If you are heading into the later years of your life, it can present a great opportunity to try out new things. Whether it is taking up walking, getting involved with gentle exercise classes in your local area, or joining the local bridge club, your later years can bring the time and space needed to try out new leisure activities. This is especially true if you have retired, but can also still apply to older people who are working. Very often, children leaving the family home can give enough time at nights and weekends to widen your horizons.
One thing that many older people are doing now is enrolling on a higher education course. Whether it is an associate business degree or qualification in health care, there are lots of interesting courses to study for those in later life. If you are looking for something that will not only fill your time but also be useful, then higher education is a great choice.
Bryant & Stratton College – the perfect place to study
One very important thing to do first is select where to study carefully – the world-famous Bryant & Stratton College is a good choice for older people. Not only does it have a selection of campuses to attend in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, but it also offers online courses if you prefer. This is naturally superb if you do not live close to the physical campuses or are not mobile enough to move around them. Choosing a college that supports older people like this will help you access the courses to study and get the help you need to enjoy it fully.
Why engage with higher education later in life?
If you are wondering just what benefits higher education can deliver later in life, then the below should help:
- Retraining and reskilling – many people will need to work later in life now, especially if they have no pension, family or savings to rely on. The issue for some is that the sector they work in may have moved on and need new skills for them to keep up. Retraining can also be needed if you are moving into a new employment sector through choice or redundancy. Enrolling on a higher education course is perfect to pick up those new skills and continue working to earn money.
- Personal development –of course, you may simply want to learn new skills or pick up new knowledge for your own development. Attending a higher education course either online or in person is a great tool to help you grow in later life. It can also keep you up to date with the modern world while helping you to delve deeper into certain subjects that you have always found interesting.
- Great for social benefits –if you can attend classes in person on campus, then it is a great boost for your social health. Some people in later life can be alone and not have much contact with the outside world. This can often bring on feelings of isolation or depression, which is dangerous. Studying in higher education helps to get you out of the house and make new friends to chat with on your course to beat this. Even online study can help here as you will engage with tutors and sometimes even fellow classmates via video technology such as FaceTime.
- Stay sharp –a really great advantage of higher education later in life is how it keeps your mind and body sharp. Trying to stay active mentally and physically will help you greatly in feeling better and living a fuller, more enjoyable life. Being physically active around a campus will help to keep your joints from seizing up and get you out in the fresh air with some gentle walking exercise to boot. Studying either online or in person will also be great for your mental health as it will keep your mind sharp and ensure that your brain stays active.
- Chance to help young people –when you get to the later years of your life, you have lots of experience and wisdom to call upon. This is actually invaluable for younger students who are only starting out on their journey. Many older people love the chance to pass on what they have learnt to younger people, and attending a higher education course is perfect for this.
Give higher education a go
Although many older people may feel unsure about studying in higher education, it really is worth a try. Not only will it increase your social circle and keep you active, but it will also give you new skills to develop further. Hopefully, the above has shown just what great benefits studying later in life offers. The only thing to worry about is what exciting subject you will study!
