but we'll see.

[00:04:38] Taylor: No problem. 

[00:04:39] Justine: FYI. Okay, Amanda finally onto you. 

[00:04:42] Taylor: Sorry, Amanda. As I originally thought mine was going to be short and 

[00:04:46] Justine: Know I, yeah, I had additional, So it's my fault. 

[00:04:49] Amanda: Mine will be short because I just graduated. So I graduated in 2016 with my bachelor's. I went back in 2019, I think with my, to go get my master's in accounting. All accounting, no business admin. It's just straight accounting because people seem to think it was business admin with the concentration in accounting. 

[00:05:13] Taylor: Look, I thought you were going macro economics. So don't even ask me 

[00:05:17] Justine: Where did that come? 

[00:05:19] Taylor: because the sidebar, cause my mom did she did accounting, but she's got her master's I think it was in macro economics with a concentration in accounting. So in my head, that's what it was. I may be completely wrong, but I do know that, that she, she did that stuff. I know she's not an accountant, but she was doing accounting. Continue Amanda. 

Yeah, no. 

[00:05:43] Amanda: I plan on getting my, hopefully I hope I get my CPA certified public accounting license. Yeah, I keep putting off studying. Like I'll start it. Stop it. Start it. Stop it. It's not great. So, yeah, that is my journey.

[00:05:59] Justine: Okay. Great. Thanks. So now that we know everyone's little spiel I do want to add, I think we, we touched on this a little bit in that college episode, but. What is your thoughts or how do you feel about the U S education? In general or going to college and getting a degree. 

[00:06:21] Amanda: I always wish it was cheaper. 

[00:06:25] Justine: Yes, I 

[00:06:27] Taylor: But then again, we also did go to private schools. We didn't, the three of us didn't go to state schools. If we went to state schools, it would have been much cheaper. Sure. 

[00:06:36] Justine: I feel like FIT was fairly cheap school. compared to a lot of every everyone else's tuition. It. was 13 for out of state tuition. 

But I still think that's fairly cheap. 

[00:06:49] Taylor: before or after your loans and scholarships were applied? 

[00:06:53] Justine: Before.

[00:06:54] Taylor: Oh, intriguing. It's pretty good though. 

[00:07:01] Justine: Yeah. 

[00:07:02] Taylor: Okay, So my thing is, I think we need to have an even showing. Of types of education, we went through and influx of you guys have to go to college. You gonna have to go to college. You have to go to college because not, I'm not even talking about within our families. I'm talking about when we were in school, we went to public school and because we were in certain classes, they told us, this is what you guys are like, they gave us all the, you guys are in honors classes.

These are the colleges you should be applying to dah, dah, dah, dah. They didn't expose us to like trade school or like hands on. Yeah. Learning type things. They're like, essentially they funnel the way the schools work. They funnel you towards certain things. Once you pass testing in a certain way to okay, so this will be better for you.

And in hindsight, I think I would have been better if I went to a trade school. Like I, because I like working with my hands and I was like, I could have been, I was like, I fascinated as an adult now by. I'm like, I could've been a contractor. They make a ton of money. And these are things that they don't teach us.

These are the things I had to learn as an adult, like contractors, plumbers, electricians, like your very specialized job fields. Aren't marketed to students, equally auto mechanics. They, if they were going to specialize, they can make a ton of money. I also like it's decent work that will always be there because you need electricity and need water.

You need people who know gas, electric, like all of that stuff. People who can fix things in your house, people who can fix your car, we can't exist without these people. 

[00:08:48] Justine: Yeah.

[00:08:49] Taylor: those type of jobs aren't shown. So people like us. And then I'm not even gonna talk about the differences in what's shown girls and what's shown in the guys. That, that is a big thing that needs to change because now we're like, we've got the, we've got so many people here, all those trades are lacking individuals that like, we've got a shortage of these people. We need them. I'm like you didn't tell us that we could do these things. So you had a whole bunch of unemployed kids with degrees.

They couldn't use.

[00:09:16] Justine: Yeah.

And even with the trade schools I remember seeing commercials for trade schools, and to me, because it wasn't presented to us at all. I'm like, this kind of seems like it's not real. Like it's not look, It's not legit.

[00:09:34] Taylor: It's not a legitimate 

[00:09:35] Justine: Yeah. And I'm just like, do I really. And Obviously it's cheaper and I'm just like, Do, what do you really want to be doing that? But yeah it's not shared with us, which there, again, like you mentioned. We're not exposed to it. So then we don't look at those other options. we're just forced to take the more expensive route. 

Even though you can go to. The state schools or like those community colleges and they would technically be cheaper, But it's still expensive for a lot of people. 

And then when you graduate, right? Most jobs always say that they want the bachelor's degree or even now masters, but you're supposed to be having like two, three plus years experience. 

And it's an entry-level position and then they want to pay you shitty and all of that stuff. And you're just like how does 

this work out? That doesn't make any sense whatsoever. It, there's some people that, that are able to do internships, throughout. their university. But there are also a lot of people who can't because they need to, work and pay for their own schooling. So it's just 

It's definitely Not fair. 

[00:10:50] Taylor: Oh, yeah. And then they want to penalize you. They're like why didn't you have an internship? 

[00:10:54] Justine: Yes. 

