I have had the most satisfying week of success that I've had for a very long time, possibly ever!
I finished my final Open University course at the end of may, writing my examinable essay (EMA) in a bit of a panic after a bad asthma attack and a prolonged hospital admission. It was also in the wake of my step-brother's suicide, so I'm sure you can imagine what a particularly stressful time it was. However, the results came through on Tuesday and to my great surprise I got 87% I'm thrilled!
Still revelling in the glory of that success on Wednesday morning and I got an email from the OU with official confirmation of my degree - BA (Hons) Lit, with First Class Honours :oD I knew that if I passed my last course then I'd get my degree, and I knew that I'd get a First, but it was still fantastic to get the official confirmation.
Then on Wednesday afternoon I had an email from Newcastle University offering me a place on their MA in Creative Writing that I'd applied for. I've been doing their Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing over this past academic year (even though I was still an undergraduate), but I still had to apply for the MA and there wasn't an absolute guarantee that I'd be accepted.
I've been on a high since getting all that news, and I'm now really, really looking forward to my graduation at the Barbican in London on 16th September, and my graduation party back here in Newcastle on 24th September.
I can hardly believe I've done this. I missed a lot of school through my teenage years because of asthma and bronchitis, also struggling with depression, particularly during my A-level years. I certainly didn't achieve my academic potential at school, and didn't really believe I was clever enough to do a degree. Now I have a First class honours degree, I'm well on my way to finishing my PGCert (another 2 500 words to do for my portfolio by the end of the month), and by this time next year I'll almost have finished an MA!
I have surpassed my own expectations, and I'm loving it!
9 comments:
Becky, I'm absolutely thrilled for you! To get a first with the OU is achievement supreme, but to get one while coping with what you have to cope with is . . . well, words fail me!
That last mark must be oarticularly satisfying. you didn't have to get it, you had all sorts of stumbling blocks in the way and you still got distinction! Wow!
You should be proud!! It's an amazing achievement in the best of circumstances - and you've had the worst of circumstances to deal with! Congratulations, Becky!!! xxx
Thank you, both :o) I'm still grinning from ear to ear.
Becky, I'm so pleased for you. You won't remember me but I was on at least one course alongside you (on the national OUSA forum). You've been through so many trials to achieve your first. Well done! May you sail through your Masters.
Christine, I recognised your name as soon as I saw your comment. Was it A363 or EA300 or A210 we did together? Thank you so much for your congratulations on my degree and the good wishes for my MA. I'm still very excited and smily :oD
Amazing congratulations
kathryn
Thank you so much, Kathryn :oD My face is starting to hurt from all the grinning, but I'm still doing so LOL
Congratulations - a tremendous achievement
Thank you so very much, Nogbad :o) It hasn't been plain sailing, that's for sure, so yeah, I'm really proud of myself :o) Thank you for your congratulations.
Post a Comment