 |
| Instagram photo by jamie250196 |
Writer's Workshop - Prompt #2: Hi, my name is MJ and I am a perpetual life student.
A few years back when I was retrenched, I asked a friend to put in a good word for me at the company she worked for. I was told that although I was educated enough, the company did not need people with degrees like me. Number 1, the company wouldn’t be able to afford me, number 2, the company gets the work done hiring less-qualified people…and on and on and such and such.
My friend probably did not mean
anything bad by the remarks. I would like to believe that she just wanted to
let me down easy and not put too much hope in a situation that would likely
amount to nothing. But I felt annoyed that I was made to feel that my education
(and the hard work, dedication, not to mention long years, that I’ve put in to
attain it) was worthless.
I am proud of what I’ve accomplished
in terms of my schooling. And before you turn your nose up and pigeonhole me as
an uppity b**** who thinks I’m better than everybody else, please allow me to explain.
After high school, I did not get
into university the same way as most kids my age. Financially, my family was
not able to afford it. I started working and funded my university studies
this way. I was taught via distance learning. Long before, emails and internet subscriptions became popular and online videos and classes were considered learning tools.
At this point, the “real” education began.
Let's face it, not all teaching is done at school. More than just the academics
that I got from the distance learning, I learnt that life was hard like a rock.
Sometimes you have to bang your head into it a couple of times so that your
dreams spill out into the open.
After 7 long years (instead of 4)
of working by day and self-studying by night, I graduated with a degree. This is
why I valued education so much, because it had not been an easy road for me. It’s
good and well that you can dream big, but where’s the sweat and blood that go
with it? The whole experience taught me self-belief. And I learnt the true and responsible
meaning of “follow your dreams”.
Nowadays, life continues to enlighten
me on a lot of other things. It has not been mistake-free but I have learnt the following:
- strength and acceptance: Destiny Calling, Fate Beckoning
- clarity and focus: What I Know For Sure: Better Than Bitter
- mistakes and admission: The Prodigal Employee
- lost chance and regret: A Mother...in Retrospect
- time and healing wounds: What I Know For Sure...About My Family
- faith in human nature: On the Other Side of Fear Lies Freedom
- patience and love: Mommy Pressure Moments
- strength and acceptance: Destiny Calling, Fate Beckoning
- clarity and focus: What I Know For Sure: Better Than Bitter
- mistakes and admission: The Prodigal Employee
- lost chance and regret: A Mother...in Retrospect
- time and healing wounds: What I Know For Sure...About My Family
- faith in human nature: On the Other Side of Fear Lies Freedom
- patience and love: Mommy Pressure Moments
After all, this is Life and it is a
Teacher. And as long as there continues to be life, I intend to learn.
*As an afterthought: I continue to study academically and am now on
my way to complete Canadian CPA status. My career is still on the right track. My family
still lovingly tests my patience from time to time. And my friend, sadly, is now just
somebody that I used to know.
6 comments:
When we have to work that hard for something, we value it. And, I can tell you value your education, both in the classroom, as well as outside of it. What a great example!
I think of my own circumstances of getting an education. I was newly divorced, had young family to care for, but made it my goal to achieve what many think would not be possible. I not only earned a B.S. degree, but also a M.S. degree. It was not without a lot of hard work. Much like you. I value my education and consider myself a life-long learner. No apologies here!
I don't think that you're uppity at all. I don't know you but I am very proud of you for working so hard to be where you are. That is no easy feat. So dance in that accomplishment!
(PS. I'm Canadian)
congratulations on your education, I too think it is very valuable. I like that you pointed out that life is a teacher and you have been willing to learn from her. Stopping by from mama kats kelley at the road goes ever ever on
It sounds like you've worked very hard to get to where you are and you should be proud of that. We are never done learning, are we? Popping by from Mama Kat's :-)
Friend... keep up learning... and be done with the haters ;) I am a constant student too, in fact, if money were no object I would just collect degrees, seriously. People may find you uppity. I've had that experience too but others will see you for what you are and celebrate your want for knowledge. At the end of the day, you do it for you and it works for you so keep enjoying it.
It would really annoy me to have my friend give her two cents on whether or not I would be a good fit for a job...why not leave that up to the people in charge? Maybe a good thing to have a little distance between the two of you now.
Post a Comment