[00:10:55] Taylor: Because the internships weren't hiring anybody for the hours. I could make work with my schooling and my job. And I didn't have transportation to get all the way over there within the timeframe between my class and to get back and for the hours that 

[00:11:13] Justine: some of them are, that are unpaid too. These are still unpaid internships out. 

there.

[00:11:18] Taylor: Exactly and like I'm working, but I still have to make money to be able to pay for food this week. So was get an internship where I'm not going to get paid and it's going to give me experience for a job I may or may not get, or have a job that can help me and my family this week. There are so many things that are unfair, 

[00:11:38] Justine: Yeah. But, and yet we have. decided to go back to. school. We have decided to continue the education. 

[00:11:53] Justine: Even though we're really frustrated with the system. So Amanda, what made you decide to Continue your education, especially getting your master's. 

[00:12:02] Amanda: So am my company, the only way to move up was to basically continue your education. 

[00:12:08] Justine: See, that's not fair Either come on. You have spent and for anyone else who, and I'm sorry to interrupt Amanda, but like for anyone else, who's been working at their company for such a long time. Like for your experience and what you can do is so much more important than I feel like your education, but what, it. guess different qualifications and different fields, but whatever, but you've been there for such a long time. You've done the work. Why do you need A master's degree for it. 

[00:12:39] Taylor: Well, 

[00:12:39] Justine: Maybe, maybe Amanda can share that. 

[00:12:42] Taylor: I'm sorry. But to piggyback off of what Justine said, I know they, it also changes your salary. You may have 18 years of experience with a bachelor's degree, but you're going to get capped as to what you can get to, and you're not going to make the money that your experience has for you until you come back with a master's degree, which I think is complete and utter bull, because the only experience I have is in education. And I have seen the differences in teachers who have bachelor's degrees versus master's degrees and where the master's degree may be great, but they're not good teachers 

[00:13:21] Justine: But I also think with that, I'm Sorry. We always keep on interrupting, amanda. with that though. I think that There's also a difference between those who do their masters right out of their bachelor's. And then those who do their masters after a few years of experience in the field. So I think there's also a little bit of a difference between those people. as well 

[00:13:45] Amanda: So I just had to go back to get my master's when I was in, I had about two years of accounting experience and one I wanted more pay. 

[00:13:57] Taylor: So she knew that she was stunted because she didn't have, sorry, Amanda. 

[00:14:03] Amanda: So then, but I got the promotion, like prior to actually getting the degree because they all knew I was on the path. Like I was on the track. I, had to leave work early a few times a week. Yeah, that was pretty much why I decided to to be honest, I really didn't want to go back to school. I just, I was tired. School is tiring. And when you're 

[00:14:22] Justine: mm.

[00:14:23] Amanda: both work and school it's friggin sucks. Cause like I did the last year of my bachelors, last year and a half of my bachelors. also working full time and it wasn't, it's not easy. So

[00:14:37] Justine: So, how did you balance that out. 

[00:14:39] Amanda: I kinda ignored people like us. Yes. It's pretty much like you guys would be like, oh, let's hang out. But no, I got a paper. I got to do this. I got to do that. Cause that was, and a lot of the times I wouldn't even finish what I was doing. I would end up like knocking out and then I would have to wake up super early and be like, oh God damn I gotta finish this. I have classes. So all that also at work during my lunch time, I wouldn't actually eat lunch. I would again, work my like homework and shit just because that's not healthy now I know. Oh yeah. That's how I got through it. 

[00:15:12] Justine: Okay. 

[00:15:13] Amanda: But yeah. That's pretty much why I chose to do it is just, I wanted more pay and I wanted to move up in the company. Same thing while I'm doing the whole CPA thing. I want to move up. I want the better pay. Also there's a better chance that, if I'm let go or fired or whatever having these higher degrees, level of experience and that CPA license, I don't really have to worry too much about finding another job. 

[00:15:39] Taylor: But do you think that might make you at the same time too qualified? 

[00:15:44] Amanda: Depending on what I applied for? Yeah. If I try to go for like a basic level, no, one's going to hire me. I'm too qualified. Even now I've be to consider to qualified 

[00:15:52] Justine: Overqualified. 

[00:15:53] Taylor: it. Yeah, there we go. Sorry. I couldn't remember for what it was, 

[00:15:57] Amanda: because if I tried to go for like a simple entry level or junior account position, no one would hire me 

[00:16:04] Taylor: right 

[00:16:04] Justine: Do you Even Want to do an entry position? 

[00:16:06] Amanda: it I don't know. This is where I come, I go back and forth with the whole being loyal to the company I'm at now, because it's just in the end. Let's say they do let me go. And like the next five or 10 years I'm screwed because this is all I know. And not a lot of companies. Are willing to hire at those higher positions, it's better to promote from within because those employees already know the business, they know the systems, it's a lot better. That's why sometimes it's huh. Sometimes I always think okay, if I ever leave this place, or if I ever get fired, it'd be better to do entry level just because then you can move up a lot of that way. 

[00:16:45] Justine: I see. I see. Okay. As. Person I want to say a little bit similar because yes, I am looking, for a job. And even though technically I'm a managerial level. Being in a different country. Is different. and the manager position doesn't necessarily translate completely over here. So I have been looking at more entry level positions just a level Lower. I'm fine with starting at the entry level. Cause one, be promoted from within, but also two just to see how really it is. How different it is from The U S to the UK with what they're doing with the paperwork or the policies and procedures, just to get a better understanding. So I feel like also with the lower positions, they teach them a lot more with the entry-level positions versus, more of the mid, because they expect you to come in with a lot of knowledge already. That's why I'm like completely fine with more of an entry level position, just so that I can learn a lot more. So, Taylor I know yours is down the path. And you said that you were, you are more interested in law now than medical Because you were going to go down the medical field. 

