Girl on Fire: Baby steps to further education

[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, October 30, 2014]

Thanks to the wonder that is Facebook, I’ve been able to keep up with what my high school and college friends have been doing since graduation. Many have gotten married and had babies, while others have focused on themselves and climbed the career ladder.

This got me thinking about what I want to do with my future. I’ve so many options, but only one sticks out to me right now: continue my education.

My first option is a master’s degree.

I’ve spent some time on many university websites, both in the United States and abroad, to see what requirements the different colleges have for their master’s programs. Many have potential, such as Lancaster University in Lancaster, UK, where I spent six months studying abroad my last year of university, and University of Melbourne in Melbourne, Australia.

However, when it comes down to it, money is always an issue.

I got lucky in college because, thanks to my amazing parents, I did not have to take out any student loans. But, if I want to pursue a master’s degree, loans would be the first thing to happen.

I am still considering that option because both universities offer distance education, which would take two years instead of one, but is cheaper overall.

Another option I have is to continue my firefighting education, which is more feasible because I can attend classes in Iowa.

I enjoy being a volunteer firefighter. There are drawbacks to volunteering to do what I love, but the benefits far outweigh them.

I believe it would be a good thing for me to continue my firefighting education because I want more training. Several wise firefighters on Creston Fire Department have told me this time and again, that when a firefighter stops learning, he or she becomes dangerous. And, I believe that is representative in all aspects of life.

Honestly, I’m glad I have these options available to me. I’m a firm supporter of education, and love having these opportunities to choose from.

Maybe in the future, I’ll have a clearer picture of what I want to do, but for now, taking baby steps in a direction I want to go is the best thing for me to do.