Why I’m going back to university
When I was 25 I found myself in a stressful job I hated. It was the next step on the career ladder but in getting there, I left a job I loved with a wonderful group of friends. I was utterly miserable and did a lot of crying.
One day I read a book called Who Moved My Cheese and realised I needed to hunt down some new cheese of my own. I ended up looking at Open University courses.
I loved university the first time around. I did a brilliant history course, had friends, and was in a relationship. I also edited the university newspaper. But I always felt that in throwing myself into everything university had to offer, I hadn’t applied myself to studying as much as I could have done and wanted a do over.
I stumbled across a fascinating sounding course called DD100, an introduction to the social sciences and applied. A few weeks later, a big box of books arrived on my doorstep.
Over the next 6 years I studied around newspaper shifts. Many an essay was submitted with one minute to go before the deadline. (I also got a new job.)
I graduated a month before my wedding to a fellow OU student.
I got a First in International Studies and was delighted that my course choices meant it was a BSc, to go along with my BA. I never imagined I could get a science degree. The next step would be to do an MA but I was stumped. What would my dissertation be about?
Fast forward almost 15 years…
A few weeks ago I was chatting to a friend who revealed she was doing an MA that related to her business. A lightbulb went off in my head. I messaged my husband, who works in higher education, and he immediately sent me back a list of courses. None of them were quite right but I knew where to look now so it didn’t take much more searching to find a course that suited me perfectly.
So I’m off to Birkbeck University, which I looked at when I finished my OU degree all those years ago. I’m going to be studying for an MSc in Political Communication part time.
I’m ridiculously excited. All the optional modules look interesting and it’s in person so I’ll be heading into London at least once a week.
This week, I’ve been chatting to friends about rediscovering yourself in mid-life and this feels very much a part of that.
