Edited by Nicholas Roy Butcher, Saturday 5 February 2022 at 18:45
Dear Blog,
A111, the first year general humanities module, is now well under way. The subjects studied have been varied, as you would expect. Some interesting to me, some not so interesting. But in each Unit I have learned new things and been able to view various aspects of the world through new eyes. The process of opening up my mind to the world is almost tangible in nature.
This is a joy for me, and I wish I had been able to have these experiences at a much younger age, but then I check myself, because that raises the question of whether I would have been able to appreciate what I am learning as a younger man.
Education is not always appreciated at a young age. Personally, I hated school and couldn't wait to leave. Many school-leaving university students just want to get their degree out of the way as quickly as possible so that they can get on with their lives. In some respects they can't be blamed for these feelings having just survived the school system.
But this is misguided because a University education is very different. Not least for the notion that one is studying a subject that is at least of interest, if not a passion, and one's studies are, to a large degree, self-driven.
For my third assignment on this module I have chosen to do some creative writing as this is, after all, why I am here, and it feels good to finally have a chance to test my skills. I may fail miserably. But at least I am trying to hone those skills and turn myself into a better writer. I believe I will always be doing this wherever I am and whatever I am doing, because I believe there is always something to learn and something that I can do better.
On my death bed I will probably be editing one of my stories or poems. Or I'll be researching how another writer works to try to improve my own techniques and processes!
The Alacritous Opsimath
Dear Blog,
A111, the first year general humanities module, is now well under way. The subjects studied have been varied, as you would expect. Some interesting to me, some not so interesting. But in each Unit I have learned new things and been able to view various aspects of the world through new eyes. The process of opening up my mind to the world is almost tangible in nature.
This is a joy for me, and I wish I had been able to have these experiences at a much younger age, but then I check myself, because that raises the question of whether I would have been able to appreciate what I am learning as a younger man.
Education is not always appreciated at a young age. Personally, I hated school and couldn't wait to leave. Many school-leaving university students just want to get their degree out of the way as quickly as possible so that they can get on with their lives. In some respects they can't be blamed for these feelings having just survived the school system.
But this is misguided because a University education is very different. Not least for the notion that one is studying a subject that is at least of interest, if not a passion, and one's studies are, to a large degree, self-driven.
For my third assignment on this module I have chosen to do some creative writing as this is, after all, why I am here, and it feels good to finally have a chance to test my skills. I may fail miserably. But at least I am trying to hone those skills and turn myself into a better writer. I believe I will always be doing this wherever I am and whatever I am doing, because I believe there is always something to learn and something that I can do better.
On my death bed I will probably be editing one of my stories or poems. Or I'll be researching how another writer works to try to improve my own techniques and processes!
It's never too late to learn, I'm told.