So. I guess what else made you decide to continue your education or change directions even.

[00:18:10] Taylor: I changed directions because I felt that I would be able to do more for more people this way, since you guys know, I'm like, I hate the term social justice warrior because that, that like feminists have both gone through such a bastardization of character over the years. I was so mad when people. Lump it with the shiny things that are in your face versus what it is at its core.

So I've reevaluated, I've realized I wants to affect change in policy and that's my goal. That's why I said I don't want to run for office, but I want to make sure that policy gets changed for as many people as possible. So I feel like I can do that better with a law degree. And also, the things I excel at doing are more geared toward that, like with, I like reading nerdy things. I like reading nonfiction and stuff like that. And just learning the different ways that policies and laws affect people that don't even know. Talk to us or people don't really pay attention to it. So even. though I was told by my mother that we have enough lawyers in this country, we need more doctors. I feel like I would be able to do better for that. And in the end I also do want to be a I want to be an entertainment lawyer also because I do really love the musical industry and with all of the new ways that music is put out towards people.

I want to protect up and coming artists and give them the knowledge that, okay. Yes, this is yours, but you need to own it. If someone samples your stuff, you need to make money off. You need to know how to protect your rights and what's the difference? What are the differences in levels of ownership?

And then like people can use your stuff, but after they you, after they play so much on something, they need to pay you, you need to make sure you get what's due. I also like that. That's the type tough stuff. I, Yeah. 

[00:20:15] Justine: I feel like that's The first time you've shared that with us That you want to be an entertainment lawyer.

I feel 

[00:20:20] Taylor: I thought I told you

guys that. 

[00:20:22] Justine: As first time I'm hearing 

it. 

[00:20:24] Taylor: No. Oh, okay. Yeah. Like my love of music, my love of theater, like all those things. At one point I wanted to be like, I want to be someone's agent. I want to make sure that someone fights for somebody because you, you see so many things over the years where artists have been robbed.

Like you think they're making a bunch of money and then they go bankrupt and you're like what happened? Nobody ever told them what to do. Like a lot of the people who get this instant fame. There aren't people in their corner to tell them, this is what you need to do with your money. You need to invest it.

You don't need to be buying all these cars. You need to make sure that your bank account is set up this way. You invest some of this, you save some of this it's great to look this way, but you need to make sure that you have something in case you are a flash in the pan, or you need somebody. Who's going to read those contracts that you sign with labels to make sure I'm making a decent amount over it.

Instead of there's all of this overhead that you've got to pay for, that you don't even realize it's coming out of your pocket because you think the a hundred grand you're getting is amazing. But when you actually go through it, you should actually be making a million, but you don't know that because nobody's told you what to do with it money or how to read these things. 

[00:21:51] Justine: They also need that for, high school, or as again, just thinking about college decisions, we, need agents like kids, High schoolers need agents Or better advisors. 

[00:22:03] Taylor: yeah. what a guidance counselor has to do these days has morphed into so many things you need to just split what a guidance counselor is. Now you need your college advisor, you need your emotional advisor, you need your financial advisor, you need all of those, and you need to meet with everybody at least once a semester.

Like these are, these are all things that I think with age I've realized it's not fair the way I think, because my whole thing has always been, it's not fair the way people get treated. And if they're not lucky enough to have people who have told them what they need to look for, like, I have been in my life, somebody needs to step up to the plate for that.

And that's what I want to be for someone. 

[00:22:46] Justine: I think that's great. 

That's so Nice. you're so. 

[00:22:50] Taylor: Yeah, I have got such aspirations. I just haven't put any of it into play, but no, that's a lie. I do get people come to me for you guys have asked me things and like I have other friends and people who will come to okay, so how do I approach these things? And I give them the advice that I have based upon my knowledge, but my knowledge is not vast. I'd like to just grow them. 

[00:23:12] Justine: okay. So for me as to why I decided to continue I think it was a combination of a lot of things. So it was it, was. my job telling me that my position would eventually be eliminated without an end date. So it's, preparing for the worst. And Also COVID where a lot of people are, being furloughed or laid off and finding what they want really want to do in life and of going down that path. And then 

with my mother passing away, just having that opportunity to really look into what I want to do. 

And for the rest of my life, and of course, part of that is being in London. So like how can I be there and all of that stuff. And so I. decided to, even though, everyone's Oh, you should. 

make Your hobby as your full time. I can't get around that. because one, I don't really have, I feel like I don't really have. a hobby and two it's just I wouldn't see that being a full-time salary or a full-time generator. So I still thought, okay, let me just do something that is stable and then and then find a hobby and if it's, So it turns out to be something full-time then. Great. That's wonderful. And if I find it out, down the road where I'm much older, I'm okay with that So that was my compromise to myself and at least. I've made it to one. part of my goal, which is, be in London. 

be able to work and live in London. So it's Getting close to a year and it's, it could at least be, say I did live in London if, and even if I have to go back to the states, 

[00:25:03] Taylor: I do have a question for you. so How do you feel about the statement that is always pushed around then? If you do what you love, you'll never have to work a day in your life. So do you think that. The things you like to do, there is no ma monetization around it, or is it that you were never exposed to ways to make your hobbies have a monetary value? 

