An Education: A Passport to Your Journey
An education is a passport: It is not the reason to take a journey. It is not a ticket. It is not a destination. It is a tool to help you get where you want to be. At the same time, as a passport can be used for ID even when you’re not traveling, an education has a twofold effect: As you learn, you simultaneously expand your opportunities to learn. I found this out at a very young age.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico in a family with a lot of relatives in traditional professions – medicine, law, academics, teaching – and from a young age I was encouraged to read. In a short time, I became a voracious, indiscriminate reader of anything and everything that was in front of me, in English or in Spanish. Be it National Geographic, Bohemia (definitely not a magazine for young readers), books, The World Book Encyclopedia, newspapers, or utility bills. I was expected to do well in school and to obtain a college degree. I also observed that in my large extended family, some had not followed the traditional professions, and they also had attained comfortably middle-class, stable, livelihoods.
When it was time to choose a college major, it was time to ask myself: What were the traits that my successful relatives shared in their educational backgrounds? The first thing was, they all had learned something useful for which there was a demand. The pre-baby boom generation needed not only teachers and professors, doctors, and engineers, but also workers who knew the technology of the day. While they entered fields and occupations that interested them, they kept sight of how their interests would fit the employment landscape. They had passports while they kept sight of the trip.
Each of my successful relatives set out to learn all they could about their jobs and their fields.
They could express themselves clearly and professionally to co-workers, colleagues and clients. They all had made their own learning.
As they made their own learning, they identified and explored the new opportunities that learning opened up to them.
The most successful: never stopped learning.
As in any journey, you need to identify your vision when you decide to pursue an education. In college, I majored in marketing and economics because I’m interested in business and money, and because those two fields afforded flexibility in employment options. I pursued an MBA at night while working full-time, with my employer’s encouragement. My long-term goal has been to remain flexible. I have worked in retailing, real estate, insurance, and on the board of a local non-profit, which led to new opportunities in education-related fields. This in turn, led to a deeper interest in literacy and literature. Recently, I completed an online certificate program in English-to-Spanish translation, which supplements my blogging and my teaching at a local language school.
As you need to renew your passport, you also need to update your skills. By updating your skills, you stay ahead of the competition and become a more valuable worker, and you become more challenged in your job and in your everyday life. You are taking advantage of new opportunities. You are excited about the new blessings your work brings you and your loved ones. Your loved ones, in turn, become inspired by you.
Your purpose becomes your deeds. And it all started when you set out to get that passport for your journey: the education you had been thinking about.
Change is inevitable. But, making change happen when you want it to can be hard. And when you want to make a real change, you need to learn something new. Because education is the key to change, Kaplan has spent 75 years re-writing the rules of education. Because they believe that education is not one size fits all. A system focused on the needs of individuals can give students the power to change their lives. Kaplan wasn’t satisfied with the status quo, and you shouldn’t be either. To jumpstart your change, we encourage you to watch Kaplan’s video series, Visionary Voices, to hear the latest insights on emerging trends from notable thought leaders; participate in Kaplan’s ADVANCE: Career. Education. You. group on LinkedIn to connect with professionals committed to life-long learning; and connect with students, alumni and educational professionals at StudentAdvisor.com, Kaplan’s one-stop-shop for the latest education news, reviews, and advice.
I’d love to hear from you and learn how education has given you the power to change! Leave a comment below and be entered to win a $100 VISA gift card!
Rules
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- 1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
- 2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
- 3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
- 4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 3/7/2013-3/31/2013
Be sure to visit the Kaplan Brand Page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Tags: Fausta's blog, Kaplan
March 9th, 2013 at 3:48 pm
My education empowered me to make choices, which definitely changed my life. I haven chosen to stay home with my children now and when they are older and in school I can choose to work part or full time. I have more choices with the education I have.
March 9th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/310477650860859392
March 11th, 2013 at 5:57 pm
Higher education, and my business degree, opened many doors for me and opportunities, which allowed me much
personal growth and change.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
March 11th, 2013 at 5:58 pm
2nd entry tweet – https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/311234737144483842
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
March 13th, 2013 at 9:28 am
My master’s degree opened up job doors for me that would’ve been closed otherwise.
