Anyone starting new courses this year?

[HighlandCowbag]

I am!

Have just completed a degree in Eng Lit and Philosophy and start an MA in Literature and Creative Writing in a few weeks, full-time so over a year. It's at the uni I did my degree at so not quite as nerve wracking as a brand new uni, and have a few mates still knocking around.

I am very, very excited. I couldn't justify all new stuff but did treat myself to 2 new Moleskin notebooks which are all shiny and crisp ready for new ideas. I'm 46 so v mature for a student, but absolutely loved doing my degree and hoping to love the MA just as much.

Need to find a couple of pairs of comfy but smartish trousers/joggers/combats. Jeans cut into me after a few hours I find tho I do have a v comfy pair from Next I'm going to see if they still have in stock.

Anyone else starting something new and exciting?

Me! I'm 51 so older than you.

So I need comfy trousers for this do I?

I do 🤣🤣

Mainly cos I'm a weird shape and also perimenopausal and also hate anything tight. But weird shape (fat belly, slim hips and thighs, limited arseage) means I find stuff either falls down and looks like a sack of shite, or is too tight around my belly. Which gives me bellyache and trapped wind.

What is it you are starting? Are you giddy?

I'm starting a degree in criminal justice at the college I completed my access course. A couple of the girls from my access course are also starting the degree, so I am super excited. I was the eldest by 15 years on the access course and felt like mum of the group. I'm only 38 too! Hoping that there will be a couple of more older people on the degree course. One of the criminal justice lecturers also taught 2 modules on the access course, so I have already built up a great relationship.

I am 60 and halfway through a masters in history with the OU

I’m doing a PGCHE at the University I did my PhD at with a view to ditching my day job and lecturing full time instead of being a guest lecturer. I’m in my 50’s!

Great to see everyone’s plans.

ETA I’ve wanted to do this for ages but it’s only now that I’m in a position to take the required pay cut, sad but true!

I’m 69 and commenced my Doctorate aged 59 and graduated when I was 64 ( I was also working at the time). I loved it and so wish I had done it sooner! I was able to have a wonderful graduation ceremony just before lockdown. I am commencing a diploma course in Irish Studies this term and really looking forward to it.

I did an MA at Birkbeck at 60yo - superb facilities and lots of stuff online. Then moved across to V&A history short courses and then courses at CityLit. Just signed up for another history walking tours of London with them - so getting my steps in and using my brain (a reading list each week). I've been surprised at the different ages of students on each course - mid 20s to 80s!

That’s amazing @Allquietnow.

Well being, to quote a favourite MN saying, 'as thick as mince' I am not doing a degree, masters of PhD, I am going back to college at 64 years of age (last studied in 1977) to do an Arts, Design and Media course.

Part time but in a subject I really want to get better at.

I have bought a new notebook 🙂

That sounds fabulous @bigyellowduster . Don’t put yourself down.

Do you know what I’d do if I didn’t have to keep paying the bills? History of fashion, couldn’t be more removed from my working life.

I think it is marvellous that you’re doing something creative.

Wow, such a variety of subjects and also 'stages of life' to commence new things.

I love September because it's the start of the new academic year, even more so this year because it's a brand new level of study.

I desperately want to stay on and do a PhD, but would need it to be funded and funding for creative rather than research is pretty scarce. I'll be very glum next September I think. If money was no object I'd definitely continue forever. I'd do a Language and Linguistics degree I think, then a pure literature MA. We could only afford for me to go this far with a combination of student finance and a lovely bursary from my uni while doing my MA.

I can't wait for reading lists and module information to be released. Today I am blitzing my house, batch cooking veg soup (cos September) and making roast pork and all the trimmings. Tomorrow ds goes back to school (y6) and next weekend we drop dd off at uni. Same as mine, she's 20 (v long story) and as excited as me.

I'm just excited that my house will be mostly empty in the daytime with everyone at school/work and dd away at uni. I have bought myself some lovely loungey, sloppy, cosy joggers for at home study. Smart enough for school run and shopping etc, but very much comfort over style.

My PhD was really good value with an alumni discount, something like £2k a year over 5.5 years. I worked FT alongside it.

Yes I think our uni does something similar, but it's the full-time job I don't wanna do, just want to student forever 😁

I am 46 and started a boot camp in coding. So far, so good. Really inspired by all the posters here. Good luck to all.

Ooof coding sounds v technical and complicated. Good luck with it, I'd cry a lot doing that sort if thing. I did my foundation year in 2020, so lockdowns all over the place. Everything was online, the tech stuff was a baptism of fire.

I did so many quals when I was working, I couldn't face any more so stopped around the age of 45. I had taught myself so just couldn't sit through any more badly taught stuff. I do have 4 degrees or degree level qualifications and a whole folder of pieces of paper documenting all the courses I've been on and exams passed.

But I retired at 53, we bought a house in France and moved here permanently in 2021 and a few months ago I went to a pottery session at a friend of a friend's and am now all in on pottery!

I bought a wheel in June, and a 2nd hand kiln 3 weeks ago and was a bit scared of firing it up but it worked fine and I'm sitting here now, at my table, with my first kiln load of still warm bisqued mugs, plats and small bowls.

I bloody love it.

I have made my first big mug for me with JFDI imprinted on it. So Just Fricking Do It. Life is too short.

Oooo @AlisonDonut poetry is fucking amazing! I luffs it. I didn't realise I did until I started doing creative writing and now I love it.

You should look at the Black Mountain Poets, and also the American Avant-garde in general. They did loads of poetry around art, including pottery and ceramics, lots of mixed media. My favourite of that period is Diane De Prima. Controversial as she claimed to be a feminist but also had some pretty anti-feminist views, including being pro-life. But her poetry is political and ballsy and very anti-establishment.

Like a PP, I have qualifications and degrees coming out of my ears. I took an extended break from any formal learning. What I want to do now is Indian head massage. Something I’ve always wanted and never had time or money for.

@AlisonDonut have just reread your post and see it is just pottery not poetry you are into. I must have poetry on my brain. But M.C Richards in particular combined poetry and pottery, and talks a lot about centering through pottery and how we can reconnect with the earth and environment and ourselves by using clay. A bit woo but good stuff.

It's interesting how two posters who are highly educated are turning back towards less academic things and towards more grounded, physical stuff. Is Indian Head Massge the one with the parts of the head that affect other parts of the body?

I did alot of poetry when I did my first degree!

But yes pottery. In particular I am really waiting for the weather to cool so that I can dig out some clay from my garden and start making things with it.

I'm 60 soon - I'm feeling inspired! I should sign up for a course! Hopefully it's not too late - what shall I do?

That would be amazing! Proper centering 😁

What do you like doing, or are interested in? There are so many different ways to access stuff nowadays.

@HighlandCowbag I think that’s reflexology. The head massage is just for relaxation. I know I can’t do it to myself, but I’d still like to learn it. I’ve seen a few courses which are only a day long. I don’t need more than that, like a formal qualification, as I don’t intend to use it outside my family.