Getting a better job is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions in America, according to the official site of the United States Government. The five most popular resolutions are:

1. Getting a better job
2. Paying off debt
3. Saving more money
4. Getting a better education/going back to school
5. Getting fit

New Year’s Eve is a great time to reflect on the past and think about the future. What have you proudly accomplished in 2006? What were not able to achieve and would like to try again? From the list above, it seems that most people simply want to feel better and do better for themselves and their families. With support and determination, your dreams are within reach.

For Don, he knew he wanted to develop a career in law enforcement. He had to balance work and education to achieve his long-term goal of getting a degree. “Initially I didn’t think that I would be able to go back to school because of the screwy work schedule I had. It would be impossible for me to maintain my job and go to school on campus. Without the ability to earn my degree via distance learning, I don’t think I could have done it. I chose distance learning because of necessity.”

Most adults are scrambling to find time in their day, but in the long run, a little bit can go a long way. For Don, he first earned his Associate’s degree from Southwestern before moving on to start the bachelor’s program. “For the Associate of Science degree it took about 2 ½ years, distance learning does not always mean shortcut.” He developed a personal routine and schedule to stay on track. “Getting off schedule can be very stressful; a couple of times I have gone off and had a good time and had to do a lot of extra work at the last minute to make up for it. When that happens I start to burn out quicker, my grades go down and my stress level soars, so I recommend making a schedule and sticking to it like your life depends on it.”

This New Year, invest in yourself and make your dreams happen. It requires time and patience, but the results are well worth it. “The hardest thing about distance learning is keeping yourself motivated to keep going. It is a lot of work, some of it very difficult and you will spend hundreds of hours doing it for no immediate, tangible benefit but you have to keep a big picture perspective and keep moving on.”

Don received his Bachelor’s degree in November of 2006. eLearners.com, an online learning advocate, has posted his interview and others in their Guide to Online Education, which provides tips, pointers, and advice to anyone interested in going back to school. It covers topics from financial aid to web etiquette. Students can also access the Quick Degree Finder, which searches a database of over 1,800 educational programs and courses to find what you need.

Source: eLearners.com - College search for 2000+ online degrees, online colleges & online universities