Blog Post: Working Learners

Imagine being a 31-year-old single mother of two children, renting a one-bedroom apartment, driving a used-used iffy car to your full-time job that pays nearly $12 per hour. Really, no matter what your situation is, imagine this for a moment. You can’t move in with your parents and they can’t help with childcare or finances. You hear about a career counselor who may be able to help you get a job with higher pay. The career counselor advises you to go back to school, to take computer classes and to get into a training program to get on a career advancement path. As you drive your not-trustworthy car (not insured either?) to pick you your children, you want to scream and cry and maybe lash out in some way about the unfairness of life.

Most of us can add a lot more to this story. We can add more scary details, or we can count the blessings this family has—maybe we can do both. However, most of us will agree with the career counselor who says that to make more money and to improve her life this single mom needs to become a “Working Learner.”

Working Learners are working and going to school for a class, a certificate, a credential or a degree. And Working Learners are working, caring for families, participating in various communities, and exercising and sleeping the recommended seven to eight hours each night.

How, I wonder, can this happen? How can a single parent add a school schedule on top of an already overloaded life? Even if classes are free. Even if the school is within walking distance of home. Even if someone will provide free childcare.

We all have the same number of hours each day. Imagine being this woman. Imagine what you could say if she is your family member, friend or neighbor.

But, more, if you are currently unemployed, think about how hard it is to be the Learner part even when you are not working. It’s hard to get things together to be in school, isn’t it?

Someone recently said, “These days there is no such thing as a ‘come as you are’ job.” It means we need to get new training and education that is required for a new job. We need to find the time and resources to make it happen whether we are Working Learners or Not-Yet-Working Learners.

Think about it.