At what age....

..do you consider formal education a non starter.

Context: I just completed a postgrad (Msc) degree in Renewable Energy Engineering that I started in 2022 (the year I turned 50) and that shite took a toll on me largely because of the demanding job and relatively young family. It got to a point where I felt like my health was being affected. Thankfully its done and I am proud of myself for pushing through...but I am not doing that shite again....or so I think.

As my mom would say..I hear better cock crow.

Somebody here was doing a pHD recently I think? Now that the stress has ended I am kinda feeling the itch already..and its barely been a month since I got final results.

Part of me wants a much more relaxed life while I try to build a decent lil nest egg for retirement...but a part also seems to relish the challenge...but then I bitch about it in the heat of the battle.

PHEW!!

Decisions decisions.

In reply to Cheeks

Hard to say as it depends on the person.

If you are in good health mentally and physically and if that is what you desire go for it.

Learning is what makes us all better. I would like to learn Chinese so I am ready when they take over.

In reply to Cheeks

Congratulations on your hard earned achievement.
I will advise to take the time with family and relaxation, it is a better investment.

There are no income advantage with a PHD and at the end of the day, the precious time spent with your young family is priceless.

In reply to Cheeks
Big up my friend - were never to old to learn

In reply to Cheeks

I know we have beef.....well you do...but hear me out.

Being part of the Organization i am. We are always learning. Always adjusting always changing.

We all prepare "talks". Each week there are many parts given in front the Congregation.

Women ine pairs give demonstrations. Men in pairs give demonstrations or single assignments talking directly to the Congregation.

We all depend on brief outlines that take time to develop in advance.

Various levels of research and creativity is required....writing and public speaking skills. Reasoning skills. Ability to retain and recall.

This is what prepares us to speak i our public ministry.....learn our teachings and why and how to apply them etc.

For men who take the lead in teaching and are eventually used to give public discourses, it trains and prepares us for larger assignments at our halls and Assemblies.

That goes on till we are physically unable to do it anymore.

Point? We are built as humans tolearn and keep learning. Most people stop learning and using their brains in these essential ways as soon as they leave formal education. But the more you engage your mind with reading learning g and even testing your ability to use what you have learned, the better it is for you.

We do it in honor of our heavenly Father. You do it because you seek personal goals.

I also find that the more I do deep study and research the more I want to do so....the longer I go not doing such the more difficult it is to restart or to focus.

Even if we do more than the average person.

In reply to Cheeks

Congratulations, Cheeks.

Runs was the guy doing the PhD, while maj was reportedly doing some level of post graduate studies.

In reply to Cheeks

There’s no cut off for dreams or ambition brother

Well done

Academia with family is no easy ring- that’s why 99.9999999% of the rest of the world does it another way

Well done sah! Congrats

I got an Accounting degree at 44 after my business then was faltering. Realized my shortcoming was financial knowledge. 15 years later, my new business is doing books for small to medium size companies, and it keeps growing. Praise Allah

In reply to Cheeks

most masters degree require a plan and knowledge of how to write papers at masters level

once you conquer that you are home free

congrats mate

In reply to Emir



So I have an Antiguan buddy, we did undergrad on St augustine campus together. He did a pHD in Biomass Engineering...and even though we hadn't been in contact for a while..I reached out to him for an opinion on a biomass project for one of my modules...and he told me in no uncertain terms..that I should not put myself through the pHD. He took time off from work to do his...but I can't afford that. I need to work...unless somebody will feed mih pickney I really don't intend to...I think their are other ways to jkeep learning.

In reply to Ayenmol



Agreed. I have a really good JW friend. She and I always talk about her faith and its contrasts with 'christendom'. I hve to say as a 'religion' JW's to me are the most informed about their doctrine that I have met. I am catholic.

Btw ... I don't have beef with people...I express myself strongly on issues that I feel strongly about. Simple as that. I am NOT looking to pick fights with people because of who they are.

In reply to sudden



True..but there was a bit of a mix though. Many of the courses were also hardcore engineering though...so the bulk of my exams were mostly problem solving ..mostly numerical.

Gracias folks. I do feel a bit proud about pushing through..because I was tempted to say f..k it quite a few times...especially during tough periods at work.

In reply to Cheeks
I believe in the endless pursuit of knowledge, but you may want to take a two-year break and guide/ help the kids on their journey.

In reply to Cheeks

Bravos has expanded his business operations into Guyana and Belize. he is looking for good qualified engineers

In reply to sudden



I suspect that our core value perspective differences would be a chasm too wide to bridge.

In reply to Cheeks

nah, me pardnuh nah like dat

there is kiks and then there is business

In reply to Cheeks

Sorry I forgot to offer my praise and admiration.

Way to go Cheeks!

In reply to Cheeks

Congrats...Take your time. Fully digest your accomplishment at your age
as that was arduous indeed. You will recharge the learning cells and
continue your learning quest...BUT give it time. One should never cease
learning.
Congrats again.

In reply to hubert

Thanks guys for the various perspectives.

In reply to Cheeks

Like you I started a MSc degree at an "advanced" age. It took me 4 years to complete? Why so long? Early on I made the decision that getting to the finish line was more important than the steps it would take to get there. Therefore I decided to study one module per semester while holding down a full time demanding job. This also helped me with dealing with the financial cost.

Looking back, I'm proud of myself for completing the program but it's not something I would continue to do. These days I am more into doing short courses/certifications.

Congratulations on your achievement.

In reply to Cheeks

Congratulations on that achievement, I think you might want to have a long talk with the family and you might have done so already but I think it will be pivotal what they think.