[00:25:36] Justine: I think it's both. I think. So let's just take one of my hobbies, just so that makes it a bit easier. Let's go with singing. 

and this is specifically going down the route of Broadway. 

[00:25:49] Taylor: Okay. I'm with you a hundred percent. Let's see where we're going. 

[00:25:54] Justine: Cause I love, musicals And such. 

So I don't know how much do they make, with that, you don't have a secure, you can have a contract maybe for a year or two, whatever, and then you have to go through all the whole audition process and you have to make additional money on the side to, be able to. To. 

make a good.

Living wage. I don't, I'm not sure how to word that 

[00:26:16] Taylor: To make a living 

[00:26:17] Justine: There you go. Make it a living wage, maybe. So yeah, I think that, and then, yeah, because my family didn't really see that as a A career opportunity. They didn't invite me to look into that or explore that a bit more as well. And I'm just also shy that I don't really want to be on stage, but there are other things that you can do to support musicals, which again, I wasn't exposed to. So I think it's a combination. 

[00:26:50] Taylor: You could have. been a critic, 

[00:26:51] Justine: Yeah. I

could 

[00:26:53] Taylor: I think that goes into journalism, but, 

[00:26:55] Justine: Which I was starting. I was, that was my initial major that I wanted to go into. journalism 

[00:27:01] Taylor: Okay. I just I was just wondering.

[00:27:04] Justine: okay. And then, so from the, I guess the gap. between my first college graduation, even though I would say it's five years before I decided to go back to or go back to school. But at the same time, if I didn't have the opportunity, I wouldn't have. gone back to school. Like I don't, especially in my field I don't think you need to go back for a master's program. 

And again, just like you guys mentioned earlier, it's just the education system is so expensive and I, I would not be able to pay for the tuition, Like it's freakin' ridiculous. Even if I went back to my school and just did online schooling. 

it was like 22,000. And I'm just like, really? I don't. And That's ridiculous. I kinda, I was just like, I'm not gonna deal with that. 

So with, I know what the college Episodes, we did talk about how involved your family was with your college decision-making. So with going back to school or continuing your education, was your family involved in this stage? 

[00:28:12] Amanda: For me, not so much this part, it was more of a, okay you're old enough to more or less make that decision on your own. You want to go back. No, one's going to stop you. 

[00:28:21] Justine: How did they feel about You going back to school? 

[00:28:26] Amanda: so most of my family were just like, eh, do you, my mom was ecstatic. 

[00:28:31] Justine: Okay. 

[00:28:32] Amanda: Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, they really weren't that involved with the decision-making process, unlike with my bachelor's yeah. 

[00:28:40] Taylor: With me going back and get the paralegal certification, I did that and didn't tell anybody initially.

So it was like a month 

before I told my mom, because I don't know. I just, I had been researching it different like different schools and stuff like that. I was like, okay I'll do it because I, I don't like B I don't like when things are made a fuss of, and it's we discuss everything so much.

And then I didn't want that to be a thing that, someone else finds that I don't like, I like being the center of attention. Which I know seems weird because I'm a people person, ish. Yeah. And I'm an Extrovert. 

but I don't like it when the attention is on me. Cause I know my mom doesn't do it, but like she'll say things will be said and then people will always ask you about it.

Oh, how's that going? How's that going? So if I fail at something or if it's taking me a while to do something, I don't want you to keep asking me questions about it. 

[00:29:39] Justine: So 

[00:29:39] Taylor: then it makes you feel a bit, it makes you feel insecure. I'm like, I don't, I really don't want other people to know. So I, I told my mom and I told my sister, and then I think I told you. guys and like a cup of a handful of people. Most people don't know. I got my paralegal cert when I. You, I don't think I told you guys what I finished. It was a while before you guys found out, I was like, Yeah. I finally finished. And I just, it just, I just wanted it to be something I did So that I can move on to the next level of my life, which I still haven't, which is a whole other issue

[00:30:14] Justine: So you didn't tell people cause you were, is it. Because you were afraid that you were going, you might've you. there was a possibility that you were going to fail. 

[00:30:24] Taylor: Yeah. There's always a possibility that things take longer than you wanted to do it, but like that you change your mind midway. And then I'm like, oh why didn't you do that? I don't want people to be asking me questions make a way that's the extent to it. 

[00:30:37] Justine: yeah, that w and that was the same for me too. I didn't consult any of my family members. for it. Pretty much. Once I got accepted was the time when I told them, Hey, I got accepted here and I'm going to go because there was that chance that I wasn't going to get accepted. So why tell them I'm going to be applying and then I'm not going to get accepted or the plan gets pushed back a year because of COVID. So I didn't share that. I didn't share it until I got accepted, which, I was really excited about when I did get accepted. 

Taylor, with your paralegal course, was it online or was it. in person. 

[00:31:14] Taylor: It was online and I've never, I, it took me a lot to do it because I'm so used to being in an in-person class. It was a very I understand what the kids were going through this year, but the difference was it was like, it was a totally online class. There were no lectures or anything that I had to log in for.

It was essentially here's the stuff. Here's the book, read it, pass it. I'm good at that. I'm going to cause a lot of it is spit back into this memorization of like rules and regulations and things that you're doing, but getting myself to sit down and focus on it. I started out strong and then. I petered off.