March 13th, 2013 at 5:04 pm
my engineer degree helped me find a better job
March 13th, 2013 at 5:05 pm
https://twitter.com/Merle0304/status/311946102557528064
March 13th, 2013 at 11:13 pm
Higher education has given me more choices of life and work, I am able to do what I love while earning the living.
March 13th, 2013 at 11:14 pm
https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/311559307340677120
March 17th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Education gives me the power to realize that I have talent and that I can stick to something so I’m not afraid to try new things.
Thanks for a chance to win and have a great day!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
March 19th, 2013 at 10:30 am
Having an education took me from being a secretary to an accountant! It really gives you a chance to boost your career and definitely gave me more options.
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
March 19th, 2013 at 10:31 am
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/314021162864754688
wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
March 21st, 2013 at 3:43 am
Education has given me the power to change, and to show my kids how important it is to stay in school. It gives me the power to change my family life.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
March 21st, 2013 at 3:45 am
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/314643769876160512
amy [at] utry [dot] it
March 21st, 2013 at 7:38 am
education has given me the self-confidence to try for the top
March 21st, 2013 at 8:09 am
I became an independent person because of my education.
March 21st, 2013 at 8:11 am
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/314710562221215744
March 22nd, 2013 at 9:14 am
Education has given me a strong foundation and I feel like I can make solid decisions. I can also make persuasive arguments when needed to push a bit of change along.
March 23rd, 2013 at 4:29 am
Education has given me the power to change my lifestyle.
March 24th, 2013 at 12:59 am
I like that I can stay home to take care of my children if I decide to.
March 24th, 2013 at 4:37 pm
my education has gotten me inspired to go into a field i love and have been extremely successful at!!!
March 24th, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Education (and putting myself through undergrad at UC Berkeley and graduate school) is the whole reason I have a career, am confident and diverse, and can lead my family and career in forward motions — to change whenever life demands it!
tvollowitz at aol dot com
March 25th, 2013 at 3:19 am
I got my job because of my education, and I can stay in the us because of my job, I like having flexible hours and being able to work from home, I’m very happy with the education I got.
March 25th, 2013 at 3:44 am
Seems like my tweet didn’t show up so trying to post again: https://twitter.com/syytta/status/316086873518907392
March 26th, 2013 at 3:29 pm
Knowledge is something that cannot be taken away from you!
March 27th, 2013 at 12:25 pm
it gave me the ability to walk into job interviews knowing i know my stuff and have a degree to back it and that i can aim high
nannypanpan@gmail.com
March 27th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
It allows me to be able to run my own business successfully.
March 27th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
Getting my bachelors degree was a great decision. It gave me the opportunity to get a great job that pays well & allows me to live very comfortably.
March 27th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/316959966227492865
Tweet
March 27th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
I never knew or understood the concept of critical thinking until I was in College. This changed my life.
March 27th, 2013 at 2:22 pm
https://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/316978444883881985
March 27th, 2013 at 2:33 pm
Receiving an education has given me the power to have choices and do what I want with my life. Whether I’m learning English, Math, or to Dental Assisting as I did at Kaplan! I love to learn something new everyday!
March 27th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
Education has given me the power to change by exposing me to many people from very different backgrounds and lifestyles, with differing viewpoints, and helped me learn how to not just coexist with them but be in community with them as well.
March 27th, 2013 at 3:26 pm
https://twitter.com/DuckyBunny/status/316986990371430401
March 27th, 2013 at 3:35 pm
I was pregnant with my third son while finishing my first semester of college courses. I thought it was important to finish no matter how hard it was at the time. It helped me get a good job afterward getting my degree and give my kids a better life.
March 27th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
tweet
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/316996977210580992
March 27th, 2013 at 4:40 pm
Education has given me the power to change because after attaining my MBA, many doors were opened in the workplace. This allowed me to move up within my career and I was able to put my ideas to use and have my opinions heard.
March 27th, 2013 at 4:41 pm
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellydsaver/status/317013445105045504
March 27th, 2013 at 5:59 pm
Education has given me confidence to apply for different jobs. Thanks so much.
