Planet College Explanation: Education versus Training.

Some time ago it was deemed beneficial to the general good or social order or what ever you want to call it to have an educated population. For this to occur two types of learning were relied upon. During your life you will probably be exposed to and may even benefit from both types of learning. One is called education and the other is called training.

Training is usually applied to learning a set of skills in order to accomplish a task. These tasks are usually associated with a trade. A trade is literally a set of skills which a tradesman or woman exchanges for a wage, money. Some training of which you may be aware are x-ray technician, electrician, dental hygienist among many. You may know, know of or even be a trades person. This is essentially what is meant in the world by training.

Education is meant to teach people to think. This may not have been explained to you when you began your education. Since you were very young at the time you simply started "school". But, school, whether you knew it or not, was essentially meant to supply you with the skills necessary to think independently and function as a member of society.

These are the essentials and you need both education and training to function.

The Census is coming! The Census is coming!

Are you ready? The 2010 census is coming. This is a chance for you to be counted. Maybe your first.
So make sure you are included.

Also and even better right now. The Department of Commerce is hiring, right now, census workers. True you won't be employed until next year. But. There is a good chance you will need employment next year. It looks like the pay isn't too bad and the applications are online. Why not sign up now?

More with less, can you do it?

Can you do what you need to do with the resources your have? Resources, your resources, can be generally reduced to two essentials: money and time. How much do you have of each. Right now, chances are you have less of both. You are probably spending more time to get the same amount of money. Which means less time for -what? Well OK. What? Less time for friends. Less time for studying. What are you now trading your time for now? If your priority is getting back to earth from Planet College then you have the time to spend on that effort. Friends can become a study group. A text book brought to work can be useful on breaks and lunches. Less time because of work? Use what time you do have efficiently. Make it count towards your graduation.

You can do more with less.

Where did you wake up today?

This is important. Where did you wake up today. If you woke up today, where? Friend's couch? Your car? Your room. Really? Your own residence. Or someone else's? A surprising number of students find themselves homeless at one time or another during their career on Planet College. This may be simply expediency: you find some one to sleep with so, you sleep with them. Or finances. You sleep in your car until you find a place to stay.
Right now. It is early in the term. Short term housing and even no real housing are often a fact. At least for some time. But. No real residence can affect your career as a student. It certainly can effect the quality of your life.

If you are a student and have no real personal address that you can call your own you may be facing more than just a temporary housing challenge. You may in fact be homeless. Elsewhere in this site there is a more comprehensive entry about homelessness and students.

Right now, though, if you regularly wake up someplace other than your own residence it may be time to address this basic issue.
How? Start with the housing office. Post a notice on the bulletin board in your department. In short. Ask for help.
It is going to be a long term. You need to worry about things other than housing. So. Get some help.