Its Never Too Late to Learn

The Great Recession of 2008-2010 has destroyed alot of formerly good-paying jobs.  Many reports indicate that even once employment begins to pick up again, many of the lost jobs are not likely to return.  Either rendered obsolete by automation technology or outsourced to lower cost labor markets overseas, some gigs are gone the way of the Dodo. This may be for some of our readers, the very reason they took the prescient step of seeking retraining in a new field; one that will not meet with the same fate.  For those who may be considering striking out in this bold direction, the task may seem frightening.  “Am I too old to learn a new career skill?”  “How can I choose a new career when my whole adult life I have always been a <insert your lost job title here>?” Well, buck up.  Consider the story of Hazel Soares of San Leandro, CA who just graduated from Mills College at the ripe old age of 93!  Read her story here and then gather up the courage that surely resides in every member of the human race and get going on your new career in medical billing and coding!

12 Responses to “Its Never Too Late to Learn”

  1. Tonya

    iI have to agree it is never to late to learn. After working odd jobs in my adult life to just help my husband with the bills and not really having a career of my own. On my 40th birthday I woke up one day and said what am I doing in life. My husband has his career and my 16 year old daughter doesn’t need mom as much as she use to. So I started to research and decided to go back to school and finally have something for me. Going back to school has changed me for the better, I am more confident knowing that “I can do this “.

  2. Courtney

    I think it is a great thing for individuals to look into a different career path. Yes, people have lost their jobs and have no choice but to look for something in a different field. I think it is a plus regardless of what age, what field and why you are looking into a diiferent field. It is good to have as much knowledge as possible with as many fields as possible becuase you never know what will work and what will not work. I am all for learning. It is definitley never too late to learn. I find it so inspiring for older individuals to go back to school. It just shows you can do anything when you put your mind to, it no matter how old you are.

  3. Maritza Navedo

    It will never be too late to learn. As long as new technologies continue to emerge, there will always be something to learn. The time to begin learning can start anywhere from learning how to work a remote control to learning a new career. It is intimidating when younger adults have a degree you have not but instead of taking it as it is too late to learn, I feel we should embrace it, and use it as motivation. The first step is the hardest, then after it IS accomplishable. Online classes offer great flexibility but just as much determination. Technology is taking over manual labor and we need to be much more versatile in order to be indispensable to our employer. –Never think that you can’t because it is NOT too late to learn.

  4. Aliris Aquique Maldonado

    If there is something positive for me about this recession is the fact that it makes me wake up and realize that I needed to go back to school and get a career. The fact that there were people with college degrees competing for the jobs I was applying for was really intimidating, this scenario pushed me to take the decision of going back to school at age 39. When you are young going to school is easier your brain is fresh and you don’t have as many responsibilities as you have when you have a family.It is a challenge indeed but it is possible and the sense of accomplishment is great. It is never too late to learn and the 94 year old lady in the story is a great example of that.

  5. Brandie Wolfe

    It is definitely a great thing that in this day and age it is socially acceptable and even encouraged for anyone, regardless of their age, to continue their education. Whereas before it was customary for people to attend college right out of high school. With today’s economy it is imperative to be open-minded and able to adapt. This includes going back to school in order to learn the material needed for a career change. This open-mindedness in today’s job market has really opened the doors for all people of any age to realize it is never to late to learn.

  6. I personally have found that it is never too late to learn. At 55 years old I decided to persue a career change. Although it has been hard with working full time, but well worth it. With so many jobs being eliminated the medical field is thriving. It doen’t matter if your right in the middle of patient care or on the sidelines taking care of the non-clinical areas. They are just as important.
    NO it is never too late to make your dream a goal.

  7. elizabeth hickey

    The number of older, more “nontraditional” college students is growing. i believe that maturity and life experience give them a clear advantage in the college classroom, and I think that college counselors would agree.

  8. Lori Keigans

    I am 42 years old and never could have imagined ever going through a recession. In the last 4 years, I’ve hit a few road blocks in the career department. It started with getting my certification for mortgage processing, and we all know what happened and is still happening in that industry. After the crash in the mortgage industry hit I went to real estate school and got my license and I am now an inactive agent. I knew it wasn’t a great time to be a new agent but my license is something no one can take away from me. I am so excited with my new career path which is in Medical Coding and Billing. I am graduating in a week and soon after will be taking my CCA certification exam. I am networking with quite a few friends that are in the health care industry. I’ve made friends during my learning at Allen School but there is one friend in particular, Ann, that I know will be my friend for life. We hit it off right from the beginning; it’s like we’ve known each other our whole lives. I have to thank Allen School and Ann for helping to make learning enjoyable.

  9. Sofiya Yaylaci

    Great article! I myself did not planned to go back to school, but after losing my job at the mortgage company I decided that I want to do something new, and thankfully I was able to be home with my newborn and use my time wisely. It seems like yesterday I was starting Medical Billing and Coding program here in Allen School, my baby was just 1 month old and I could not stop worry how I am going to do this. Today is my last day, my baby is 10 month old and I cannot believe that time went so fast, and I did it! I think everyone who doesn’t feel happy about their job should go and find something new, and never afraid of going back to school. If you are passionate about it, you can do it! In the end, world would be a better place if everyone loved their job.

  10. I can relate to “Its Never Too Late To Learn”, unlike many that lost high paying jobs because of the Great Recession of 2008 – 2010, I resigned from a very successful career as a Broker and Commercial Insurance Account Executive to relocate across country in search of a slower paced lifestyle. I refer to myself as semi-retired, which in reality is not the case. I have always had a desire to work in a field where I could help others, so after settling into my new location I started looking around for something where I thought my experience as a professional would do some good for others. Fortunately for me, I currently live in a city that has a vast need for Healthcare workers. I signed up with a couple of Agencies, went to school to obtain the necessary certificates for working with patients who had physical and mental developmental problems. Although the pay was 1/4 of my previous earnings, I enjoyed the work, because I felt that in a small way I was making life better for the clients I worked with. After being physically attacked a couple of times, I decided that there must be another section in Healthcare where I could use some of my previous experience and not worry about being physically hurt. However, at the time, even though I considered going to college, to get a degree as a CNA, I didn’t seriously
    feel that this is what I wanted to do. I had to question myself as to whether or not I wanted to commit myself to months of studying and reorganize my life. Also for probably a brief moment, I questioned myself as to whether or not at a time where I could choose to work or not to work if I seriously wanted to undertake a new career. Being a person that has to stay busy and will probably never retire, I decided that if there are people who are still working at the age of 80 and more, I can do anything that I have a mind to do. After thinking about where I thought my previous experience would benefit me in a new career I elected to enroll in Allen School Online for Billing and Coding. I know without a doubt that this is the perfect new career for me and I look forward to graduating on August 13, 2010 and taking my certification examination in December. In the meantime, I’ve already been offered a job. So I’m an example of it’s never to late to learn. I say to the young graduates, move over because we mature, experienced older generation are not ready to leave the workforce and if you are lucky, you will learn from us something about what it takes to be successful.

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