{"id":26302,"date":"2024-11-25T15:16:01","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T15:16:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/?p=26302"},"modified":"2024-11-25T17:30:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T17:30:30","slug":"the-ou-gives-you-the-tools-to-embrace-who-you-are-and-how-you-connect-with-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/honorary-graduate\/the-ou-gives-you-the-tools-to-embrace-who-you-are-and-how-you-connect-with-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The OU gives you the tools to embrace who you are, and how you connect with the world\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

When celebrated historian and Arts and Humanities<\/a> graduate Michael, 72, received an invitation from The Open University (OU) to become an honorary graduate, he was so stunned he thought it was a prank!<\/p>\n

Now a proud Doctor of the University he regards as one of the \u201cgreatest British institutions\u201d, Michael describes what the OU means to him and shares his advice for the next cohort of students chasing their academic dreams.<\/p>\n

From hobby to degree<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After retiring from a successful career in the mobile communications sector, Michael became fascinated by Renaissance art. Both curious and scientific by nature, Michael embarked on a journey of discovery, leading him on the path to an influential new career.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy first degree was in physics, so instinctively I was looking for the facts behind the art,\u201d remembers Michael. \u201cI wanted to know what was happening socially, politically and what the artist meant to represent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Three

Michael’s ‘OU in a box’ which he’s kept for over 20 years<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Looking to formalise his knowledge of the art he so admired; Michael came across the OU in a box – <\/em>designed as a taster of OU study at the time, containing written resources, cassettes and an assignment to complete.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving originally studied science and worked in technology for so long, I hadn\u2019t written an essay since my \u2018O\u2019 levels,\u201d says Michael. \u201cI remember opening the box and finding these incredible images along with music you were asked to match with them, it was captivating.\u201d<\/p>\n

By this point, Michael was hooked and signed up for an OU degree, choosing modules on art history, music and Renaissance art.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved every bit of it, the teaching was always just brilliant,\u201d Michael says. \u201cThe highlight for me was Enlightenment to Romanticism \u2013 I think everyone should study that module \u2013 it explains who we are today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carving a new path<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Fast-forward twenty years, Michael is revered in his field and has become a leading expert on depictions of Black African people in the art of Renaissance Europe.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe OU is such an important part of my intellectual life, it\u2019s given me the opportunity to see the world in a different light and share that with others,\u201d Michael reflects.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe OU gives you the tools to embrace who you are and how you connect with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

A prolific blogger, speaker and co-author of a forthcoming book on Black history in London, Michael thinks of his work in terms of \u201ckeeping it real\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t consider myself an academic author \u2013 my practise is all about making real connections between what was happening then and how it all relates to what we do today.\u201d<\/p>\n

I<\/strong>nspiring future generations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Growing up in a loving home, Michael always felt secure and fully supported. Concerned for the growing number of young people who can\u2019t say the same; Michael is passionate about his work as a role model on the Black Training and Enterprise Group\u2019s Routes to Success Programme, which aims to raise the aspirations of young Black males and encourage them to be the best they can be.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love working on this programme,\u201d says Michael. \u201cIt isn\u2019t about bringing in highflyers or anything like that, just regular people living their life who can support young men to develop their own opinions and feelings of self-worth.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michael adds, \u201cI can see how much pressure young people are under these days, they have different challenges and there\u2019s a lot to deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding joy in social connection is deep-rooted within Michael\u2019s character. That was clear to see when he collected his prestigious award, addressing swathes of OU graduates at The Barbican last summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you what an honour it was to be on that stage, not just celebrating my own award, but the achievements of everyone graduating that day,\u201d Michael explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew the journey they\u2019d been on and wanted to congratulate them for staying the course – the hard miles to TMA deadlines and making it happen with everything else they\u2019ve got going in in their lives. It was electric.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a nod to friends and loved ones, Michael took a moment to soak up the feeling of pride in the room.<\/p>\n

\u201cI loved seeing parents, children, partners getting involved \u2013 your accomplishments are something to be shared with the people around you, the ones who helped you along the way,\u201d says Michael. \u201cWhen I was making my speech, I saw my son in the crowd giving me a big thumbs up, it was really special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advice to others<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Thinking about new cohorts of OU students and the experiences they\u2019re about to have, Michael has these top tips:<\/p>\n

\u201cMake your studies personal to you<\/strong> \u2013 I was obsessed by the Black Magus, that was my connection. Find that thing, take it as yours and become the anorak about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEmbrace technology and find out how it can work for you<\/strong> \u2013 just make sure you keep questioning and challenging it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLook after your both your mind and your body<\/strong> \u2013 take regular exercise if you\u2019re able. I have my best ideas when I\u2019m running and all that blood is rushing to my brain, it makes me alert and helps clear blocks in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Michael is a Director for The John Blanke Project<\/a> and a fellow of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies<\/a>. Follow Michael on LinkedIn<\/a> to find out more about his work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When celebrated historian and Arts and Humanities graduate Michael, 72, received an invitation from The Open University (OU) to become an honorary graduate, he was so stunned he thought it was a prank! Now a proud Doctor of the University he regards as one of the \u201cgreatest British institutions\u201d, Michael describes what the OU means […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":24994,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,9,18],"tags":[1525,1640,1643,2142],"class_list":["post-26302","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art-literature-music","category-honorary-graduate","category-student-stories","tag-news-home","tag-ou-home","tag-ou-news","tag-student-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26302","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26302"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26302\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26323,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26302\/revisions\/26323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26302"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26302"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26302"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}