AIGA Member since 2008, Debi Bower, Web Designer for Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. shares her insight on the value of lifelong learning.

I am a student of life. Everyday brings new opportunities to learn- about people, places and things; about process; about simplification; about relationships. I am committed to asking questions and listening, to traveling to new perspectives.

It has been a terrific journey! I have been an adult now as many years as I’ve been a child and I finally feel the dimensions of family, career, community and personal growth bonding together. Life feels cohesive. But it took years of change and patience and education to get there. So let me share with you some of what has helped me develop as an individual, that it may help you along your life’s journey.

1. Learn everything you can from a formal education. Because the reality in the working world is that there will be critiques in front of your peers, there will be deadlines and high expectations. Take the time to learn not only what you need to earn your degree, but how to work with people across cultures and talents. Stay connected with your professors and peers-they will be helpful along the journey. And a formal education is not limited to a college degree. Take specialized courses to build your knowledge and your resume. For me this meant completing my degree in graphic design and taking additional courses in Dreamweaver and CSS.
2. Learn to love your Google Reader. Find feeds that relate to your interests and you will always stay on top of what’s up-and-coming. Technology and trends will continue to change exponentially. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll learn just listening to others. Check out the AIGA UPSTNY Creative Feeds for a few to get you started. As a web designer, here are some of my favorites: A List Apart | Signal vs. Noise | Smashing Magazine | SitePoint | DesignFollow | Mashable! | Brand New | BoagWorld | DesignBump.
3. Build your professional network. Within your career field and in fields that support what you do; with influential community leaders; with people that inspire you. Organizations like AIGA are pivotal in connecting students and professionals together, who share conversation, resources, experience and knowledge with each other. Join us for Creative Eats every third Thursday and you’ll see just what I mean.
4. Build your social network, too. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter have come a long way in helping people find others with like-minded interests. Take the time to explore what each has to offer.
5. Become an active part of your community. Look for ways that you can make a difference. Join a committee. Start a group. Serve on a board. Whether it is design related or not, your time and service will have a positive impact on the world around you. For me, I’ve chosen to serve on the Board of AIGA UPSTNY as Web Chair, as Web/PR Coordinator and Leader for Girl Scouts, as a United Way Young Leader, and as a member of our school district’s shared decision making team. What you choose is up to you.
6. Talk about it. Share your ideas and your career goals with the people in your life who can help you. Whether it is your boss, your HR representative, your family, or your professional network, others cannot possibly help you find the way if they don’t know where you want to go. Get your portfolio online. Ask questions.
7. Learn more. Learn about things completely removed from your day-to-day life experience, especially if it impacts what you do or hope to do in the future. As communication moves from print to digital, traditional print designers are being asked to evolve and you may find it necessary to learn more about what that means to your career goals. So learn a little everyday about something relating to new technology.
8. Find a mentor; Be a mentor. It’s important to find someone who’s been there and done that; someone to help guide you on your journey. Equally important is to find someone to share your knowledge with. No matter where you are in life, there is always another a few steps back who could benefit greatly from what you have learned, especially what you learned when just starting out. So you’re not an expert yet, you’ve still got a lot to share.
9. Have genuine fun. Engage in activities that have no impact on your career. Take a pottery or poetry class. Hike a new trail or side street. Explore a new restaurant, have coffee with an old friend. Read a book, watch a movie, or go bowling. Spend the day at an amusement park riding the water slides. Play board games or bocce. Sometimes when having fun for fun’s sake, you see the road before you that much clearer. And it really is all about having fun.