He definitely. 

[00:31:57] Justine: I 

[00:31:57] Taylor: graduated with an a in the class, but make, having to put yourself on a schedule 

to take the time to do it. I was horrible about it. And I got a planner. I was like, okay, on this day, I'll have this done, this they'll have this done. 

[00:32:13] Justine: Yeah, I do find that type of. Learning format much harder because even when, where I got my bachelor's it was the type of, know, Here you need to log in at least once a week or twice a week, and you just need to reply to discussion boards, but here's the material you need to read. Watch in your assignments. There was no direct interaction with an instructor. And so it was really hard for me to. To focus. And that's why I failed so many classes because I just didn't want to do the work. I didn't have that discipline. 

So when I was looking for another program and, thinking about going back to that school, I was like if it's the same format, I know I'm gonna fail and 22,000 is not worth it for that specific type of format. I really, I was like, you know what? I'll just go back to the classroom. And at least that way we can have some type of interaction and that's, I feel. like it holds me much more accountable than, again, the format that Taylor also had. So Amanda, what about you? How about, how did you feel. going back to school and how was the learning format. 

[00:33:19] Amanda: That was a struggle because it was a few, there was a gap there. So I kind of forgot what you're supposed to be doing. Like I forgot the whole oh yeah, shit. You gotta read those chapters before the class. Oh yeah. Remember how take notes when people are talking like that was, it was just those little things that it's oh God, I forgot how to do all this shit. Like honestly, in the beginning, just taking notes was such a struggle. Cause I'm like, wait, what? I used to be really fast at taking it down, understanding what the hell's writing. Nah not anymore. So that was hard to get back into and the format. So the first year and a half. Was fine. It was in person, but then the last semester because of COVID was online. 

[00:34:06] Taylor: But, it was still a instructor to a pupil type of thing, like what they were doing, I guess, in like the elementary schools in the high schools and stuff. So it wasn't too bad. The thing that made it weird because I was the only one in the master's program. So it was literally just me and one per and the professor. 

you had a one-on-one. That is so awesome. 

Yeah. 

[00:34:28] Justine: my gosh. That's so interesting.

[00:34:33] Amanda: But yeah, no, it was it, I think it was actually a little bit better only because I felt like I could in that big ass classroom, just me and one, the professor, I felt like it would have been so awkward, like so when it's just the computer screen, it's oh yeah. Hey professor.

Yeah.

[00:34:51] Justine: so I had no idea That you were the only person in the master's program. I thought you had at least, I don't know, maybe up 

[00:34:58] Taylor: a cohort. Yeah. 

[00:35:00] Amanda: Seven of us when I first started, but we were all at different levels. And then by the time I got to my last semester, there were supposed to be two others with me. But they dropped out. Oh, wow. Yeah,

[00:35:12] Justine: then there was one 

[00:35:14] Taylor: pretty much. Amanda's the only one. 

[00:35:17] Justine: That's really interesting. So I knew that master's programs had smaller groups. Yeah. But I just, I didn't know that you were, you're only the only one that's so interesting. But that's great that you really had that one-on-one interaction with them. And that way it's, you're really understanding what's going on in that way. You can also pass too. 

So what are some differences the first time you went to college to now? Obviously you had a smaller class and that you had the COVID restrictions. So that changes the format, but how did you feel was diff different compared to how it was in the beginning or when you felt worse for it?

[00:35:59] Amanda: I would say the most obvious there's a lot faster. My master's my bachelor's because I didn't know what the hell I was doing. I think it?

took me about six years to 

get 

[00:36:09] Justine: are you? Oh, 

[00:36:10] Amanda: Yeah, I didn't graduate. 

[00:36:12] Justine: cause you were also switching schools and majors. 

[00:36:15] Amanda: and majors. Cause again, I didn't know what the hell I was doing.

[00:36:18] Taylor: Criminal justice. That's what you were doing. 

[00:36:20] Amanda: That was not, that was never 

[00:36:24] Taylor: until we're 104 that's going to be what's your major 

[00:36:30] Justine: so was your master's program a one year. Two year. 

[00:36:34] Amanda: a two year. I would say it was, like I mentioned before, I struggled with just getting back into the flow of being in school and the things you're supposed to be doing. But on top of that, there was obviously the expectation that in the master's program, you do more work in the sense that, for my bachelor's professors would always kinda write down examples and you'd go over it over and over again until you got it in the master's it was like, read the book, figure it out. 

[00:37:04] Justine: there's so much reading in the master's program. It's 

[00:37:06] Amanda: Yes. I'm just like, wait, 

[00:37:09] Justine: And their academic papers that I can't comprehend very well either. And they take 40 minutes to read. I'm a slow reader. So I'm just like, Oh, I can't like, this is just too much.

[00:37:20] Taylor: See, this is why I recommend re at least one I go through my cycles of reading stuff. At least once every three months, this is just read something, nonfiction, get a, non-fiction get a buyout, get an autobiography, get something in your fields that has to do with something that's up and coming and read that because that helps cut down on that brain fog. 

[00:37:40] Justine: Okay. Thanks. Great. Tip

[00:37:43] Amanda: Yeah. But yeah, that's, I'd say those were the biggest differences for me. 

[00:37:48] Justine: More work, but less time.

