“It’s good to be back in the classroom.”
That was the first thing I told my coursemate after completing the first full-day session.
Over two weekends, I enrolled in a four-day course using the SkillsFuture credits I had received in 2015 but had never utilised. With part of those credits set to expire on 31 December 2025, I figured it was time to put them to use.
As a working adult and parent of three young children, taking time off on weekends to attend classes is not an easy task. But after more than a decade in the workforce, I felt it was worthwhile to step away from my routine and try something new, not because I was planning a career switch or looking to earn additional side income, but simply for the experience of learning something different.
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Learning For The Sake Of Learning
The old idea that we study only in school to prepare for work is outdated. Learning is a lifelong process, and the workplace is simply a paid extension of that journey.
Initially, I considered signing up for courses that might complement my work at DollarsAndSense, such as AI, video production, photography, or even finance-related topics like cryptocurrency, which I am less familiar with. Ultimately, I decided to choose something I was interested in, but which had nothing to do with my job, as I didn’t want to spend the time thinking about how I could implement my new skills at my already stressful job.
That’s how I ended up in a four-day, 32-hour Sports Massage Therapy course run by EDUFIT.
It’s Okay To Sometimes Be The “Worst” In The Room
There is a popular saying that “if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room.”
Let’s flip that around.
Occasionally, it’s good to be in a room where you are the least knowledgeable person. This isn’t some form of self-punishment but a reminder that growth sometimes comes when we put ourselves outside our comfort zone and learn from those who know more than us.
In my class, I was paired with other learners who work in hospitals and the fitness industry. Their knowledge of anatomy, muscle groups and body mechanics were obviously far ahead of mine. But if the tables were turned — say we were in an investment course — the concepts that seemed natural to me might feel completely foreign to them.
That’s the beauty of learning: what challenges us may be second nature to someone else, and vice versa. Being the “worst in the room” forces us to stretch ourselves, stumble a little, pick up things from others, and slowly gain confidence in what we are learning, much like how we learned new sports or languages when we were younger.
Meeting People From Different Walks Of Life
After ten years or more in the same industry, our social circles are naturally filled with people who share similar backgrounds. That’s just how work life evolves.
By enrolling in a course unrelated to my profession, I found myself in a room with people from diverse backgrounds of different ages, industries and experiences. Some were more technically knowledgeable, while others excelled in hands-on skills. There was no single “best” type of learner; instead, there were people with different backgrounds and strengths.
Learning Beyond Work
Perhaps the most crucial realisation from my SkillsFuture course was that not everything we learn has to tie back to our jobs. Some skills are worth acquiring simply because they interest us, whether in fitness, cooking, gardening or the creative arts.
By returning to the mindset of a beginner, we can rediscover the joy of learning without the pressure of KPIs, career milestones, or practical outcomes. Sometimes, learning for its own sake is reason enough.
And maybe that’s what lifelong learning is really about: not just making us more effective professionals, but enriching us as people.
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