This is an expression of my philosophy about both informal and formal
education.

Jane Erwin had written wondering whether it would be worthwhile to pursue
certification, both for her own knowledge and to help the community.
Certification demonstrates a certain amount of knowledge. Once a person
begins studying, it becomes more challenging and exciting.

I was the unofficial *breastfeeding expert* on our mother-baby unit and
joined ILCA several years before I finally had a reason to sit the IBLCE
exam. I learned a lot and really enjoyed studying for the exam and seeking
out more consults. The more I learned, the more I knew I needed to learn.
Becoming certified helped me mentally feel like a real *expert*. After saying
that I would never go back to school, I decided that I wanted to learn more,
which led me to become a student in a Family Nurse Practitioner program
(half-time; I'm still in my same job, but I feel as if school helps me do it
better).

I asked another student in my program why she decided to go back to school,
first for a BSN, now for a MSN. She said that she just likes to go to school.
Some people (such as Lactnet subscribers) just like to keep learning. I
encourage people to keep learning and growing. Becoming certified indicates
that you can achieve something, and you may be encouraged to keep on getting
involved and becoming more active.

Becky