Courtney's picture
Courtney from the Midwest is reading Monkey: A Journey to the West and a thousand college textbooks September 12, 2012 - 11:49am

I put off doing an interview and writing an essay for about a week now because the professor I was supposed to interview kept postponing it. The deadline sneaked up on me and it's due tomorrow. Help a bitch out?

I need to write an essay about the attitude towards education in my community. My initial idea was to interview a professor in my major, but he can't do it in time. The only other community I associate with by choice is you guys.

If anyone has some time and doesn't mind answering a few questions, the list is below. Answer one, any, or all of them -- whatever answers you can give me will help.

  • Are you in college or is your education self-guided?
  • What do you study? (Your major, or what you focus on most)
  • Why did you choose to study it?
  • Does it have real-life applications for you at the moment?
  • Does it apply to your career? If so -- which came first, your job or your education?
  • Was it difficult to choose this subject over others you wanted to study? If so -- why did you choose it over the others?

Thanks in advance.

Scott MacDonald's picture
Scott MacDonald from UK is reading Perfidia September 12, 2012 - 12:00pm

Are you in college or is your education self-guided?

I was in education.  Studied at University for three years for a Batchelor of Arts degree in Film, at Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.

What do you study? (Your major, or what you focus on most)

BA in Film, although I sidelined a little in the first year and took Politics through Contemporary American Literature, and British Politics Represented through Drama and Plays from 1940s to the 1980s.

Why did you choose to study it?

Four years in a dead-end job after leaving School and College told me that I needed to get back into education.  I loved (love) film and simply wanted to study it for sheer enjoyment.  I had visions of getting into the Film industry, which didn't pan out, but don't regret a minute of the study I took.

Does it have real-life applications for you at the moment?

If you mean career-wise, then apart from the fact that the job I do requires a degree, then no.  As far as enabling me to continue to enjoy and participate in film in my own time and enjoy this aspect of life beyond work, then the answer is a resounding yes.  Film has helped with my writing (especially dialogue) and I have done a fair bit of film-based activities (including a long-running project that still hasn't taken off yet, of running a profitable film based website to help fund a roving film festival with the ultimate aim of running my own, independent cinema).

Does it apply to your career? If so -- which came first, your job or your education?

See above.

Was it difficult to choose this subject over others you wanted to study? If so -- why did you choose it over the others?

No.  It was film from the start and if I ever ended up unemployed and went back into education it would be a Masters Degree in Film.

Hope this helps, but if want any further details ask away and I'll see what I can do.

- Scott

Mess_Jess's picture
Mess_Jess from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael Joyce September 12, 2012 - 12:40pm

Hi Courtney,

Here are my answers:

Are you in college or is your education self-guided? Currently self guided, trying to learn how to write well. 

What do you study? (Your major, or what you focus on most) I did two degrees simultaneously in Australia, straight out of school. We call them double degrees in Austalia. Basically you study two different disciplines at the same time, I suspect to prevent boredom from learning about actual "professions". I did a Bachelor of Communciations, majoring in media studies, and a Bachelor of Laws. It took 5 years together. I then did my Diploma of Practical Legal Training, which took about a year.

Why did you choose to study it? My parents were teachers and encouraged it. I told them I wanted to be a writer, and they told me I needed a real job first, writing could come once I'd made enough to live off. So I decided I liked helping people, so I'd be a lawyer (wow, what a naive idea...). My law degree majored in criminal studies, but I found it upset me too much to practice in real life, so I got into corporate law.

Does it have real-life applications for you at the moment? None whatsoever now, but boy does it help being a lawyer when banks, landlords, anyone in life, tries to screw you over. I did work in the legal industry from the time I started uni at 17, until this year, so it had 13 years worth of real life application.

Does it apply to your career? If so -- which came first, your job or your education? Unusually, mine were simultaneous. I got a job in a law firm being the general dog's body/filer/delivery girl at the same time I started uni.

Was it difficult to choose this subject over others you wanted to study? If so -- why did you choose it over the others? Hrm. This is a tricky one. I got to study the stuff I was interested in with my combined degree, and the real life applicable stuff. But the stuff I was interested in wasn't necessarily going to get me a job very easily, or at all, so I became a lawyer. I always wonder if I had my time again, would I have even bothered with the law degree. It's not what I wanted to do, and I did it for years. On the other hand, I got some great skills out of it and some wonderful friends. Plus the ability to spot a sociopath within 5 minutes of meeting them.

Hope this was useful to you!

Jess

Courtney's picture
Courtney from the Midwest is reading Monkey: A Journey to the West and a thousand college textbooks September 12, 2012 - 2:38pm

Thanks, guys. That's really helpful and will definitely help craft this essay. I love that both of you referenced writing in your answers -- the reason I was interested in getting answers here is because it's a community of writers with such a variation of actual jobs and histories, so getting the backstory on that is so helpful. You guys rock!

