JANESVILLE, Wis. -- For many General Motors workers and others affected by the shutdown in Janesville, the question may be what comes next?

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Benefits for those losing their jobs include some funding to go back to school. However, Workforce Development places restrictions on the amount and length of time for using the money.

The problem is that some workers haven't been in a classroom in years, or don’t know what they'd like to pursue. That's where Steve Durkin comes in. Durkin spends a lot of time making sure new students are enrolling in the right program at Gateway Technical College in Elkhorn, WISC-TV reported.

"In counseling process, we spend a lot of time talking about interests -- what they've done in the past and explore their backgrounds," said Durkin.

Durkin said he is ready to work on student plans for GM employees after the plant closes on Tuesday.

"Their world was very focused -- like living in a little box," said Durkin. "We need to let them know they have more options outside of the box -- just broaden it and make it larger."

Michel Melton and James Bade Jr. are just completing their first semester at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville.

"I've always loved to cook and the auto industry is unstable with such fluctuations and too hard to plan a career; life around that," said Melton.

Both Melton and Bade worked for a dozen years at Lear, a GM supplier that is now closing.

"The one math class, we did it 20 years ago," said Bade. "I left it with a migraine-- ibuprofen didn't take it away. It's tough!"

Bade and Melton said going back to school isn't easy, but both said that they believe it will be worth it.

"I'd now rather be going to school and being a chef," said Melton. "It's the right path for me."

"The more skills they have, the more recession-proof they are and can move around at other companies if they have to by keeping up with other skills -- that's very important," said Durkin.

Durkin said he's seen many other people forced to re-tool their careers.

He said he knows it can end with success.

"It may be a blessing in disguise," he said. "Time to move forward!"

Durkin counseled many potential students after the most recent round of layoffs at Chrysler in Kenosha. He said the school is ready to react to GM employee needs whether is be adding night classes or opening up more general studies for those needing to brush up on math or science.

Several area schools are reporting new student registrations are rising. Blackhawk Tech officials said their registrations are up more than 20 percent. At Madison Area Technical College, the engineering, welding and other manufacturing classes are full because those classes aren't offered on other campuses.

MATC officials said that they are all working together to take care of GM and other laid-off workers.

"To try and address all of these dislocated workers and try to get them trained and try to get them back to the workplace as soon as we can," said Terry Webb of MATC.

MATC is holding Saturday courses to help possible students consider which program may be best for their future.