Does anyone else have the same problem as I do? Does anyone else just want to study EVERYTHING!! When I was in school I always wanted to be a vet but I was rubbish at science so I quashed that idea fairly early on. Midway through high school I decided that philosophy was my kind of subject and said that if I ever went to uni I’d study that. So I did. My second and third OU modules were philosophy ones and I teamed them with social science modules as it seemed a logical thing to do and a fairly logical transition.
But the trouble is, much as I like philosophy and social science, there are too many other subjects I’m ALSO interested in. I’d really like to study astronomy and anthropology and psychology and English language and... well, the list goes on as I’m sure you can imagine.
The OU has been great for letting me indulge in whatever takes my fancy and the Open Learn snippets are just so superb for giving you a taste of other subjects but it’s still just not enough for me. I’m barely a couple of months into my masters degree and I’ve already been looking on the university website thinking to myself that I maybe should’ve taken such-and-such other MA course instead; the trouble is I’ve seen a good half dozen other ones which I think I would’ve liked too.
I’m just so horrendously fickle. My attention span is pathetic and I want a piece of everything going which is why, I suspect, I get myself so involved in other things too, to try and keep my interest in more than one thing at once. Although it has to be said, I do really enjoy writing and have made a vaguely serious effort to start thinking about starting to plan the first efforts at writing a book (note how many levels there are to my planning process... That’s about how ‘vaguely serious’ it is).
I’ve tried to turn my OU studying into more of a ‘hobby’ now that I’ve finished my BSc but with fees going up I’m not sure how plausible that will be in the future. Maybe when my MA is finished I can find a way to continue on and maybe convert my BSc Open into a named degree (although that in itself will be a challenge picking what to convert it to!).
I’m sure I’m not the only person interested in more than one subject though. How did you all decide on your final area? Was it something to do with your job or future career or was it for purely pleasurable reasons? Please put my mind at rest and reassure me that I’m not the only fickle multi-interested student out there!
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Does anyone else want to study EVERYTHING?!
TweetDoes anyone else have the same problem as I do? Does anyone else just want to study EVERYTHING!! When I was in school I always wanted to be a vet but I was rubbish at science so I quashed that idea fairly early on. Midway through high school I decided that philosophy was my kind of subject and said that if I ever went to uni I’d study that. So I did. My second and third OU modules ...
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About Carrie Walton
I dropped out of school at 17, halfway through my A Levels and got a job. I’ve worked full time ever since, but when I reached 23 I enrolled with the OU and started on a journey towards the degree I’d never stopped wanting. In 2009 and aged 29 I realised I didn’t want my journey to end and formulated a new plan which includes a masters, a PhD, research and whatever else I might be able to cram into a journey now held under the umbrella term “lifelong learning and ongoing self-improvement”.
I finished my BSc (hons) Open in December 2011 by which time I'd already started on an MA in Social Science research at Durham University with a view to doing a doctorate in the not too distant future. The OU isn’t getting rid of me that easy though, I've already signed up for a BSc (hons) in Criminology and Psychological Studies and I plan to keep studying with them for as long as grey matter will allow me to, it’s all part of my never ending lifelong learning path.
Alongside studying, I work full time for a building contractor in the North East of England as a Liaison Manager. Working is a means of affording and appreciating the things I really enjoy; mountain biking, hiking, theatre, gigs, cinema, eating out, writing, the list could go on, I just like doing things. In whatever spare time I can muster after that, I volunteer for OUSA and am a school governor.
My name is Caz (or Carrie) and this is my journey from dogsbody to doctorate…
Comments
Yes, I'm the same as you! :)
Although I'm trying to stick to one area for the time being: languages, which have always been passion of mine. I'd really like to study the classics though, other than with a book, and I've studied teaching for a few years too. Naturally, I'm a teacher now, hehe :)
Never stop learning!
