Saturday, July 21, 2012

My Education

My formal education ends with my graduation from high school and although that’s always been okay with me, at times, I’ve felt a need to justify it.  College?  Thought about it – at the long ago tender age of 18 in 1981, going to college was not a given.  If I had to, I was ready to go to college to become a special-ed teacher.  It was the only thing of interest to me at the time, never even imagining that people actually went to college to get a degree in writing….  However, at the time, there was no local college with the degree in special-ed, so I would have to go away.  I was very set and comfortable in my life at home.  Uprooting myself and being that independent, well, that wasn’t happening at 18 for me. 
And, in the spirit of full disclosure and to be completely honest, I just didn’t see the value in putting that amount of time, effort and money into myself so that I could have a “career”.  My true desire was to be a homemaker. 
Wasn't quite like this, but pretty close!
Yes, I wanted the stay at home, raise the kids, make dinner, do the ironing, clean house, bake bread, and mow the lawn kind of life. And that is what I got.  And I loved it. And feel incredibly grateful for it.  I loved being a homemaker.  I worked full time until our son was born and then had the gift and privilege of being a stay at home mom (working part time 12 hours a week) until he was 15 years old when I went back to work full time.  I was incredibly blessed to have a husband who made that dream a reality for me and our lifestyle, which had us living within our means, made it financially possible to do so.
 There were many opportunities in those 31 years for me to continue a “formal” education.  I had the money, the means, and the full support of my husband to do so if I wanted to.   And yet, I didn’t.  And still don’t, even though I work at a University and am eligible to attend for free.   
During that time, I knew I didn’t want to go to school to get a degree to have a career.  My career was as a homemaker.  It took a long time for me to be able to say that out loud and with pride.  Why?  Because publically I had “opted out” of continuing my education.  Formally anyway.  Informally, I’ve had 31 years of self-education, in the area that I feel my second strongest passion for, my writing. 
I won’t list all I’ve done, but over these past 31 years, I’ve taken a writing correspondence course, numerous online writing classes,   and been part of number of local and online writing groups.  I’ve read about and researched writing styles, methods and rules.    I’ve subscribed to various trade magazines, followed online sites, authors and blogs.  I designed and have my own writing web site and currently regularly write this blog.    
And I’ve written; both for professional and personal fulfillment.  And I’ve been published, locally and nationally in both fiction and non-fiction.  And I love my writing because it’s mine - on my terms. 
Would a “formal education” in writing enhance my skills and abilities?  Most certainly so.  Would I feel a sense of having to justify that education with an output of a certain amount of writing, tasks met and goals to be achieved?  Most definitely.  It’s not that I don’t have all those things for myself, but it’s meeting them and achieving them in my own pace, style and path that I’ve chosen that works for me. 
So I am content for now to continue weaving my own blend of informal, self-education and see where it leads me.  It’s a level of investment in me that I can live with. 

22 comments:

  1. Kudos :) I like the passion in you.

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  2. There's all kinds of educations. I've known people with doctorates who had plenty of book-learning, but were lousy at applying their education in a productive way. Then, there have been others, who have a thirst for knowledge and pursue it on their own with a passion rarely seen inside of a classroom. To me, no matter how knowledge is gained, what matters most is its absorption, experience, and use. So, I say, good for you! You knew what you wanted and stayed true to yourself.

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  3. Amit & Susan - thank you for reading and commenting. I am finally coming to understand the education path I chose for myself and embracing it.

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  4. This is true education, at ones own terms and of ones own choice. You are a very lucky lady

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  5. I was like you coming out of high school, Amy--I didn't know what I wanted, but I knew at that point that I wasn't ready for four more years of school at the college level. Nor did I want to leave home, either! I ended up at a secretarial school (they still had those in those days) and then got a secretarial job at Brown University. I enjoyed working there, but four years later I began to realize I didn't want to do that kind of work forever. So I became a college freshman four years older than the rest of the freshman class. I was finally ready for the experience and loved it. After that I knew I never wanted to stop learning and became a lifelong learner. That's what you are, too. Self-education is a wonderful thing, and I'd bet you're a lot more motivated than lots of college students who only want a degree and a job and don't have a passion for learning. And if anyone asks, you can always call yourself an autodidact!

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    1. Wow - an autodidact! How special do I feel? Thank you - and I am so glad that YOU have been a part of my self education, tarting with our class together. Not only did I learn a lot, but gained a friendship that means a great deal to me. (And thank you for the award - very sweet and I'll pick it up shortly!)

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    2. I'm glad too, Amy. We still have to take another class together again!

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  6. BTW, Amy, I gave you an award. Pick it up at http://elainelk-tealeaves.blogspot.com/2012/07/fabulous-blog-ribbon.html

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  7. I went on to get the degree in special education, and it's not fun. I work a lot of hours for little pay and no respect. I am, however, at the high end of special ed, I teach intellectually gifted kids, but I still have to write a lot of IEPs. If you enjoyed raising your kids and working part time, more power to you. I probably would have been happier going down that road.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. I don't know that I would have had what it takes to be a special ed teacher in the long run - I so admire the work that you do and the commitment you must have to do it (from what I've garnered from your post and comments on this education topic it sounds like it's an intense part of your life, but that you garner some measure of fulfillment from the work with your students). They are lucky to have you!

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  8. i've wondered, also, if an education in writing would make a difference. i'm not sure. I suppose one would learn the semantics and such, but how can one be taught style.. isn't that the passion part, the part one has to find on their own.. so, amy, it seems you've done it the right way... finding what works for you, and enjoying the process...

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    1. I've been fortunate to find some good mentors along the way and have had a good dose of luck sprinkled in. It's great to have good writers like yourself to follow and read as well!

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  9. It's always been my belief that writing is from the inside and writing as a profession requires that you follow proper spelling and grammar rules. That being said, those elements can be learned in a variety ways, a classroom being one and other writers being another along with online courses or whatever! Point being, if you wanna write and ask for help...you'll usually get it.
    I think you're doing just fine.
    But who am I? Just another learnin' as I go non-college grad.

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    1. Nice to have you as one of the writers I follow Jo. And I agree, about writing being from the inside. Thanks for the encouragement!

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  10. At various times I've considered maybe applying to an MFA program, but I don't know if it's worth it, either. Having read a lot of work by MFA grads, I find it's a mixed bag; some is very good, some I don't care for too much, but there's something about MFA writers that makes them sound alike in a lot of ways, as far as style, word choice, and so on. Sometimes I'll read a phrase and think "that sounds like something from an MFA program." I would rather read writers who are individuals and whose writing comes from their own minds and hearts. Dickens and Faulkner never got MBAs. Personally I think the degree just prepares you to teach creative writing!

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    1. I'm reading a book on my Kindle about MFA programs that says much the same thing! And yes, regarding another class, maybe in the Fall?

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  11. I'm self-taught as well in my personal areas of interest. ;-)

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    1. I am finding it's more the "norm' than I thought...how wonderful!

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  12. You've educated yourself, doing what you love to do! That's so awesome! I have had much enjoyment being a homemaker also...I've also been chipping away at an education...sigh. ;)

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    1. It's all a matter of little steps for me - glad you have the homemaker enjoyment too!

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  13. I graduated HS in 1981 too; didn't realize we were the same age!

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