We’re all aware of the incredible power Facebook has to reunite old friends and reconnect family, but this story truly takes the cake. After 27 years of looking for the lost son that was abducted by her ex husband as a child, Avril Grube was able to finally locate him by mining through a list of common names on Facebook. What an amazing story. Learn more by clicking here…
Adam
Interactive Services
Ashworth College
Thanks to Photon John for permission to use this Photo.
Adult learners enroll in college and universities for many reasons. The most common reason is to obtain a credential to assist them in attaining occupational goals. The second most common reason is simply to enhance self respect.
Probably the least likely reason for enrollment is to learn something new. Because of the most likely motivation of the students, learning is incidental to the achievement of the occupational goal or the feeling of personal satisfaction. While the more common goals of occupational advancement and simple self respect are valid and important, the resulting incidental learning is the most valuable since it also helps in attaining the other goals. My experience has been an example of this concept of incidental learning.
Since I had many years of experience in criminal justice and since I taught criminal justice classes at a large traditional university, I felt I needed to earn a graduate degree to keep up with my peers. I enrolled at Ashworth College with the intention of obtaining a masters degree as a credential. Ashworth seemed to be a logical choice for graduate school since the learning was asynchronous and did not require cohort participation. I wanted to proceed at my own pace while attending to work and family requirements. Both the price and the fact that the university (then a college) was nationally accredited were pluses.
I was not as concerned with the curriculum, but more with the time it would take me to finish the degree. I was concerned more with obtaining the credential than with learning anything new. After receiving the orientation course I realized that both effort and discipline would be required to complete this program. Since I am just an average computer user and also since I am not of the “computer generation”, the orientation course was a challenge. The curriculum and supporting materials were clearly written and concise. After completing the course, I realized that I had gained a new set of skills which were not only beneficial in the graduate program but which also were valuable in my work. I was now prepared to conduct internet based research and I could effectively use Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. My attitude started to change and I began to understand the concept of learning rather than merely seeking a degree.
After examining first academic course materials I realized the text and supporting material were from the same publishers of the texts I used in teaching college classes. After submitting my first written assignments and receiving feedback from the graders, I began to understand the academic rigor of the course. While the graders were very polite in their comments and were supportive, they did point out areas in which I could improve my work. After finishing the assignments I took the exam with some trepidation. After passing the exam on the first try I felt both relieved and empowered to continue with the next course. As I progressed through the curriculum, my writing and research skills began to improve. Read the rest of this entry »
It’s no doubt deeply concerning that child autism rates continue to rise in this country, but one can also find hope in the advanced scientific breakthroughs that are gradually beginning to unlock the mysteries of this enigmatic disease. One of the most fascinating discoveries about the autistic mind relates to how many autistic children possess a specialized ability to perceive the world around in highly abstract spatial dimensions.
In conjunction with Autism Awareness Month, Google has been promoting a terrific 3D modeling software program as part of Project Spectrum, an initiative designed to support the talents of these very gifted children and raise awareness as to how they “see the world.”
This is a free software program that anyone can download here. I encourage our student community to take advantage of this opportunity to support a great cause and learn something new in the process!
Ryan
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth College
Make a point to ask. When we simply assume we know the answer to something there is a chance that we’re going to be incorrect. It may very well be that our feelings are misguided and that in actuality the other person is simply waiting for us to help them in their buying decision. The reality is that we aren’t mind readers — as long as we are careful to ask tactfully, are not pushy, and keep the other persons best interest in mind then we have a duty to ask. Read the rest of this entry »
Discover ways to increase balance in your life by participating in the live Moms Challenge online discussion, February 25 at 3:00 pm EST!
Learn from life coach experts Charmaine Augustin and Georgette Correa Challenge as they answer your questions about life, family and career. Prizes will be awarded.
To participate, simply go to the official Moms Challenge web site and view the KyteTV player at the bottom of the screen.
Charmaine Augustin
Charmaine Augustin, is known as the “Work Life Balance Expert.” Author, motivational speaker, former talk show host and owner of Lifestyle and Trends and LifeZine magazine, this Life Coach specializes in helping women achieve work/life balance. Augustin currently resides in Dacula, GA with her husband and three children. As a working mother, entrepreneur and community volunteer serves as a foundation for helping others. She is also a member of the Georgia Coach Association.
Georgette E. Correa
Georgette E. Correa is a certified Life Purpose Coach and owner of Almost Perfect Coaching. Entering this field, her goal has been to become a force of change in the world. Her focus is to provide a safe-haven through coaching by awakening the truth in each and every human being she engages. She strongly believes that in order to live life on purpose, one must first love, know and courageously create self.
Believe it or not, I temporarily worked as an Admissions Specialist at Ashworth. I guess you can say the awe-inspiring stories I heard each day from prospective students had a lot to do with me finally going back to school.
