What My Pets Taught Me About Being an Online Student

Ahhhh, sunny Colorado. The land of dogs. On every sidewalk, at every outdoor cafe, on every trail in the great outdoors you see them: the lovable fluffs who just can’t wait for a proper pat or a friendly scratch.  I love it.

Pet ownership of any sort can be one of the most rewarding parts of a fulfilling life. You probably already know that.  What you may not know is that, believe it or not, we can also learn a lot about what it takes to find success in online education from our furry, feathery, or scaly friends.

Lesson 1: Not everyone can own an iguana, and that’s okay.

You love iguanas. Right? They’re your dream pets. I’m sure of it, and don’t tell me otherwise; an iguana is right for you.

…of course, if you aren’t especially a fan of iguanas, you’ll have some idea of how ridiculous it is that somebody else could tell you so confidently that it’s a good fit for you.  Different things work for different people.  For some pet owners, iguanas are great.  For others, they just don’t fit with who that person is, what they’re looking for, or the life they want to lead.

The same goes for college.  Even if you’ve already decided to take classes online, did you know there are over 3,500 accredited online colleges and universities? Every school offers different degree options, holds different requirements, and speaks well to different learning formats. The culture of the school you choose, the way they present and require coursework to be returned, and their goals as an organization will have a huge impact on the outcome of your education.

Not everyone will find that an iguana is their perfect pet match, and that’s okay. Not every college is right for every student, either.  Look at your options, determine where you’re most likely to succeed, and find the right fit for you.

Lesson 2: Self-discipline can lead to reward.

Think back to when you brought Spot home from the rescue. Did he magically know how to hold the treat on his adorable, squashy nose until that incredible moment when you say “okay”?

Probably not. Spot had to learn about self-discipline, and he gets a lot more treats these days because he took the time then to learn a new skill.

It takes time to pursue online education, and a lot of self-discipline. In the end, the new skills you develop as on online learner will likely open up a whole new world of personal (and professional) fulfillment for you, just like it did for Spot.

See? The whole time you thought you were training Spot, Spot was really training you (not literally, but go with me here).

Lesson 3: If you don’t make a plan, there will be a big mess.

As an online learner, if you  don’t put in the work, you won’t get the grade. Online education is highly self-directed by nature, and, as they say, you reap what you sow.

It sort of reminds you of pets, doesn’t it?  If you don’t clean the cage, who will?  If you don’t stock up on food before the work week, when will you get it?  How much time have you set aside to play with your pets and make sure they get their exercise?  If you haven’t set the time aside to take care of them, are you going to be able to find it later?

Pets require forward planning, and an anticipation of needs.  So does your coursework.  Are you planning ahead for that paper that’s due?  How much prep time will you need?  Are you leaving room for your other tasks along the way, such as your reading and discussion board posts?  Planning ahead avoids a big mess down the line.  Not unlike the mess you’ll find if you don’t plan to take your pets for a walk on time…

Yeah.  Let’s avoid that.

Lesson 4: Work with pet people!

You don’t want to trust the care of your pet to just anyone; you want to find a caregiver who is all about animals! You also don’t want to entrust your education (and your future) to just any university. That’s what I loved about Colorado State University-Global Campus as a student; they are all about online learning, and 100% behind their students!  I work for CSU Global now as a student advisor, and I can say with confidence that your success as a student is our main objective.

But, again, nobody can tell you that an iguana is right for you.  Different students have different needs, and that’s great!  Find the school that is all about the things that are important to you.  Find the school that will help you develop the specific skills you need for your career.  In short, find the school that fits you!

If you’d like to see if CSU Global is a good fit for you, get in touch to see how we can help! We definitely don’t bite, and we’ve had all our shots.