[00:37:50] Taylor: Yeah. 

[00:37:55] Justine: Yes. What was it more stressful? Right. 

[00:37:58] Taylor: Yes, but that had more to do with the fact that I was very much, by that point for my master's, I was in the, I was an accountant already at my job. And so obviously that requires more than 40 hour work week. So that, that part was the stressful part. It's like, okay, well, when am I going to find time to do this? When am I going to find time to do that? Yeah, it was a lot of work being done on the weekends. I had no free time on weekends. 

[00:38:23] Justine: I think we've pulled you out a couple of times and we're like, you need a break just to have dinner and then go back to then go back to studying. 

[00:38:30] Taylor: Yeah. We're like, you're gonna burn out Amanda. yeah. you can't have that happen.

[00:38:37] Justine: Yeah. 

[00:38:39] Taylor: But at the same time, friends do need to respect each other. When your friends are going back to school, like when Amanda gave us a very strict thing, she goes, look, I have to study on these days when she's preparing for her exams, I'm not going to be there. And when we did not harp on her to go out, then we were like, Okay. study, we'll be here when you're done. You will still be here. 

[00:39:03] Justine: Yes. I feel like we are very nice and accommodating friends,

[00:39:07] Taylor: We should, all friends should be nice and accommodating. 

[00:39:11] Justine: Sometimes they're like, oh, you need to come out. You don't come out anymore. 

[00:39:16] Taylor: Those are people who don't know how to be by themselves also 

[00:39:19] Justine: Yeah. 

That's true.

[00:39:21] Taylor: where we're not needy friends. If we don't see each other, it is okay. I'll talk to you guys in a month. 

[00:39:36] Justine: So going back to school for me, I went to, since it started during the pandemic, the first term, and also I was in the transition of getting my visa, but I did go to the classroom and it was a mix of classroom and an online, but obviously you had the professor or the teacher there and talking and every, I know some schools that they have everyone turning on their video, but for, they always say for connection issues, we don't turn on our video. So it's just the teacher, just talking to his laptop and showing slides and such. And that's so awkward and I'm feel bad for them, but also, grateful for them for powering through that. But because, having experience in HR and they're asking questions and they're looking to engage, I'm finding a lot of the students weren't engaging.

And it was literally like pulling teeth. And there are times that even though I had 15 students in the class, sometimes it would just feel like me and the teacher were just talking because I would engage cause I would share examples. So I was just like, why aren't people sharing any information? But I find that some of them were coming straight from the bachelor's degree into the master's program.

And then some did have the, that they had experienced in the field and then they're going back, But, they're too shy to to share that information. I definitely was on that side. First started or when I first went to college I didn't really talk either. I didn't participate in conversations because again, I was shy, but now that I had experience in HR, I'm sharing the information and much more comfortable with giving my input and just engaging.

So I found it really frustrating that nobody wanted to participate. And actually one of the teachers called it out was like, all right, let's hear from somebody, some other people, because we don't want to just hear from one person all the time. And I found that like funny and sorry, I was of offended because I was like, great.

She's doesn't want to hear from me anymore. Okay. Fine. But it's not my fault that nobody wants to engage either, but whatever.

[00:41:49] Taylor: Okay. So I have a question for you when you were in the classes in, when you were in person with your the other students in there, did you like take on that, like I'm a bit more experienced role in ask your classmates what do they feel like? Or what has their experience been?

What are they hoping to get from this? Or do they have any questions or anything that anybody ever approached you asking you.

[00:42:16] Justine: So I guess one of the good things that we did have was that we were forced into groups for a group project. And so I really just converse with them cause I also don't, I still don't converse with a lot of strangers either. uh, Got to know them via, these chats. And then when we finally met each other, it's like, oh, you. a comfortability with them because them are familiar already with them. So yes, I was comfortable with sharing information with them and helping them out. And they did come to me with like questions. and I think it's also because there's a language barrier where English is not their first language and they don't understand the question, I help rephrase it so that they understand it or explain it further.

So. 

yeah. Short answer to your question. Yes. 

[00:43:01] Taylor: Okay, cool. I'm glad you're out there helping. 

[00:43:05] Justine: Yeah,

I did get 

[00:43:07] Taylor: Did you ever, 

[00:43:08] Justine: sorry, go 

[00:43:09] Taylor: I don't know. Continue. You don't know 

[00:43:10] Justine: was, I said, I was saying that I did get annoyed, that I was picked as the leader for the group, because it's just I don't really want to be the leader, but if everyone votes me, then I guess I have to.

[00:43:25] Taylor: I was going to say, did you ever think you'd come to a point where you would be the wise one people were coming to.

for 

[00:43:31] Justine: Yeah. 

[00:43:32] Taylor: your field? 

[00:43:33] Justine: At some point, yes, because you're getting all this information or you're getting this experience and people are looking for experienced people. And even in my job, when I help out other properties, they're always asking me questions. So yeah.

[00:43:54] Taylor: All right. A wise one. 

[00:43:57] Justine: Try to be sometimes. With the I guess the change in the. 

Educational culture. I'm seeing a lot of these online learning certification programs. eCornell has their courses where it's A shorter week or shorter time span and you're paying less money, but it's really truly focused on certain things. 

