From tomorrow, I disappear down that rabbit hole known as university (again, as I join an MA programme in Creative Writing and Wellbeing), this time at the age of 65 years old). I have been wading through some of the bureaucracy in the last few weeks, signing my life away for the next 2 years, on the good ship ‘Online Distance Learning’, and beginning to look at what is in store for me. This next week is referred-to as ‘Welcome Week’, and it involves all the usual things that might be expected in the way of meeting tutors and students, accepting and confirming codes of conduct, reading policies, regulations, workshop etiquette, style guides, self-learning guidelines, lots of videos to watch, accounts to set-up, documents to read etc. Truly, this is university learning that belongs firmly in the 21st century in its presentation, if not necessarily in its foundations or its content.
The teaching module that begins the following week will be on ‘Core Skills and Techniques’, and will likely remind me of some of the exercises I have experienced over the years, or maybe some that I perhaps should be experienced-in before venturing on to this course. Either way, I was given an unconditional offer, so my right to be here is not in dispute,but I recognise that I will be on my toes getting back into this level of study, and it makes me glad that I had the good sense to do this course over 2 years instead of 1 year.
Half-way through the course, I will be ending my 2 days of employment, and drawing a pension instead. Most importantly, I will have 2 extra days available to me before doing the final module and writing project. It has sort-of been deliberately planned that way, insofar as raising enough money to get going, and hopefully being able to juggle enough to find the rest of it as I go along.
As far as being 65 years old is concerned, the increasing health problems drove at least some of the decision-making about the mode of delivery, as this hopefully gives me enough flexibility to skate around the health problems, and find spaces to do the work required. Otherwise, I am keen to keep learning as much as I can, and I don’t want my age to be any kind of barrier to that. Being accepted straight on to the course, without further questioning is a good start, and reading Teesside’s approach to respect for everyone is equally encouraging.
I am sad to leave my local writing group behind, at least temporarily, but I am grateful for their enormous kindness, support and encouragement, and wish them all the best going forward.
Fraser
September 2023