March 27th, 2013 at 6:00 pm
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/317033245244014592
March 27th, 2013 at 10:46 pm
the opportunity to get a degree
March 28th, 2013 at 12:00 am
it has given me a great job that i love
March 28th, 2013 at 12:02 am
tweeted here;
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/317124290472464384
March 28th, 2013 at 9:25 am
All through high school, I coasted. None of it seemed relevant to me and I found it mostly boring and it was easy enough to get decent grades without trying too hard. I learned very different when I started college. I was required to listen, pay attention, do my work and produce results in order to get good grades and that was a big shock. Thankfully I got over it pretty quickly!
March 28th, 2013 at 10:53 am
My education has lead me to my current job where I help thousands of college students finance their educations.
March 28th, 2013 at 1:07 pm
“A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.”
March 28th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Education is a must to get a good paying job in this job market these day. I want to thank you for this awesome sweep and hope to win
Thanks !!!
March 28th, 2013 at 1:31 pm
enter me thanks
March 28th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
My education and life experiences have enabled me to meet life situations head on
March 28th, 2013 at 3:38 pm
https://twitter.com/mkjmc/status/317360101461737472
March 28th, 2013 at 5:42 pm
I am still educating myself about MS. I have changed my diet and exercise.
March 28th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
Both of my parents are immigrants. I am a first generation college student studying healthcare. I hope to change the world by helping patients get better and providing for my parents so they can have the retirement they deserve.
March 28th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
I am in an industry (insurance) that is constantly changing and if you don’t educate yourself and keep up with the changes you will be totally left behind.
March 28th, 2013 at 11:30 pm
education gave me the skills I need to succeed in my career.
March 29th, 2013 at 12:11 am
My college experience has taught me very important life lessons. My education also opened new doors for me in my career.
March 29th, 2013 at 12:22 am
My social work degree gives me the power to help others change their lives.
Thanks! Janna JOhnson jannajanna@hotmail.com janna@feedyourpig on gfc
March 29th, 2013 at 2:15 am
Education has given me the power to adapt to the changing landscape of the workforce which is less manufacturing and more computer know how.
March 29th, 2013 at 2:26 am
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/anashct3/status/317521973561405443
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
March 29th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
During college I learned that it is OK to disagree with your elders as long as you do it respectfully. Because of this I have had some very deep conversations with my parents that I never would have had before and that changed my relationship with my mom especially. We are much closer now than ever before and part of that is because I became unafraid of questioning.
March 29th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/317674240398737408
March 29th, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Education has empowered me to be my own boss and succeed.
March 29th, 2013 at 10:20 pm
I was the first in my family to get a college education, and I am so glad I did. I was formerly a spec. ed. teacher and now a school psychologist. Without higher education, I would not have the opportunity to work at a job I love. I get to inspire kids everyday. Life is good.
seanm 1999 at hotmail dot com
March 29th, 2013 at 11:15 pm
Most jobs require a college degree and college made me think analytically.
March 30th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
My education allows me to understand and examine alternate viewpoints that sometimes cause me to change my outlook on life.
March 30th, 2013 at 1:03 pm
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/sparkedcat/status/318041561155919872
March 30th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
i was able to get a better job
March 30th, 2013 at 3:39 pm
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/318083151010349056
March 30th, 2013 at 5:16 pm
At age 64 I continue to take classes and learn new things. Lately it’s been about essential oils and gardening.
Thanks for the contest.
March 30th, 2013 at 5:24 pm
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/318111420967436289
March 30th, 2013 at 10:21 pm
I have a great job in PT that I wouldn’t have without a college education.
March 30th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
https://twitter.com/asketcher1/status/318186492025528320
March 30th, 2013 at 10:31 pm
to teach my kids
March 30th, 2013 at 10:56 pm
Education gave me a career vs. a job
March 30th, 2013 at 11:20 pm
Education has given me the power to succeed in life.
March 30th, 2013 at 11:21 pm
https://twitter.com/ccboobooy/status/318201238141411329
March 30th, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Education has opened many doors for me.
