A Letter From DG3’s President: Education Is at the Heart of Your Success – Whatever Type of Education that Needs To Be

By Karen Buscemi

It’s hardly profound to state the importance of education. However, people often get hung up on the type of education that’s needed to have a “successful life”. The high-school-to-college path, while certainly a fine plan, is not necessarily the right choice for all. And we all know those who’ve gone the college route without achieving desired career goals, or job satisfaction, for that matter.

 Education comes in as many flavors as Baskin-Robbins. You shouldn’t be afraid to sample many, but at the same time, if a particular one floats your boat, you shouldn’t be afraid to stick with what works for you. (And now I’m craving chocolate-chocolate chip.)

Yes, college is great. An advanced degree may be even better to get to the profession you want. But what if you tried college classes and found they weren’t for you? What if circumstances made college an impossibility for you? What if you got your degree and then found out you hadn’t learned all you needed to succeed in your industry? What if your career goals changed and now you need to learn a new industry?

Thankfully, continuing education abounds. For everyone. For some, becoming educated in a skilled trade is a wonderful solution. Skilled trades, along with their desirable apprenticeships, include manufacturing and construction, and provide a living wage, with the median income in Michigan, asof 2013, being $21 an hour. There is high demand for skilled workers, and that demand will continue to grow, as the current aging workforce retires in the next five to 10 years. Some skilled trades offer on-the-job training, and for many, educational programs are short term and provide immediate employment opportunities upon completion. Our Industrial Sewing Certificate Program is an example of a skilled trade in Michigan. With more than 300 open jobs, and again, more coming in the next five to 10 years, there is great opportunity for advancement in both position and pay. And funding is available for those who qualify through Michigan Works! Daytime education takes only six weeks, on a full-time basis, and upon completion, employment is readily available. When evening classes start at the end of March, it will take 17 weeks to be ready for employment as an industrial sewer. Pattern making and sewing machine repair classes will begin the end of spring – two sorely needed pathways that offer higher wage opportunities.

For fashion designers coming out of a four-year degree program, if your goal is to start your own fashion business, you are going to need continuing education if you want that business to succeed. As fashion schools do not teach business classes, you don’t have the knowledge to write a proper business plan, create financial projections, or determine funding sources, your supply chain, line pricing and so much more. Our Fashion Incubator, launching later this year, along with our continuing education monthly workshops, will affordably fill that knowledge gap, allowing you to thrive as a Michigan business owner, hopefully hiring others along the way.

For me, I never stop learning. From starting a nonprofit more than two years ago to launching my own for-profit business, I rely on gads of books, tons of Internet research and picking the brains of those way smarter than me. I enjoy the challenge, and it sure keeps life interesting.

Whether it's a class, book, seminar, podcast, webinar, etc., find the form of education that suits your current situation and pursue it wholeheartedly.

Never stop learning.