For the last month, in what little free time I have had when I have not been working with the many excellent people that I work with and help both in educational institutions and businesses in the UK and internationally, I have been reading Dan Brown's excellent follow up to the bestselling 'Angels & Demons' and 'The Da Vinci Code' in the form 'The Lost Symbol' involving the central character of Robert Langdon and both controversial historical and Christian themes.
The book is an incredibly good read with the many twists and turns that have become customary in Dan Brown's work as it takes place in Washington D.C. in the United States of America (US) over a period of 'real time' of just twelve hours and looks to deal with many of the mysteries of the Freemasons and associated element.
However, it is another facet of the plot that is key for what I will now to talk to you about in relation to what you should study at college and/or university and why this is important - 'Noetic Science'.
But what are Noetic Sciences and how does this relate to what you the reader should be looking to study at college or university?
Well, in answer to the first part of the above question, put at its most simple Noetic Sciences are explorations into the nature and potentials of consciousness using multiple ways of knowing to explore the 'inner cosmos' of the mind and how it relates to the 'outer cosmos' of the physical world. - in effect it is based on the age old theory of 'mind over matter'.
Now, how does this relate to what one should study at college or university?
Well, the answer to this is somewhat more complex...
Ostensibly, what I would look to argue is that you are more likely to be focussed on your achievement in a given subject or a particular task where it is something that you WANT to be able to do. This is important because, all too often, far too many students get it into their heads that they HAVE to go to college or university just because their friends are going and so they go along with no real purpose in mind. They have no idea what they want to get out of it and they end up studying a subject with no real meaning or resonance to them that they DO NOT intend to follow as a career and their results suffer accordingly which is no good to anyone.
This is so, so WRONG!
Remember, your chances of success are heavily influenced by how you feel about what you are doing - if you are half-hearted you will not achieve what you want, whereas if it is something that you feel good about you will be able to achieve many more wonderful things with a more positive frame of mind.
For one thing, as I alluded to in a previous article that you may also find to be useful - entitled 'Want to know the 'Secret' to success as students in whatever you do?' - there is a need to have the correct motivation in your studies, your employment, and whatever else you do to have the best chance of the success that you seek.
Moreover, it is also to be appreciated that there is a not inconsiderable cost that you will need to pay back at some stage - whether your parents lend you the money, you take out a high street bank loan, mortgage your home or take out a government grant you will have to pay back the money that you have borrowed along with the interest in most cases.
Please do not think for one moment that I am seeking to put you off of going to college and/or university - it is a very fulfilling experience and can help you a great deal in your future career - I just want you to think carefully about whether it is the right choice for you and so I would advise you to ask yourself the following questions -
(a) What subject do you intend to study?
(b) Why do you intend to study that subject? (i.e. do you have a future career in mind?)
(c) Can you afford to borrow the fees?
(d) Are you already doing what you want to be doing for a career?
(e) Will further studying further your career and your potential earnings?
(f) Will anyone else be able to borrow the money for you?
(g) Do you have the motivation and desire to succeed?
These are key questions and you should think carefully about your answers as they could have a significant impact upon your future.
I know it can be very difficult to make such decisions when you are still in your teens but you must try because - particularly at universities - these courses can be extremely taxing and time consuming since they can run over a number of years so you must be prepared to persevere, whilst there is also a need to make sure that you choose the right subject to study or whether you can get to where you want to be without partaking in further education.
Remember many successful people in business like Sir Alan Sugar from 'The Apprentice' and Duncan Bannatyne from 'Dragon's Den' have few if any significant qualifications and yet they have been very successful in their careers so there is hope for everyone regardless of your education if you are willing to work in the right areas so get out there and get going!!