I always said that I'd keep studying with the OU for as long as I could afford it. The plan was to do languages next, and then history, English lit, art history, psychology - basically everything except business, law and accountancy. But now that the fees have gone up, I won't be able to go beyond the degree I'm already aiming for.
Still, there are always books.
Likewise Steven, I wanted to convert my BSc Open to a PPE since I've already done one of the P's (philosophy) but it'll be too expensive now.
Such a shame because I would've happily carried on with the OU forever, but it's just not financially viable now.
I've just recently started to study with the OU, and also want to study everything. I'm finishing Y181, and booked in for U116, which starts in Feb '12. I've purchased some OU books from Ebay to decide whether I would like to study other subjects. Psychology interests me, but I prefer the accuracy and preciseness of science.
I think the OU bug has infected me....!?!?!?
It infects you so easily, I sympathise.
Instead of buying OU books off Ebay, how about a butchers at the Open Learn site, it's smaller snippets of the materials bue they're all free.
http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/
I know exactly what you mean. Right now I'm an actor but it's very difficult to get work especially up here in Scotland. So to pass time and to try bring in some money, I do odd bits here and there. One such hobby was web design.
Now I'm no expert at it but I'm pretty damn good, I just don't have the qualifications to get a work placement somewhere. I've made 3 websites to date, one for my brother www.inceptional.com which is pretty simplistic as per his request, the other two, my own acting website www.shaunpauljohnston.com & my partners www.bellydancingbarbie.com where designed with a bit more flair. You'll see what I mean when you check them out.
Basically what I'm saying is that I'd love to do it full time, but I have a conflict as acting is my passion. To add to the mix, I worked in a cafe about 2 years ago just to get some extra cash, but it turned into a full time job as superviser, which was more like actual manager. I ended up really good at being a barista and I could go off and do that quite easily. Again it's a conflict as acting is my passion and I still have plenty more avenues to try with that.
Lastly, my brothers website as you will see, is for video game design. For years now he's said he wants me to work with him on game design because we are quite like minded and are good at solving issues with interfaces and other important game aspects. I would love to do this but it means learning game design. Oh before I forget, I'm also currently trying to learn the fundamentals of Javascript so I can do more with the current websites.
So all in all I have several choices:
Actor | Web Designer | Video Game Designer | Barista
Each requires a lot of dedication to be really at the top of the ladder in their specific fields, so what do I do. Do I study them all and be just average, or do I focus on one at a time and become really good at it before moving on. The latter will atke me about 20 years lol.
Oh, meant to also say hello everyone and great post Carrie. I think a lot of people are the same and are a little lost what to do next.
I started with Social Science, then on to Psychology and HATED both. I was totally lost and didn't think I should continue with study, especially as I'm a single parent and it was a challenge to find the time and energy required. But then, thanks to the OU policy of self-reflection, I realised when leafing through my TMAs that on every one I'd written how I'd enjoyed the historical aspect of each module. So there was my answer, staring me in the face, I'm now doing my degree in History and am as happy as a pig in the proverbial.
HI everyone i am new to the O.U and i hpoe to get out what i put in i am lucky as i have had my children and waiting to be a nan in a few weeks funny realy as i amnot even forty yet so now it is time for me to learn the subjects i like and i realy do need it want it crave it looking at a lot of posts i have mixed feelings but not put of in any way all of my fellow students have just made me aware of some things so if anyone wants to add some good tips for first time students like my self please do as i know my self that your experience can help me and others so all tips welcome and i dont mean for good service ha ha ha.... happy new year and i can not wait to get started in my chosen subject social science or making new friends within the O.U new ywar new beginings 'A'.....
well im of your kind...im doin btech in biotech final year...no interests in job...i like mirobio....english literature....international relations...travelling....i think i should join UN or some volunteer organisation...or maybe travel around world fetching money working part times...and do stuff here n there...i dont know i just want to explore......hmm if anybody else feel so ...contact mea ...maybe some solutions mite come out...my id vick_viveknegi@yahoo.co.in
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