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| My University Crest |
As the end of the university semester approaches, my studies are moving away from structured lectures and towards more self-guided learning, although I still have Masterclasses and tutorials to attend. I completed and submitted my penultimate assignment a week or so ago, and now there is only the largest piece of work left to write - the dissertation. I know lots of my fellow students dread writing their Masters dissertations, but for me it's more like my day job of being a writer, so I'm not too phased by it. I'm actually looking forward to being free to throw myself into it.
I have enjoyed being a part of the university life for the last two years, although this final year has been somewhat disrupted due to the Covid pandemic. Still, it has been lovely to meet a group of people who are all on the same level and with similar ambitions and interests. I have found the work to be enjoyable and my tutor tells me I am on track to pass with at least a high merit, so I don't have anything to worry about in that regard.
I'm glad I had the university experience, though I must confess that I am also delighted that I can finally read whatever I want, rather than the set reading list and core texts! I can't wait to immerse myself in a new series of fantasy novels, something I can escape into, instead of the dry-as-sticks university reading I've been having to do for the last two years.
I have now been studying, in formal education, for eight years, so I'm ready for a little rest! And I have to say that the Masters degree has been much more enjoyable than the counselling diploma ever was. Yes, academia will always be a pretentious world, but if you can take it for what it is, without being drawn into that pretentiousness, it can be a very fun experience. Just don't fall into the trap of taking yourself too seriously.
Having said all of that, I am greatly looking forward to the self-directed learning of the dissertation. It's going to be wonderful to just tuck myself away in my cosy, dark academia study and work on my final project, as sometimes it has felt like the classes are more of an interruption than a vital part of the course. Maybe that is because I have always self-educated anyway. Working and learning from home is what I prefer.
However, nothing beats walking through a university and knowing that you belong, that you have earned the right to be there. I don't feel sad that my time on the Masters is drawing to a close because the university maintain close ties with their Alumni, so even when I've graduated with my Masters degree this autumn, I'll still be going back into university for readings, Masterclasses and seminars every so often. If something interests me, I'll go, and I can still use the library whenever I choose. I suppose that is the advantage of living in your university town - it's always going to be right on my doorstep, so that world of academia will always be a part of my life now. And I am already thinking about what I want to do next and making plans for the next stage!
I would say that you need to be of a scholarly frame of mind if you want to complete any course of formal education, because quite a bit of the work is done outside of class, so you need to be able to self-educate to complete those tasks and assignments. And for certain professions a formal higher education is essential. But for those people who just want to learn more about a subject, as a hobby, self-education is the easiest and the cheapest option. While you won't get the kudos of a formal, recognized qualification or a graduation, you also won't have to read anything that bores you either. Nor will you be held to a strict timetable - you can learn entirely at your own pace.
For status chasers, university will give you just that, because it's true that people do treat you differently once they know that you are completing or hold a Masters degree or above. It does alter how others perceive you, and in turn, how they behave towards you. A university education commands respect in a way that self-education does not, so it has that as an advantage, but the truth is, I don't feel any different now than I did several years ago before I returned to education in 2013. It's just that people regard me as being 'very clever' now, whereas before, I'd just been 'very lucky' to get published! But I'm no different really, I just have more letters after my name.
So my summer will be taken up in writing my dissertation, which is due in early September. I am also planning to continue self-educating at the same time, on the topic of Criminal Psychology, which is a subject we touched on during the Masters this year and I found it quite fascinating, so I want to learn more about it.
In addition, having successfully published my psychotherapy column for the past three years with a magazine, I will now be re-posting the columns here on my blog each month, under the Wise Woman tag, so look out for those.
Aside from all that, I will of course be making fresh plans and new goals to work towards, because I'm a Bruce and that's just what we do - we press ahead. Plus, I have to start psyching myself up for another graduation ceremony later this year, pandemic permitting. I need Rescue Remedy just thinking about it! Onwards and upwards!
BB Marie x
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