Edited by Annie Storkey, Friday, 3 Dec 2021, 13:47
2018 was a turning point for me. It was the 20 year
anniversary of my diagnosis with bipolar disorder, the year my life was turned
upside down and which led me to give up my dream job as a university lecturer,
move away from London and start again.
So, in 2018 the time was right to reclaim my academic career
at the age of 49. I doubled my working hours from 13 to 26 and took on higher modules
to teach. I became more active in the university online community, starting my blog
and generally contributing more in forums and community discussions. I also
became more vocal about health issues outside the university, giving a talk to
my church about mental health (which has led to a higher profile of the needs
of disabled members) and I’m in discussion with community leaders about
starting a local death café. I planned and wrote a research proposal for a doctorate
which I hope will benefit students with mental health challenges.
I used a year off from study to reflect on what I learnt on the
Masters in Education and put new ideas into practice, including improving how I
maintain dialogue with students via email and the PT3 form. I recommend
the Masters programme to other ALs, I learnt so much from it, especially about conducting
research and transforming practice, though it was very hard work.
2019? I want to write more about the experience of living
with bipolar disorder and start my doctorate research. I know I go on about my future studies but I find studying truly exciting as I came from a working class background
and never went to college; my life has been changed by the Open University in
many ways.
Reflecting on 2018
2018 was a turning point for me. It was the 20 year anniversary of my diagnosis with bipolar disorder, the year my life was turned upside down and which led me to give up my dream job as a university lecturer, move away from London and start again.
So, in 2018 the time was right to reclaim my academic career at the age of 49. I doubled my working hours from 13 to 26 and took on higher modules to teach. I became more active in the university online community, starting my blog and generally contributing more in forums and community discussions. I also became more vocal about health issues outside the university, giving a talk to my church about mental health (which has led to a higher profile of the needs of disabled members) and I’m in discussion with community leaders about starting a local death café. I planned and wrote a research proposal for a doctorate which I hope will benefit students with mental health challenges.
I used a year off from study to reflect on what I learnt on the Masters in Education and put new ideas into practice, including improving how I maintain dialogue with students via email and the PT3 form. I recommend the Masters programme to other ALs, I learnt so much from it, especially about conducting research and transforming practice, though it was very hard work.
2019? I want to write more about the experience of living with bipolar disorder and start my doctorate research. I know I go on about my future studies but I find studying truly exciting as I came from a working class background and never went to college; my life has been changed by the Open University in many ways.
Have a happy new year
Annie