I’m in a Committed Relationship with Coursera

Graduating from university is not enough to succeed in today’s digital economy. The skills I learned at McGill a mere four years ago are no longer relevant to my current job.

Education should be a lifelong pursuit; both to be a responsible citizen that contributes to a sustainable growing economy and to enable individuals to have the power to cultivate the careers that they want. Since jobs tend to evolve at an unprecedented pace with the implementation of new technologies, it has become too big of a risk to stop acquiring new skills upon graduation.

There are many ways one can improve their skill set, I’ve tried these:

1. Learning Italian on DuoLingo
2. Studying Python on Code Academy
3. Becoming a better cook with Good Food
4. Picking up the harmonica on Youtube
5. Learning about financial markets and retirement strategies on Investopedia and Questrade
6. Adding new cardio and weight exercises to my repertoire with SworkIt and FitnessGlo

While all of these methods have definitely helped me acquire new skills, no site or book has taught me more than Coursera.

For those who live under a rock, Coursera is an online platform where anyone with Internet access can take free online classes from 140+ universities and educational institutions worldwide.

I’m completely head over heels, but I must admit I was hesitant at first. It takes commitment, genuine love and respect, and quite a bit of time to enter a relationship of this magnitude. I already work long days at a startup, consult and write freelance on the side, and value having a healthy social and active life. Was I really going to have enough time to give Coursera the attention it deserved?

The answer: YES.

She has proved to be the perfect match for my keen curiosity for pretty much everything from big data to marketing.

So far I’ve taken these courses:

• Recruiting, Hiring, and Onboarding Employees (University of Minnesota)
• A Crash Course in Data Science (Johns Hopkins University)
• Strategic Management (Copenhagen Business School)
• Integrated Marketing Communications (IE Business School)

Once I’m done with a lesson, she offers me hundreds of new ones on a variety of topics, each one more interesting than the next.

At some point I’ll probably end up doing these:

• Advanced Machine Learning
• Quantum Physics
• Programming the Internet of Things

I could definitely see myself spending the rest of my life committed to Coursera.

It’s easy to understand how I fell in love:

1. The information is succinct, valuable and comes from industry experts and leading educational institutions.
2. They do a fab job with gamifying even the bleakest material.
3. It’s free: One can pay for the certification, but every class is offered at no cost and so I opt for that (Lean Startup mentality). The right employer will value knowledge over a stamp of approval.
4. It’s a sign to employers that you are a lifelong learner willing to acquire new skills when necessary.

We spend two to three nights together a week where she teaches me everything I need to know about any one of my curiosities. Sometimes we even stay up all night talking, she’s that interesting. If I don’t see her for a while, I get reminders that I need to spend more time nurturing our connection.

Though she requires a lot of love and attention, she has helped me acquire the skills I have always wished I had and propelled me towards the career that I want.

Ultimately, she makes me a better person and that’s all I have ever want in a relationship.

P.S. Our relationship is open, so you have my blessing to sign up for one of her classes too.

This article was initially posted on LinkedIn.