Another reason is a little friendly family competition I’m having with my 18-yr old son who will be attending Georgia Military College this fall. I’m somewhat ahead of him already because his semester tuition is $7000 and mine is $1200. That doesn’t really matter since I am studying for my Associate Degree in Finance; I’ll be able to put a plan in place for him to pay off his student loans in record time!
My goal is to finish my degree in one year; I made 100% on my first exam today. Yesterday was my birthday and it feels great that I am no longer making excuses about not continuing my education -Thanks Ashworth College!
Melissa
Student
Ashworth College Associate Program in Finance
When I received my first textbook in the mail, the first thing I did was go out and buy a planning book. I then scanned though my textbook and lessons to see about how much work was required of me and I just divided it up into smaller sections so that it wouldn’t be very overwhelming.
I just take my time and get things done when I have enough energy in me to do so. That’s the great thing about this place; you pretty much have all the time you need to complete assignments. You just have to find your pace and stick to it. It’s hard at the beginning, but once you get the momentum going it gets easier.
Shirley
Computer Information Management Student
Ashworth College
Thanks to Torley for permission to use this Photo.
Hi everyone, my name is Camilla. I am the proud parent of one little angel named Destiny. She is the love of my life and I love her so much. Having a daughter has opened my eyes to the realities of this world.
I have always been a very mature and responsible person, but had somehow managed to procrastinate taking my education to the next level. I have been employed in the travel industry since I left college, which is a very challenging and exciting profession!
I have always put off pursuing my bachelor’s degree for a later date, but after having my daughter, I decided that I needed to do it now for many reasons.
Firstly, earning my degree in management is totally vital to me in terms of self satisfaction and knowing that I did all to achieve my ultimate educational goals. Having taken the necessary steps towards my goal, I totally intend to use this as an example of hard work and dedication to my daughter.
Some people believe that when one has kids—it’s the end of the world; but it doesn’t have to be. Raising a child is just as much an opportunity to get to know yourself better as it is a life long process of discovery.
In addition, this degree gives me a better chance of earning a better salary, which will in turn help me care for my daughter much better financially.
Although it is very challenging to study and make plans when you are a parent, it is very important to find it in your inner self to make the time. Dedicate yourself to doing this and rely on your support system no matter how small it is. Just keep staying focused on your ultimate goal.
However; I have also learned that no matter how urgent the deadline for an assignment might be—it is always best to take care of my daughter first, instead of ignoring her, and then get back to the assignment.
So to all fellow students who are parents (male, female, single, married, or divorced)—I say congratulations for making this step to advancing your education and wish you all the best with your endeavours!
Camilla
Bachelor’s In Management Program Student
Ashworth College
Thanks too Margaret S for permission to use this Photo.
I’m new at Ashworth College. I have been reading the book on becoming a Master’s Student. I’m not sure if anyone has had the same experience I did, but working through the exercises provided in the first chapter of this book has made me realize so much about myself.
Unknowingly, I have gone into a self discovery that I never knew existed inside of me. Simply by being honest with myself, I was able to see what I need to work on. The funny part is that in the back of my mind I knew I did a lot of these things, but I would always have an excuse for myself on why I did it.
The reason for this message is that I want to share this experience with some other students that are possibly having a hard time with all the topics this book covers. I was bothered enough to actually take out the time to write this message. When I say bothered, it’s because this discovery has pierced into my comfort zone. It actually made me feel nervous. The type of nervous you feel when you sense your relationship with your partner is ending. I thought It was something bad, but I sat down to analyze the feeling and I understood where was it from.
For all those who haven’t read this book—you should. Even those who have simply read it and and answered the test can find a lifelong lesson hidden in there.
Vanessa
Student
Ashworth College Business Administration Program
Thanks to ankatank for permission to use this Photo.
If I were to ask you what your definition of success is could you answer it in a relatively quick fashion? Or would you do as so many do, fumble for an answer — rattling off the common responses which tend to show up when one is asked this question.
Answers such as… I’ll be successful when I have x number of dollars in the bank. Or would you instead have an answer which is highly personal to you, to your own life, where you are now, combined with a carefully crafted vision of where you want your life to take you in the future? As Henry David Thoreau so eloquently said — “Most people lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
In my humble opinion many people miss the mark, not because they lack the ability to achieve success in their given endeavors, but rather because they never take the time to truly identify what success means to them. And as a result end up moving aimlessly hoping to hit upon what it is they think they want to achieve — often not even truly realizing what it is they are seeking.
When we have a solid definition crafted we can use it to lay out a plan which we can follow that will naturally put us in alignment with whatever it is that we believe to be most important.Believe it or not I have had conversations with people who after taking the time to define what success means to them personally — realized in that very moment that they had in fact already experienced many times where they had met with great success in their life. Imagine that, here were people who longed to achieve this magical place, but up to that point hadn’t ever taken the time to get clear on what that “place” even was.
Upon doing so, they acquired a different outlook, one which they could feel good about, knowing that they had already experienced many times where they’d already met with personal achievement. Read the rest of this entry »
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