Quick Guide to a Backdoor Education
The second most valuable lesson I learned in college was that college was, for the most part, a test of endurance. And the first? That, in addition to the front door, there is a side door and a back door when it comes to accomplishing one's goals.
Not everyone can afford to pursue a college degree, and the idea of slogging through college doesn't necessarily appeal to some people anyway. But the lack of a formal degree need not limit one's life choices—or even career choices. Life experience, natural curiosity, and self-discipline actually still count for a lot.
If all we want is the personal satisfaction that learning can bring, we can get that now—for free!—with regular visits to the local library, informal chats with people we admire, eavesdropping anonymously in large college classes...You get the idea.
But what if what we want is actually a career in a field that genuinely interests us? Don't we need that little piece of paper? Not always. We don't have to go to art school to become painters, potters, photographers, and jewelers, for instance. Rather, we can seek out mentors and apprenticeships to attain those goals. Contact professional organizations associated with your area of interest if you don't know where to start.
Maybe a career in television, radio, or the music industry sounds interesting? Skills learned from volunteering with community media can translate to those kinds of careers. Community access television stations often offer free training and access to camcorders and editing stations to anyone with an interest in producing original, non-commercial television programming. The catch? Whatever you produce must air on your local community access station. Tom Green got his start like this, and some former community access television volunteers have gone on to win Emmy Awards. To find the community access station nearest you, visit www.openchannel.se/cat/ on the World Wide Web. More general information on community media can be found at the Alliance for Community Media (www.alliancecm.org/). Community radio stations offer plenty of on-the-job training, too. From answering phones to cataloging music collections and program production, the opportunities are varied and seemingly endless.
Volunteering for social service agencies is another good way to make important connections and learn new skills. My friend Scott started out as a volunteer at the local community kitchen; eventually, he was hired as full-time kitchen manager. He has since developed an impressive career in social services working extensively with the homeless and the very poor. Shelters for battered spouses and children, the Red Cross, food banks, and many other institutions are great resources for making a difference while picking up valuable free training.
Interested in getting into politics? Again, volunteer your time and talents for a particular party or candidate. You will learn a great deal—enough to know if you have what it takes to run for elected office yourself someday.
Maybe there is some independent project that you long to complete...or a whole series of them? Some people make careers out of grant writing. I've said this before, and I'm saying it again. There is one book in your local library that is worth millions of dollars. As such, most reference librarians hold it hostage. Check out Foundation Grants to Individuals for potential funding for publishing your comic books or, say, saving the Indiana brown bat. Be warned: like college, grant writing, too, is a test of endurance.
For further coloring outside of the lines, try Carol Eikleberry's book The Career Guide for Creative and Unconventional People.
what's next?