Young college students must not only learn certain skills to obtain careers, they must also learn important social interaction skills and how to be independent from their parents for the first time. However, these other life learning experiences often distract younger students from their primary academic goals while in college. Because adults have already learned these life lessons, they typically display more maturity and focus in the classroom than their younger classmates.
Adults who take courses do so for the most part because they want to, not because they absolutely have to, as many of their younger classmates. Adults who take continuing education programs are eager to further their knowledge base and therefore look forward to the learning experience. They appreciate the chance for personal growth and recognition that further education brings. Younger students often feel pressured by parents and society to go to college. Adults choose whether or not to seek higher learning according to their own wills.
Adults have many life experiences behind them. This life experience helps adult learners grasp new concepts and solve problems more quickly than their younger classmates. For example, an adult who is a small business owner will relate to lessons in accounting and grasp the main concepts faster than a younger student with no actual business experience. Also, life experiences make adult learners good classmates. They know how to cope with difficult people, whereas a younger student might become withdrawn if there is a difficult individual in the class.
Many adult learners are already established in their careers. However, they chose to complete more schooling anyway to further themselves for the sake of knowledge or for personal edification. It is a very gratifying experience to be known as an expert in one’s field. Also, adults who endeavor in and succeed in continuing education classes find immense satisfaction in their accomplishments. This success gives many adults a much needed boost in self-esteem in a youth-oriented society.