Learning can rejuvenate people's passion and bolster their confidence in what they do.
By Lisa Hochgraf
Last week in San Francisco, I visited a friend I had met my first year of college. When she expressed concern about aging, I told her that this year I'd found a great way to stay young that had nothing to do with special creams or hair dye: I took a series of three great professional development courses. Now mind you, my hair could very well have turned grayer after completing Northwestern University's certificate specialization: "Content Strategy for Professionals," a massive open online course offered through Coursera. It was work, and time-consuming enough to really put me on the run with my regular duties. But instead, taking the course made me feel young again. In fact, when I completed two video- and forum-discussion-based courses and the massive capstone case study project, I felt not unlike I did in 1993 when I had just graduated with my master's in newspaper administration from Northwestern's Evanston, Ill., campus. Thanks to having done the work involved in earning the certificate, I have new ideas, better perspective and bolstered confidence in what I can contribute. When's the last time you took a drink from the "professional fountain of youth" by learning something new? If it's budget season at your credit union, would it be worthwhile to set aside some funds for professional development for you and your team for the year ahead? My own experience would certainly recommend it.
Lisa Hochgraf is a CUES senior editor.
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