To worry that doing this course would be a conceit?

[IHeartKingThistle]

I want to do an MA in Creative Writing - specifically, I want to do it in Poetry.

I've always had it in the back of my head like a pipe dream. You know, like one day I'd love to buy a vintage campervan and travel for a year, one day I'd love to paint my house pink, one day I'd love to do an MA, that sort of stuff, stuff that normal life gets in the way of, knowing that I'd probably never do it.

But I've just inherited some money from a relative and it is more than I expected, more than enough to do the MA and some other things we want to do (not painting the house pink though!). I'm an English teacher at the moment but only 2 days a week, my DC are older so not so needy and so I find myself in a position where I have the time and the money to do it.

But I'm hesitant - I don't tell people I write poetry. I'm worried people will think it's massively wanky to spend a year doing a course that won't qualify me for anything when I could use the time to do something more worthwhile. I'm worried they'll think that I'm self-absorbed or have inflated ideas of my own abilities or something. I don't know why I care - I never care what people think! Everyone I know would be supportive, and I know the relative who died would have been too. What's holding me back? I'd be full of pep talks if it was someone else!

My father spent some money doing a history degree when he retired "because he fancied it and thought might be interesting" - Ended up giving lectures - so not earning buckets from the BBC but very happy he did it. I am sure in his specialist fields he could tutor very well. But that wasn't the point when he set out.

Good luck @Iheartkingthistle - will try to come up with a poem

Do it OP. You have the money and the passion for it so you are bound to be successful. It doesn't matter what others think. Most people would follow their dreams if they had the money and opportunity to do so.

Why not? I have no doubt it will improve your teaching, even if your teaching is ideal currently, feeding your own passion will brush off on your students.

My father studied an area of design unrelated to his design career after retirement and ended up teaching at the college for a decade.

I've done a creative writing MA and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Not poetry, though, I'm afraid.

Some research for you OP: Carcanet website. No one seems to be calling these poets ‘wanky’ ... And I haven’t counted the MAs and PhDs, but ...

You need to remember that poetry is a profession, not a shameful, hidden hobby.

Do it, without a hesitation. But bear in mind one thing - it will change you. You might find out you are not a poet after all, but a dramatist or a novelist- wait and see! You will love it - go for it!

I'm doing one atm. I absolutely love it.
Go for it.
Dont spend your inheritance though
Get a student loan. Everyone is entitled to one. Regardless of what people on here say

Do it!

Your enthusiasm and added knowledge will really benefit your pupils too. You can bring poetry alive for them.

But do it for you.