OCTOBER 26, 2021 – Readjusting to civilian life after serving the military for any period, however long or short, is filled with challenges. On the one hand, you might be carrying the stress and anxiety from all the combat you witnessed during service. Chances are you’ll have to seek specialized medical care to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
On the other hand, transitioning to this new way of life could mean seeking new career options. The skill you learned in the military will come in handy for various jobs. But you might need specific educational qualifications and training before you can apply.
That’s the reason why many veterans choose to pursue a college degree after serving their country. Perhaps you had to drop out of college mid-way to serve in the military. Or you didn’t get the chance to go to college at all. In either case, getting a college degree will help you find the right career opportunities as a civilian.
The good thing is that the federal and state governments offer various grants and scholarships for veterans looking to pursue higher education. But that doesn’t make the journey back to college a seamless one.
The Challenges of Becoming a Student Again
To begin with, finding your place in a group of young students can be difficult. It’s natural to feel self-conscious and isolated. Also, learning models and techniques might have evolved since the last time you set foot in a classroom. Keeping pace with your lessons and assignments can become a challenge.
The good news is that we live in an era of rapid tech advancement. The growing adoption of online learning in light of the pandemic has made education more accessible and affordable for everyone.
Online Learning Tools for Veterans
Whether you’re looking to connect with your peers or seek help for complex assignments, you can use various online learning tools to simplify the process. The best part is that you can attend lectures and work on class projects from the comfort of your home.
That makes these tools particularly useful for veterans. In this article, we’ll explore a few different types of online learning tools that’ll help veterans looking to pursue higher education.
Q&A Forums
As a veteran, it may not always be easy for you to interrupt an ongoing lecture and get your doubts clarified. Even if you need help with an essay or assignment, you could hesitate to ask your classmates or instructors.
That’s where online Q&A forums come in handy. Whether you need help with education answers or a legal essay, these forums can help resolve your queries. While some platforms let you post your questions, others directly connect you with online tutors and subject matter experts.
These platforms could be just the support network you need to achieve your learning goals. They’re also useful when you’re preparing for a test or working on a live project.
Communication Tools
In today’s day and age of remote learning, staying connected with your teachers and classmates is of the utmost importance. You might need to reach out to a professor outside class hours to resolve your queries. Or you might have to work remotely with your peers for a group project.
In either case, video conferencing apps, such as Zoom and Skype, are extremely useful. They simulate the feeling of being in a real-life classroom and help you feel less isolated. Also, they’re useful for creating virtual study groups with your closest peers.
Apart from video conferencing tools, you could also consider using instant messaging apps and VoIP software to communicate and collaborate with other students in your class.
Time Management Apps
Effective time management is the key to sailing through student life. It becomes even more crucial for veterans who could be working alongside pursuing higher education. Juggling your professional and academic commitments often becomes a herculean task. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself praying for more hours in a day.
While increasing the duration of the day isn’t possible, time management apps are the next best thing. They give you an overview of your day and help you break it down into small, manageable tasks. You can allocate specific hours to each task. It helps you accommodate tests and assignments submissions into your schedule.
Pursuing higher education is an important stepping stone in the life of every veteran. Utilizing online learning tools and resources simplifies the process and helps you transition into student life. Make sure you curate a robust toolbox of student-friendly tools that’ll help you work on projects, communicate with others, and better plan your day.