And you can do a class or you can do a whole certification. You have other schools that are doing the same thing too. I was actually looking, I think it was like Notre Dame when I was looking for an MBA somewhat of an MBA. But again, shorter program, less expensive. And then you're also have these other programs or certifications such as LinkedIn or Coursera where you are, you can be free or it can be paid in your learning anything.

And that way you could expand your skills and your knowledge. So how do you guys feel about these types of programs? Have you participated in it Have you tried it out?

[00:44:56] Taylor: So not going to lie didn't know that they actually existed. Uh, So I kinda looked into some of that. It looked interesting. 

[00:45:06] Justine: Yeah.

[00:45:07] Amanda: but whether or not they're actually useful in terms of so like in my field, a lot of my fields require the actual degree from the actual college. So I guess it really all depends on what exactly you'd be using it for.

So I think I saw one, I don't remember who had it, but there was actually a certificate for forensic accounting. So that I thought, okay, actually, I don't even remember where I saw it dammit, but I'm going to go searching for it again, because that actually would be something I would be intrigued by just because forensic accounting, that's a field that's growing significantly because there's a lot of fraud out there. So I guess it really does depend on what you plan on doing for yourself, like in terms of a career and how it would help you with that. So I think a lots, like you need to have that foundation of a college degree, depending on what you're doing, and then maybe have some extra support with these certifications.

[00:46:12] Taylor: Yeah. So I am I'm one. Who's used them before and I've so a lot of them have a lot of the like promos and that's when I jump on them, I, outside of it, like Google, where you can learn how to use their whole suite mark up and stuff like that. But those things are essentially Microsoft office, which a lot of us learned when we were little growing up.

But those soft skills, which are in high demand now I realize I have a lot of them, but there was never anything that's certified that I had a lot of those skills a lot. So I ended up taking a couple of the ones just so that I could be like, yeah. So I, I can F I finished this thing. So I know this even knowing words per minute, that I type, cause I'm a quick typer.

I'm not a stenographer. I try, I, I got a book to learn shorthand and stuff like that. That one I still haven't gotten, but I'm proficient in like Microsoft office, which we also is the Google suite. Like a lot of the things that people are asking for those courses help out with and work in your higher ability.

So yeah, I'm for them, they don't, I think what the misunder like the miscommunication, I think is in learning those online learning courses, those are like CEUs for people who have a degree already within like I've already been working this job. How can I make myself look better? the main focus of my job is this. Marketing is still something we have to do. Like you can't, you still have to be able to market yourself as a person.

You have to know just to help with your higher ability learning how to utilize your LinkedIn. I know I don't utilize it the way that I see Justine, you utilize your LinkedIn and especially when were working for Rosewood, you were constantly pushing out articles and you were commenting on things like that.

Like staying on top of that also helps your higher ability. Cause people see, this is what you have a history of doing like what our parents and our grandparents, what getting a job was when they were young is so archaic compared to what we have do. And you used to be able to just walk into a business and say, Hey, can I get a job here?

[00:48:30] Justine: off your cover, your 

[00:48:31] Taylor: resume. They hate that. 

[00:48:33] Justine: hate 

receiving mailed resumes too. I'm like, oh, apply online.

[00:48:40] Taylor: the thing those are the things you learned. Like when people are like why don't you have a job? Why don't you just go be Melissa? Like, why don't you just go there and ask them if it, and I'm like, you can't do that. There's so many levels. Like you have to know what's new, what's going on. That's what those courses and online.

certificates help.

Because going back to the the different, when I said the difference between not being exposed to like trade jobs or stuff like that, one of the big differences in trade jobs and like regular us going to college, like going to a four year college versus that is the job prospect.

At the end, they make sure their people have like a connection to a job once they get it. 

[00:49:22] Justine: Yeah. And that wasn't really shared, like I think if that was shared, I probably would have gone through to a trade school. 

[00:49:31] Taylor: Right.

[00:49:31] Justine: Yeah.

[00:49:33] Taylor: Like a job guarantee at the end of it, or an apprenticeship. Cause center or whatever Career center.

Thank you. I don't have the time or no one really like it, it falls in an email that you got and you're not looking at it. Like all of these little things that just little things that can help people get those same opportunities aren't given. So that's why I say once you have been in the workforce taking these online courses, then the certifications help you look better. 

So that's why Amanda's like, I had no idea this existed, 

[00:50:05] Amanda: like seriously though, because some of these seen the forensic accounting but I also saw one for like IT fundamentals. Like that would be very useful for an accountant because, what I'm currently doing now for my accounting especially if you're going to be assisting with implementing a new system, that would probably be useful, right. 

[00:50:24] Justine: Yeah. And I think too, if you're Just even interested in a. A position or an industry. It's also a good way to just explore and say, okay, this is something that if you go through the videos, you go through the learning and you're like, okay, I do want to explore this more. And maybe that's a way for you to go decide and say, I do want to get a certification or you do want to continue my education in that, like I'm I was doing something on project manager or something a course on, on LinkedIn.

Cause I've always been interested in it and I didn't fully understand what it entailed. so that's one thing that I'm going through just because again, it's sparking that interest and just going into it versus having to spend thousands of dollars and time. And then you don't do anything with it, right?

So you're, yes you're spending time learning, but you are learning something. But there is no risk to, losing money towards it. So I think it's also a great way To just explore other career fields if you weren't exposed to it. Any other way. But I don't know if it's a really considered valuable, like if people. have the LinkedIn certifications on their profile or that they've completed the course. I don't know if an employer really finds that valuable. Again, if you do get a specific certification, but if it's just one course on something of I don't know, Excel skills. Okay, great. I feel like everyone should have Excel skills in general, but 

[00:52:05] Taylor: They do not. 

