As I walked across the stage to receive my Master’s degree, I remember thinking how happy I was to finally be done with school. This was it. I was never going to sit in another classroom, listen to another lecture, take another test — I was done. I would later realize how wrong I was.
As I have entered the workforce and started my career, I have realized that we are never done learning. And furthermore, when you love what you do, you will always want to learn more so that you can improve.
When I am not the editor of Campus Rec Magazine, I spend my free time teaching at a cycling studio. We had to go through hours of training in order to get hired and start teaching classes. Upon completing training, once again I thought I was done. And once again I was wrong. All of the instructors were recently presented with continuing education opportunities. For many, like me it involved travel, a small financial investment and of course giving up one of my weekend, but upon finding out about the opportunity I register without hesitation.
In a few weeks, I will be back in training, essentially back in a classroom — even though it will be on a bike — listening to lectures and learning. But unlike when I was walking across that stage getting my degree, I find the idea exhilarating. I am so excited to be able to learn from the best, expand my knowledge and hopefully in the end become a better instructor.
As a cycling instructor and as campus recreation professionals, we are in the business of transforming lives, therefore it is essential to keep learning. Never get complacent, but instead strive to be better. This does not mean you have to go back to school, but are there conferences you could go to or simply listening to a podcast so you can keep expanding your knowledge base.
As I embark on my journey of learning next week, ask yourself, what can you do to learn something new today?
