Ahhh, Sweet Freedom

in college life by Kathy Teel — June 9, 2011 at 12:30 pm | 0 comments

A Curious Perk of Online Education:

Lifestyle Choice

Last semester, I had a delicate problem in one of my classes.  A female student regularly wore jeans that had a low-cut waistband—fine when she was standing, but when she sat, the guys behind her got a bit of a show.  Some of them were offended; they didn’t pay good money to be subjected to her “plumber’s rear” while they were trying to learn. Dealing with that situation proved to be awkward, to say the least. The student simply owned no other jeans, but agreed to wear longer shirts for the sake of the men sitting behind her.

That situation would never have come up in an online class!

Let It All Hang Out

In an online class, if you want to wear Brazilian-cut jeans that show off your assets, then you can.  You can do whatever you want, because you’re in the privacy of your own home.  Here are just a few of the lifestyle choices you’re free to follow if you’re in online classes.

Express Yourself in:

• Appearance. No matter what your style, you’re free to indulge it if your classrooms are virtual instead of traditional. There’s no dress code or an expectation that your clothing, hair, or accessories will be “appropriate.” If you like to wear ballgowns and tiaras, wear them.  If you prefer to put safety pins and metal studs through your skin, go ahead. As long as you do the work the class requires, it doesn’t matter what you look like.

 

• Dating life. Since nobody sees you around campus, holding hands with that special guy or gal, or catching them leaving you dorm room at dawn, your personal life can remain personal. There’s no fear of gossip, drama, or censure based on who you choose to spend your social time with.

 

• Hygiene. If you’re not big into hygiene, online classes might be perfect for you. There’s no law that says that anyone must wear deodorant or take regular showers—but people who don’t aren’t very popular in traditional college classes. If you prefer not to do those things or can’t afford to, there’s no reason your classmates should be subjected to the results of your choices, but also no reason why you shouldn’t be able to get the education you want.

 

• Religion. Many religions have restrictions on people’s time, and those restrictions can get in the way of your classes. Muslims are to pray five times a day, for example, but what if the class you need is going on during one of your prayer times? Observant Jews don’t work on the Sabbath, but an online class allows them to complete their assignments before Friday night or put it off until Saturday night. Others have a strict discipline of meditation or yoga that could be disrupted by the schedule and stress of campus courses.  When you’re in control of your time, as you are with online courses, you decide, not the school, what parts are dedicated to study and what parts to spiritual development.

 

• Family. It’s just a fact that if you have kids in school, you sometimes have to be available during daytime hours. Class parties, awards ceremonies, or special events require parents to be there, and kids are disappointed if they’re not. With online classes, you can be there for your kids, and class time can be scheduled for earlier or later.  The same is true for aging parents—if your mom has an appointment at the cardiologist, the doctor’s office isn’t interested in your scheduling conflict.  You have to take her when they can work her in.  An online course of study allows you to be there for the people you love when they need you.

There are many reasons to take online classes, and lifestyle choices are among the most important. It’s one way to stay in control of your life, your choices, and your time.

Do you want the freedom of distance learning? Talk to someone today!

Tags: benefits to online education choices freedom lifestyle