Jack Campbell Jr.'s picture
Jack Campbell Jr. from Lawrence, KS is reading American Rust by Phillipp Meyer September 12, 2012 - 2:58pm

Are you in college or is your education self-guided? I am in college, virtual school now, as a graduate student. Previously, I got a Bachelors in Liberal Studies from Iowa State University and an Associate of Arts from Indian Hills Community College

What do you study? (Your major, or what you focus on most) Literary Arts

Why did you choose to study it? I already have a career that pays the bills. This was more personal enrichment and future possibilities.

Does it have real-life applications for you at the moment? Not professionally, but I think it will help my writing.

Does it apply to your career? If so -- which came first, your job or your education? No, it doesn't apply directly. I didn't get a job in the field I studied. Probably due to my interests being in the arts, where there are few jobs that are stable and profitable.

Was it difficult to choose this subject over others you wanted to study? If so -- why did you choose it over the others? I debated on studying something related to my profession in law enforcement, but ultimately, I decided it was time to pursue what I love, rather than what would benefit me the most financially. Besides, I will be done in Law Enforcement when I am 52, and I'll be looking for a new career.

Scott MacDonald's picture
Scott MacDonald from UK is reading Perfidia September 12, 2012 - 3:34pm

@Courtney - Hey, no problem, glad to help.

@Jess - When you say law helps you with landlords - does that mean that you know how to make sure that the body isn't found?

Fylh's picture
Fylh from from from is reading is from is reading is reading is reading reading is reading September 12, 2012 - 4:29pm

Are you in college or is your education self-guided?

I'm doing a PhD at the same place I did my Bachelors and my Masters.


What do you study? (Your major, or what you focus on most)

Literature, religion and philosophy.


Why did you choose to study it?

Because I enjoy being in an environment where the norm is to give a shit about "pretentious things" and people realize it matters to learn this stuff.


Does it have real-life applications for you at the moment?

I don't hold a particularly utilitarian view of the value of higher education. In fact, I'd say I reject the idea of "real-life applications" because that often means jobs. My life has been very much enhanced by studying literature and philosophy and religion and all the rest. I couldn't quantify changes.


Does it apply to your career? If so -- which came first, your job or your education?

As a writer, publisher, musician — yes, it applies. Job and education arose together.


Was it difficult to choose this subject over others you wanted to study? If so -- why did you choose it over the others?

Nope. I did a BA in Literature. An MA in Philosophy to switch it up. Took a year off to do other things. Now a PhD that combines my interests. Not a hard choice.

Mess_Jess's picture
Mess_Jess from Sydney, Australia, living in Toronto, Canada is reading Perfect by Rachael Joyce September 12, 2012 - 5:37pm

Ha, Scott! Clearly you've been reading my facebook rants about Consuela (not her real name).

Scott MacDonald's picture
Scott MacDonald from UK is reading Perfidia September 12, 2012 - 11:20pm

I did spot the odd rant or two.  I particularly enjoyed her approach to health and safety.

Emma C's picture
Class Facilitator
Emma C from Los Angeles is reading Black Spire by Delilah Dawson September 12, 2012 - 11:40pm

Are you in college or is your education self-guided?

Not now, but I have a degree. I pursued other study after getting my BA but didn't complete anything else.


What do you study? (Your major, or what you focus on most)

My degree is in Japanese language and culture from The University of Texas (go horns). I later studied chemistry.


Why did you choose to study it?

It started out as a language requirement; I was an astronomy/physics double-major at the time. I wanted to take Cantonese but there was a time conflict and Japanese was the only thing available by the time I found that out. Once I started in the program I really enjoyed it, but it was a competitive enough program that to access upper-division classes I had to declare...so I changed majors. 

I studied chemistry because I've always been interested in science, and was considering making a run at vet school.
Does it have real-life applications for you at the moment?

Only vaguely; I can refer to my knowledge in my writing, which I do occasionally. I can watch Japanese movies without subtitles. My husband knows a little so we can talk about other people in public.

Chemistry has been more useful on a daily basis. 

Does it apply to your career? If so -- which came first, your job or your education?

Absolutely not so far but perhaps it will be useful if I ever become an author. The degree itself did help me get employment, though.

Chemistry helped me in my last job as a veterinary technician. 


Was it difficult to choose this subject over others you wanted to study? If so -- why did you choose it over the others?

I think I answered this already. I was interested in astronomy/physics but got tired of the math aspect, and knew I didn't want to be a professor so I wasn't sure what my job prospects would be. I thought Japanese was fun and interesting, and would more easily lead to a career.

Chemistry was a means to an end, but I ended up thoroughly enjoying it and may have pursued it even further given more time and money.

 
Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade September 14, 2012 - 1:48am

F*ck. I was really busy and would have contributed, because I have attitudes about education. But, your deadline has now past.

How'd the paper turn out?

BTW: smart, using the LR community, judging by the responses above...