March 30th, 2013 at 11:53 pm
It has given me the power to pursue a dream I had since I was 7.
March 31st, 2013 at 12:23 am
IT HAS GIVEN ME DRIVE TO DO AND GET DONE WHAT I FEEL NEEDS TO HAPPEN! THANKS FOR THE CHANCE!
March 31st, 2013 at 12:24 am
LUCKY $100 TWEET ->>>> https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/318217181550759936
March 31st, 2013 at 5:14 am
education has enabled me to work in social work and broadened my horizons
March 31st, 2013 at 5:15 am
https://twitter.com/jtwark/status/318290458616938496
March 31st, 2013 at 11:43 am
I changed my career from a useless economics undergrad to a CPA with my masters in accountancy.
March 31st, 2013 at 12:16 pm
My education has taken me to the next level at my career.
March 31st, 2013 at 12:32 pm
I was able to prove to myself that I could do it, enhancing my self-esteem.
March 31st, 2013 at 12:32 pm
https://twitter.com/miriama59/status/318400368134467584
March 31st, 2013 at 12:56 pm
education has given me choices
March 31st, 2013 at 2:29 pm
Education has opened many doors for me. It also gave me the confidence to strike out on my own and know that I will always be able to support myself.
March 31st, 2013 at 2:57 pm
I didn’t take the easy way of obtaining my college education, but my company was really supportive, paid most of my tuition and allowed me to attend toward the end during work hours. It’s allowed me the ability to get some increases in pay and promotions into management positions. As a single mom, it’s great knowing that I can support my family on my own.
March 31st, 2013 at 3:22 pm
my education was set aside for many years, but i’m hoping to go back to school very soon- hope it opens many doors!
March 31st, 2013 at 3:47 pm
My education has given me the power to have choices at many different jobs
March 31st, 2013 at 4:26 pm
Having a college degree has opened doors for me in the world of business. I have been a restaurant franchisee and owner for almost 30 years and being self-employed has been a blessing in so many ways.
March 31st, 2013 at 5:11 pm
It helped me be more organized.
March 31st, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Education is life changing it gives you a better job and gives you confidence to accomplish many things
March 31st, 2013 at 6:02 pm
Education has given me power to be a veterinary technician. I am a stay at home mom now but attended college for a vet tech, so if i choose to go back I can!
March 31st, 2013 at 6:08 pm
tweeted https://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/318484965295783938
March 31st, 2013 at 7:20 pm
It helped me gain marketable job skills which enabled me to get a great job
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
March 31st, 2013 at 7:21 pm
tweet
https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/318498682767040512
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
March 31st, 2013 at 7:25 pm
Education gave us the power to take a good job in an urban environment, enabling us to sell our cars and reduce our overall consumption.
March 31st, 2013 at 7:30 pm
Education has given me the confidence to know that the changes I want to make are possible and good choices.
Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com
March 31st, 2013 at 7:37 pm
Education has allowed me to grow as a person.
March 31st, 2013 at 7:43 pm
The more I learn, the more I know I don’t know. It’s humbling, and I try to pass that on.
March 31st, 2013 at 7:45 pm
To earn more money than non graduates I know
March 31st, 2013 at 7:45 pm
Tweet – https://twitter.com/ilovetoclap/status/318509276475830275
March 31st, 2013 at 7:58 pm
I’m going to school now to be a rad tech. It’s a two year program and its hard, I’m not going to lie. Thankfully I graduate in May but I’ve gotten to know myself better during this program than I ever have before and I think its made me stronger and a little more confident.
March 31st, 2013 at 7:59 pm
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/318510132893995008
March 31st, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Education gave me the options for my future. Although I didn’t use it the way I intended.
March 31st, 2013 at 10:12 pm
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/318546205489631233
March 31st, 2013 at 10:41 pm
education has opened the door to many unexpected opportunities for me.
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
March 31st, 2013 at 10:42 pm
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/318553284283625472
March 31st, 2013 at 11:51 pm
Education gave me the opportunity to get a higher paying job when I got out of school
April 1st, 2013 at 9:04 pm
A little hard work and a lot of education is how I managed to climb out of the trailer park and into a beautiful home.