It has taken 26 years, 4 months, 11 days and 26 minutes to be able to tell myself that I am worthy and deserving of my seat here in the lecture theatre at University. At high school I was a poor (both financially and academically) student, mediocre at best. While under-performing academically, I was known by my peers and teachers as worldly and street-smart. As a youthful teenager I was aware of my charm and knew how to use this to my advantage but never felt worthy of academic success.
“She’s not as bright as her brother, at best she’ll probably make a good secretary.” I overheard my step-father talking about me to my mother (a secretary).
“If she doesn’t work harder in maths she’ll end up a shop-girl or a secretary.” A teacher said to my mother in my parent-teacher interview.
“Well this secretary is paying your salary…” my mother proudly retorted much to the teacher’s embarrassment and my delight.
When I left school I did work as a shop-girl and I loved it! I saved to buy a one-way ticket to see the world and my ‘tertiary education’ was found on the streets of New York, London and Paris. Study and financial stability eventually beckoned and I began what were the first baby-steps of my Higher Education. I enrolled in night school and completed my final outstanding subject for my High School Certificate while working full-time. I went on to complete a Certificate at TAFE. A successful career followed as well as marriage and children.
Last year I tapped (literally – all those essays!) into my neglected creative-self and completed a Diploma in Creative Writing. It has taken years (a load, see above: I even did the maths – my school teacher would be proud) to find the maturity to recognise that I am worthy of a University education. And so, here I am sitting in the lecture theatre with nerves as edgy as a thoroughbred in the starting gate. My journey here may have taken longer than my fellow teenage students, but I sit among them, proud, worthy and deserving.
March 11, 2015 at 8:06 pm
You should be proud! Not only have you graduated, but you did it by non-traditional mean. That leaves you much more well rounded than the average graduate. Congrats!
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March 11, 2015 at 8:08 pm
Thankyou 🙂
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March 11, 2015 at 8:59 pm
You are most definitely worthy and I would say a tiny bit awesome too! I returned to study at a mature age and persuading the old grey matter to start churning again was no easy task. Once you realise that you really are worthy, you’re half way there 🙂
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March 11, 2015 at 9:07 pm
I hope the message is that you’re never too old to learn. It’s actually fun when you get over yourself and stop worrying about what everyone else thinks! Nothing like a mature-aged student to add to a tutorial. 😉
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March 11, 2015 at 9:40 pm
Congrats! And good to hear what your mom said back then, that was great!
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March 12, 2015 at 12:05 am
Love the retort from your mom. 😊 and one is never too old to learn.
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March 12, 2015 at 12:33 am
Congratulations to you. In my opinion you are even more worthy as you didn’t give up, went back to it and nailed it. Well done 🙂
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March 12, 2015 at 1:31 am
I am so inspired by this piece. You are both worthy and deserving. Thank you for sharing. You are a living breathing example of what can be accomplished when you put your mind to it at any age.
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March 12, 2015 at 8:54 am
Such lovely feedback. Thankyou. 🙂
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March 12, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Thanks. It’s true it is about putting your mind to it. Perhaps we all come of age ‘intellectually’ at different times. 🙂
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March 12, 2015 at 11:30 am
Wonderful to read! Keep writing.
Jacqui
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March 12, 2015 at 12:52 pm
so beautiful ❤ I agree with Sounja, you are an example 🙂
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March 13, 2015 at 7:43 pm
I’d say you have exceeded all expectations in your life, and are more than deserving of hard earned praise. Bravo and congratulations!!! :o)
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March 17, 2015 at 10:24 am
My darling girl you are inspirational and a courageous strong woman. The best kind. I am privy to the fact that I sat in those classes with you and yes our work ethic was heightened by our challenges. The challenge of managing our home lives, our families, kids forgetting lunch boxes or lunch money, weekend sports ferrying and keeping gorgeous and stressless. We knew that study and assignments were a choice, we knew that time in class was a choice and we made the most of it. Onwards gorgeous person, onwards armed with the skill of your craft as a writer.
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March 17, 2015 at 10:26 am
Oh my, you nearly have me in tears….
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March 17, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Well done for not believing in those negative comments from others and pursuing your dreams.
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March 19, 2015 at 4:42 pm
Good on your Mum!!! I can’t believe some people, no thought to what you are passionate about, they just pigeon-hole you. I am sure you will do so well!
Also can I just say, I sucked so hard at maths and I still do. I just do not have a mathematical mind, I barely passed High School Math. In saying that I regularly scored Disctinctions and High Disctinctions at Uni whilst gaining my Library degree so suck on that maths 😛
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March 20, 2015 at 10:28 am
This is a wonderful post! Very inspirational and you are deserving! 🙂
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May 14, 2015 at 1:55 am
Well written and well played. Life unfolds and some travel at a different rate and take a twisty route. I’m enjoying your blog.
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October 8, 2015 at 8:23 pm
what an inspiring post! Thank you for sharing your words!!
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October 8, 2015 at 8:28 pm
And thanks for your kind words! 🙂
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October 10, 2015 at 11:53 am
Good on you! You can go all the way, that’s for sure. What irks me is when people talk jobs down. Why is that? All those jobs are important and maybe someone who is brighter than every CEO is totally happy doing a so called low profile job. Just because it makes that person happy. And when you are happy you don’t burn out and you do a much better job than when you are not… Now go and prove everyone who doubted you wrong!
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October 10, 2015 at 11:59 am
Thanks for commenting. This was a sensitive post, on reflection I don’t really care about proving others wrong, I guess I have had to overcome my own self-doubt. Now I realise that the only person that I need to proved anything to is myself. 🙂
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October 10, 2015 at 12:11 pm
That’s a very good point!
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