Studying for Finals -- 25 Years Later

I'm not gonna lie. After graduating with my BA and MBA in the 90's (ok, the early 90's!), going back to school for a second master's degree twenty-five years later was a bit daunting. My kids thought I was nuts: "Wait Dad, nobody is making you go back to school? You're doing this for fun?" Well, not exactly. But yes, I did have a romantic notion that it might be fun, and rather easy, now that I am wiser and less distracted by frat parties. Man, was I wrong about the part about it being easy!

Last week, I took my final after immersing myself in the sequence of events leading to events like Pearl Harbor, D-Day and Hiroshima, for 2-3 hours per night for seven weeks. It's the first of 10 courses that I'll be taking toward my Master's in WWII History at Arizona State University, in partnership with the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. It's the only program of its kind and is already proving to be immensely rewarding, enlightening and challenging. Not only has the topic been a lifelong interest of mine, but it's also my first opportunity to experience what it's like to be an online student. This is particularly germane right now since my kids, as well as the majority of others around the country, are learning how to study online due to the coronavirus. It's also personally relevant because online education is the focus of my company, InStride.

Since InStride works with employers to design, manage and promote strategic online education pathways for its employees, I figured that it would be important to "talk the talk," "drink our own champagne," "eat our own dog food," or pick your own analogy for being a customer of your own product. So enrolling in the program to follow a lifelong passion, to understand the solution that I sell, and to empathize with my kids was a no brainer.

What I didn't realize was that some of my biggest takeaways from this journey would not be reflected in the learning objectives of the class syllabus. If you're thinking about shaking off the rust and going back to school after years of working and/or raising a family, here are the top five mostly pleasant surprises that I have learned so far:

1. Online learning is legit. If you have any doubts about humans' ability to learn from a computer screen at home, I would now argue that it's not only doable, but optimal. I found my video lectures to be more engaging than just about all of my prior traditional lectures on campus. When professors have the luxury of editing, supplementing and refining their lectures, magic ensues. Also, more students participate in discussions when face-to-face shyness no longer becomes an issue and participation is required. It's amazing how robust online discussions are compared to in the classroom and there is so much to be gained from classmates. It also helps when you are enrolled in a quality institution that has experience and understands online learning like ASU.
2. Don't underestimate the workload. If you think that online learning is going to be easier than traditional coursework, you're in for a rude awakening. During my seven-week course, I was assigned five books, three capstone essays, seven required discussions, one group project, 2-3 hours of video lectures per week, a mid-term and a final. Forget about binge watching Netflix or Sunday Funday football for a while.
3. Adults learn more. I recall when I was in grade school and college, my priority was to get a good grade with as little effort and time away from fun and friends as possible. I see my kids pursuing that education lifestyle, which typically leads to procrastination and then cramming right before the big tests. My experience during my first class was profoundly different. I rarely thought about my grades and took zero shortcuts with my assignments. I read everything that was on the reading list, whether I thought it would be on the test or not. Quite simply, when the pressure was off from my social life and report card expectations, I learned more than ever.
4. The feeling of pride is profound. I often find myself proudly mentioning to friends and work associates that I've gone back to school. Not only does it give people a glimpse of the work that I do and the interests that I have, but it also inspires them to consider the education options available at their own workplace. That makes me happy. But an even bigger and more unexpected source of pride comes from my teenage kids. No, they would never tell me that they're proud of me....don't be silly! But the rare and brief exchanges I have with them when they ask what grade I got or when my next test is gives me a precious connection with them that is absolutely priceless.
5. The connection with your employer will be palpable. Working for a company that invests in your career and sincerely cares about you is incredibly powerful. My colleagues are constantly asking how school is going and encouraging me to keep at it. Schoolwork is far from a distraction. To me, it's an invitation to be more focused, disciplined and committed to delivering value to my company. That's a return on investment that any CFO can get behind.

In case you're wondering, I got an A- in my first class and have already jumped right into the first assignment of my second one. It seems that the ultimate cure for that back-to-school rust is just a healthy combination of curiosity and ambition. Employers who act on the immense strategic value of education and invest in their employees' passions will thrive, as will lifelong learners like me.