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Psychology Professor Says Education Is Important But Learning Is Everywhere

Learning doesn't just happen in the classroom. As a former athlete performing at an elite level who left higher education but returned years later to finish his M.A., Stern's life experience has helped him become a better professor of Psychology at Cosumnes River College. By thoroughly preparing for his classroom experiences as well as going through small group discussions, Bradley's students get a better understanding of these basic Psychology Principals.

What is your job?

"It is my job to prepare for my shared classroom experience through research and development of interesting (hopefully) and interactive lectures that enable my students to understand psychology and find a place for it in their lives. This includes preparing said lectures, reviewing the coursework and background research, preparing exams and grading papers. Lecturing, using technology and facilitating small group discussions in class is a large part of my responsibility."

What parts of your job do you enjoy?

"I like the whole process, though the classroom time is a little more enjoyable than the research. The energy that develops in the classroom can be very invigorating for all of us."

What was your education?

"I had an eclectic education. I went to a top prep school in Hawaii, then to the University of Colorado, where I majored in Economics, then Architecture. I left the university without a degree to pursue an athletic career, and returned to college 15 years later, earning a BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. I then went on to the MBA program at Sac State but left again, this time for a lack of interest. My final adventure into higher education was the earning of an MA in Psychology from the University of the Rockies."

Has your education helped in your current position?

"There is no question that my current degree prepared me for my work, without it I wouldn't be able to teach at the college level. Additionally, it was my work outside my formal education, as an athlete and then as a certified personal trainer, that gave me the deeper understanding of how psychology works with people. This life experience has also proven to be very advantageous to my career. One should never underestimate the value of life experience if it is used effectively."

Any advice for someone looking into a similar career?

  1. Complete your education, to the terminal degree, if possible. It is much easier to become a college or university professor with a PhD than an MA or MS.
  2. Pay attention to the world around you and realize that you never know when and where you might learn something that is of value in your life.
  3. Keep an open mind to other people's viewpoints, no matter how much you disagree with them.
  4. It is never too late to change the path you are on; it takes commitment, resilience, support, a strategy and willingness to do the work. In the end, nothing ever comes trying to fake it.

Paulo Acoba is a California native raised in the Bay Area and living in the Central Valley. He enjoys distance running, cycling and grassroots motorsports. He holds a degree in management from the University of California Merced. Paulo has been writing for Examiner.com since 2012 and covering the Fresno area.

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