The rise in the popularity of postgraduate education is fueling Asian economies, according to UNESCO, with the report Higher Education in Asia: Expanding Out finding that “investing in higher education will lead to an educated workforce and that, as evidence of an educated workforce becomes known, it will attract international investment that will contribute to the economic development of the nation.” Lifelong learning is often undertaken in the Philippines as a means to improve the family’s economic wellbeing, but it can also have a positive effect on the psychological wellbeing and motivation to learn in children. If you have always wanted to go back to university or obtain a coveted diploma, how can doing so make life better for your children as well?
Leading by Example
Children learn by example and rather than simply reminding them to study, showing them that education is a never-ending experience, is best taught by example. It is difficult for children not to be inspired and influenced by their parent’s desire to learn. Your children will not only benefit from watching you research and process information; they will also perceive the benefits that study is bringing you. A 2012 study by Marjan Laal showed that the benefits of learning can be divided into three main categories: the ability to cope with a fast-changing world, the ability to improve your earnings by accessing a wider range of job opportunities, and the ability to lead a more enriching, fulfilling life.
Making Time an Affordable Luxury
Pursuing further study is not always easy, particularly if you are working full-time or studying in a busy city like Manila, where heavy traffic can require big sacrifices in terms of getting to university and back. Where there is a will there is a way, as they say, so you can find alternative means to study if time is of the essence. A bevy of colleges these days have undergraduate and postgraduate degrees online in a range of subjects — including Business and Management, Computers, Law, Science, Art and Design, and more. As stated by DegreePlanet.com, students these days have various options in terms of study time. They can opt for full or part-time study depending on your availability and budget, but so long as you stick to your chartered course, you will land somewhere very different a few years down the line than you would be if you never pursued your coveted degree.
Why does Passion for Learning Matter?
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed that workers who aren’t doing what they love can feel unexcited, uncommitted, and uninvolved. The Philippine Statistics Authority’s Labor Force Survey (January, 2019) showed that Filipino employees work an average of 43.2 hours a week (a 6% rise compared to one year ago). Many spend more hours in their place of work than with their kids. Can you imagine feeling unenthusiastic about where you are at day in, day out? Passion matters because happiness does and when you do what you love, it is much easier to feel motivated and enthusiastic every single day.
By being passionate about what you do, you can show children the importance of pursuing their dreams when they are older. By continuing to bury your head in the books or research fascinating facts online, you can lead by example and show them how engaging learning can be. Finally, by working hard to obtain an important degree or diploma, you can show them that their own efforts can improve their chance of success and enable them to enjoy a more stable, happier life.
Thanks for reading, and till next post!