[00:52:06] Justine: I know that's what I'm saying.

Like they should, but they don't. But I'm just adjust as an example. If you have that on your resume, am I really going to be like, oh cool. You did that. I. 

dunno. 

[00:52:19] Taylor: Okay. 

[00:52:21] Justine: I just don't know how I feel about them for as an employer perspective yet. 

[00:52:32] Justine: I do want to go back to, one thing Taylor had said way earlier, cause it goes back to going it connecting to going back to education. Taylor, you had mentioned one person had said to you, you're going to be so old when you go back to school. And we want to continue our education and all that. How do you feel about that?

[00:52:53] Taylor: I don't care 

[00:52:55] Justine: Okay.

[00:52:55] Taylor: me. Like you could care, however, where you want, I'm going back. I'm going for me. At the end of the day, I don't care if I'm the oldest person in the class. When I was getting my undergrad, I had two older students in my science classes. In one of them, she was 70 and the other one was in her fifties and this that's getting a bachelor's degree requirements. So I didn't care. I've also met a lot of people in my life. Who've gone back older. Even my dentist, when he decided to be a dentist, he was a geologist.

Like I said, he was working at a gym for awhile before he did that. There's no limit to going back or anything. So you're never too old to go back to school because life gives you different perspectives on things. And sometimes you just, what you've compounded upon that will help you be better in that field. 

[00:53:57] Justine: Yeah, I completely agree with that. Last question. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about continuing their education?

[00:54:07] Amanda: Go for it, do it. Absolutely do it. It can only help you in the long run either by helping you get promoted, getting more better pay, or maybe even that'll be the push to help you leave a shitty job. 

[00:54:22] Taylor: Or just do it for yourself if you're lucky enough to have the discretionary income to do it, and it's something you wanted to do for yourself, if you want to be the first person in your family with a master's degree, go do it.

Just don't let anything stop you unless you're going to put yourself in dire straits or something like that, or it's going to be too stressful. There's no reason you shouldn't do it. 

[00:54:44] Justine: I agree with both of you and hopefully you're looking at other avenues other than just, universities. We talked about different avenues previously, so I think, That Again, what we talked about earlier, we were forced to think of a specific avenue to go down to, go to college and not think about trade school. So it's the same thing. here. When you're thinking about continuing that education, there different avenues that you can go down.

What, whatever route you can use to be able to, again, continue that education to help further your career, or even if you're planning to change Your career. So it's not just go to an expensive university. 

[00:55:32] Taylor: We also look, we also didn't touch on like joining the military also help you pay. 

[00:55:36] Justine: Oh shit. Do you want to touch on that really quick?

[00:55:39] Taylor: while I don't know a lot about it, but I know that is an avenue that you can do. If you don't think that if I've gotten my four-year degree, I can't join the army and do stuff.

You can still do that, even though you'll start as a. Like, you'll start as a commissioned officer already. I think you start at like a lieutenant's position or Sergeant or something like that. Don't quote me. I'm not a hundred percent sure, but you can go back already having a degree and join the military. And that's also an option to get your school paid for. 

[00:56:08] Justine: Yeah, there's again, just so many different avenues. We didn't touch on a lot of them We touch on a very small amount. So look at all the different avenues that you can use to continue your education and see which one really works best for you. That fits with the lifestyle that you have fits with your routine fits with, obviously financials. Just explore the different ways you can get more further education. Yes, Taylor.

[00:56:39] Taylor: Sorry. And the other thing we forgot to say is talk to people. 

[00:56:43] Justine: Yeah, 

[00:56:44] Taylor: yeah. 

[00:56:44] Justine: that's always another there's so there's just, it just keeps going and going.

[00:56:48] Taylor: Yeah. But make sure if you're going. to make that decision, it always helps to talk to somebody else. Who's done it. 

[00:56:54] Justine: Any other advice that you're gonna forget? 

[00:56:58] Taylor: I'm done. I'm 

[00:56:59] Justine: No, that's fine. I know it's not that you should shut up. I think it's really helpful for people to know the additional things. Cause like we said in earlier episodes, we didn't know about it. We wish somebody told us these things. So 

[00:57:13] Taylor: I think that's what we need to change the podcast to things we wish we knew growing up. 

[00:57:18] Justine: Yeah. If we have any other advice, obviously we'll send it out via social media, Taylor we'll press and push that button.

That's weed that Instagram. 

[00:57:28] Taylor: Yeah. 

[00:57:29] Justine: So I hope you found this helpful and if you are, continuing your education, let us know how you're doing. If you need some cheerleaders will root for you. 

If you have any questions about it feel free to. reach out to us on social media as well.

 Thanks for listening to United AF as friends with us. 

[00:57:53] Amanda: Today's episode, please like comment and share conversations with your friends family on your social media pages. 

[00:58:01] Taylor: Join us next time as we celebrate International Literacy day and my birthday. 

[00:58:06] Justine: Go Taylor, it's your birthday? We're going to party like it's your birthday. 

[00:58:12] Taylor: which is going to be doing absolutely nothing. 

[00:58:14] Justine: Oh, 

[00:58:17] Taylor: Finally be part of the club.