By Iric Hong
Edited by Natalie Grace Sipula
[3 minute read]
With the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic still relatively unknown, it has become harder and harder to predict what the future will hold. With that in mind, it is equally difficult to plan ahead, whether your plans are for schooling, job prospects, or even something as personal as one’s own health concerns. Especially with the current status quo of American politics, it is very difficult to formulate a game plan to tackle future obstacles. While the future has in the past been a lit street with diverging paths, this same future is now a foggy street with low visibility and there is no one to rely on but yourself and your ingenuity. How can you take advantage of the resources around you to light your path?
Some things that I have found that are of great value during this time did not seem like an option for me during less stressful times. But now that most outside activities are prohibited, the only thing people can do is utilize the online resources we have at our disposal. The first thing that I found very helpful in relighting my future path was Linkedin Learning. Previously known as Lynda, this has been a resource that was available to anyone who seeks it; the only issue was the amount of time we had on our hands. Now things are different, and we do have the time to manually relight the path to our desired future.
Linkedin Learning is available through your USC account and comes with a myriad of courses that ranges from business skills to creative design, and even more technical computer skills. So whether you had your eyes set on one specific goal or you had no tangible goal yet, there are many concepts that can be explored on Linkedin Learning. As a matter of fact, the resources on the platform could very easily help you narrow down your desired path. I, for example, had the opportunity to explore various types of computer programs that I would have not had the opportunity to explore from just my core courses alone. Therefore, not only can you find new resources to explore personal interests, but this tool can also help give you some direction and skills to follow your desired career path.
The second thing that I have been using to reawaken my plans is Coursera. Much like Linkedin Learning, this platform provides courses to explore more concepts. The only issue is that due to the nature of the platform, not all courses are available without a paywall. However, there are still a plethora of courses available through their audit system which will allow you to access the content. There are courses that range from the arts to sciences and technology. There are a lot more categories at Coursera than Linkedin Learning, it just requires more work to find the open courses available for free.
Considering how COVID-19 has impacted our world, now is the time to utilize the time we have on hand. Ultimately, there are many resources on the Internet that can be utilized to improve ourselves on a personal level and on a professional level, and by doing this we can relight the once darkened path called the future.
Featured Image by Patrick Fore on Unsplash
Iric is a senior majoring in Electrical Engineering. His career inspiration from a very young age was on-screen robotics like Iron-Man and Gundam. He hopes to work in the aerospace industry, as that industry resembles what he wants to strive for the most. He likes to play tennis, play video games, and watch movies in his spare time.