If someone had asked me 10 years ago whether or not I would have gone back to University to study, I probably would have laughed. I did attempt to start my Masters of Education back in 2004, before children, however, it didn't eventuate. 10 years ago I was in a completely different space. I was a part time educator and full time mum. I found the every day workings of a mum complex, so adding study onto this was not workable.
However, in 2014 I plucked up the courage to apply for a Masters of Education and was accepted.
After spending almost 5 years ploughing through, I finally received my Masters. I did it! Without any help from others, I was able to write a thesis that even sounded academic!
What I find astounding is now I am studying again. Studying psychology. What??
Its amazing how your experience shapes you. Your journey actually inspires you to push yourself to your limits. What I also find amazing is that people come along side you along the way to build courage and to allow insight. I am amazed at the conversations that I have with colleagues now after researching. I am also amazed that the perceived "you have to be smart to study" is a myth! I grew up thinking that I wasn't academic. I grew up in an era where you were streamed and placed according to how you thought. However, thank goodness, thinking and brain capacity is not fixed! We don't need to box ourselves into thinking that we can't. It's our own limitations that limit us.
I've just completed Semester 1 of Cognitive Psychology and what I am loving the most is that over a career of 20 years, I have read, utilised, created and built an experience of an educator that uses so many of the strategies that I originally learnt, over 20 years ago. So many "aha!" moments, where I realise why I do what I do. Most of my teaching expertise is internalised now. But studying helps to release those memories and to remind me of how I got to where I am.
But never let anyone think that your experience isn't worth it
Don't allow those voices to say "Next year.... you'll see".... or the assumptions that you don't have experience (pfft!)
Allow yourself to believe in who you are. If you want to wear a bright colourful dress because you can.. Do it! If you want to run in the rain on a freezing cold day... do it! Don't allow those voices that say "You Can't" or that laugh at you, stop you!
Block out the voices of doubt and criticism and breathe in the breath of "Can!"
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