When you're sitting down and starting to plan out your graduate school career, sooner or later you're going remember, "Oh, yeah... I have to pay MONEY to get my EDUCATION."

Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to change lives and help others achieve their full potential? Do you want to inspire and guide children so they can thrive and grow?

• Richard Lavoie shares truths about special education
  
  
• 5 Steps to Overcome Graduate Application Anxiety
  
  
• Why should you choose Fitchburg State?
  
  
• Can I really earn my MBA in 17 months?
  
  
• You're an RN. What's next?

And if 2015 has you thinking about starting or completing your bachelors or masters degree, register for one of our upcoming GCE Information Sessions. Our next Information Session is on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, and it's the best way to learn about the programs we have to offer. 

However you celebrate the end of 2014, we in Graduate and Continuing Education at Fitchburg State University appreciate having been able to serve you as you continue (or complete) your education.

After Anderlene Streeks graduated from high school she decided to continue her education at nursing school. Her degree plans sat on a shelf, however, as she stayed home to raise her five sons.

• You can pursue an education that meets your needs.
  Fitchburg State offers graduate and undergraduate evening programs along with professional development options designed for today's industries for students who are interested in continuing their education and developing their career path.
  

Graduate and Continuing Education at Fitchburg State has a program for you!

In addition to undergraduate degrees in nursing, occupational education, and business, we offer a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies where you can select a primary program of study (a university-approved minor) along with one or two other areas of study, and then complete a capstone project that ties them all together. Courses are offered in a variety of formats, including face-to-face, hybrid, online, and accelerated.

Chances are something might be holding you back:

• It’s been a long time since you’ve sat in a classroom.
• You work full time and have a long commute to and from work.
• You have young children at home.
• You’ve never taken an online class before.

Want to know about dolphins? Ask a marine biologist.

How about a question about your car? Ask a mechanic.

Buckets Lists and Bumper Stickers:  Some Reflections from Seat 17B

As I write this blog, I am on a Delta flight over southern Saskatchewan headed for Minnesota and eventually, my Boston home. Yesterday, I gave an all-day lecture on student motivation to 350 rural school teachers in Prince Albert, 200 miles north of Saskatoon. They were a great and responsive audience. Many of them teach in one room schoolhouses in isolated areas of the province. The majority of their students are First Nation, the Canadian term for their aboriginal (Indian) population.

One teacher told me that her village is facing a crisis this week because their only small food market and gas station were suddenly foreclosed upon and shuttered. The nearest gas station and market is 160 miles away. A difficult, challenging life.

Next week I travel to suburban Alexandria, Virginia with its gleaming state-of-the-art schools and a gas station and supermarket on every corner.

And yet, the presentation that I delivered at both venues will be basically the same.