University at 54

It was actually during my first summer off at university when my aunt in Kent had a stroke. I was the only one able in the family and as I was close to her I went to help. It was tragic as she had suffered a stroke, but because she had always suffered mental illness when they found her, she was treated for that and not a stroke, which I feel has given her longer term damage.

She was an artist and when clearing her house I found her work, she painted all of her life but never wanted to exhibit until now. The exhibition was a great success with some important people from the “art world” attending. It was magical – she was allowed out from the care home to attend, with difficulty but we managed it.

This project has been two years in the making, also coming to fruition is my degree another amazing experience both personally and academically and I would highly recommend the experience. I didn’t get into Toronto or Vancouver University to do my Masters but it is not meant to be and I am currently waiting to hear from universities in the U.K.

One of Victoria’s collection:

I was just talking to one of my flatmates, who is also a third year and we both don’t know where we will be next year. I feel like an undergraduate again, applying everywhere, but not knowing where we will be next year.

As a re-think I have also applied for post-graduate study into the concept of studying at a much later stage in your life. Study post-50 years is such a minority especially in my subject area and especially “Living-In,” it would be so interesting to study this, so I have applied and guess where, yes, Canada.

Also, one thing, that I would like to raise, is the use of the word “Old,” it is so demeaning. We live in a society where we are very conscious of how we word things, but age is over-looked. My sister was going to have a t-shirt done saying “Old, but not too old to party!” I said, why? Yes, mature but not old, c’mon let’s consider the post 50 group. We’ve all been on this planet a long time and some of us are definitely wiser!

Well, I had some news off Toronto – they have given me sign in details and instructions on how to apply for residence – they said it’s not an offer but it is going in the right direction. I spoke to my tutor I had on my exchange with Canada and she told me to also apply for some other universities in Canada for my MA, so I did and University of British Colombia in Vancouver have asked for examples of my work to accompany my application – I am pleased with what I have submitted so who knows what might happen?

I have also looked at finally doing my Mexico trip this Summer – after Covid and 3 years on my degree – what better way to end than 3 months in a hot and beautiful country and having the experience of a lifetime with their voluntary work. So, this Grandmother may be leaving the nest of what has been my home for the last 3 years in Halls of Residence and embarking on some really special experiences, adding to what has been an incredible journey already.

I would like to wish everyone who has read my blog a very Happy New Year for 2022, a lucky number I feel: keep the faith and remember – If you face the sunshine the shadows will always fall behind you.

Met with Chi Chi this week and she asked me to support her as she was talking at a Conference at the University. She did really well and it was great to see her – we always reminisce when we get together. We were laughing about the times that she used to put the heating up so high in the flat – she used to say everyday was Summer in the flat but as she explained she had just got here from Nigeria and she was freezing, meanwhile i’d be sweating buckets.

I’ve had some acting work – which is great to supplement my income – during Halloween I played a witch at a children’s attraction and then I was a ghost at a Museum and up until Christmas I am selling Dior perfume in a High Street chemist – it’s all been tiring but great fun and it’s good to do some work – it’s good for oneself.

Then tomorrow we are at University and we are pitching plays to perform for our final year. My chosen play is by the amazing African playwright Wole Soyinka, who I discovered on my remote exchange to Canada, who I would love to meet one day. He wrote an amazing play – The Kings Horseman – it’s based on a true story and about the Yoruba people in Africa – a great read – thought provoking.

Halls are comfortable, the rooms are sound-proofed – so I sleep well at night – as I have done since I came to University and I am quite proud of the fact that I have spent all of my 3 years living in Halls and I have gained the full “University Experience.”

Still awaiting news off Toronto University, I know they have had my references – I shall keep you posted – I check my Inbox everyday – waiting for that all important offer that could change my life.

Just to leave you with my favourite phrase……….

Follow Your Dreams …. They Know the Way.

Exciting times…………. Last night I put my application in for Toronto University, Canada, for my Masters. It’s ranked 17^th best university in the world and the course looks amazing. How great would it be to get there, but, I have to get good grades from Derby. I know one of our new term modules at Derby is Directing and I am excited about this because I can chose any scenes to direct from any play and I plan to use a scene from a play that I adapted in Canada, then I will pray that I get good grades.  

When I think of how far that I have come in life…. I suffered from anxiety and depression and was practically housebound up until about 5 years ago. So, what I am saying folks is you can do this, goals can be achieved. There is an amazing life out there for all of us, despite what is currently happening globally, never forget that it is still a beautiful world. I’ll never forget, years ago I saw an ex-agoraphobic on the T.V., he was crossing the Sahara Dessert and I thought that one day too I want to achieve the impossible and now I am. We can all achieve; we can all do the impossible.

I am also now awaiting this start to a new term and to get back into studies is great. I just can’t wait to learn more. It’s quiet in Halls now but I think it’s the calm before the storm, soon it will be chaos. I am looking forward to my final year at Derby to do my last year of my degree. I feel that I have come so far from my Enrolment in 2019, when I just wanted to go home. I’ve had such a journey even throughout Covid, emotionally and intellectually.  

Many people that I know do not watch the news anymore. Can we not report of positive, proactive issues? Have a “Happy Channel.” I did watch the news the other night and yes, it was upsetting – but without knowing what is going on in the world – how can people become informed and make change. This is especially about Environmental Issues, which is very close to my heart. As my friend from the Birmingham Conservatoire, Thomas said, “We are all doing the washing-up, whilst the house is burning down!” 

I hope that you enjoy my blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Well, I have written this blog and circulated it and been offered a job as Marketing Representative. This is exactly what I mean about getting involved. Through this blog I have now registered with the Student Employment Agency and been emailed job opportunities daily. You see the University is like a business and they employ many people so, there are lots of opportunities to progress. Then with applying through the University you have an advantage over other candidates in that the University know you and you can even use your tutor as a reference. Welcome to the family!

There are so many opportunities I feel that the academic work is only part of your journey.  University is an opportunity to add as many strings to your bow as possible. There is the Future’s Award which looks good on your C.V., you can get involved in this through the Employment Agency. It’s basically an award to show how enterprising that you are, that you get involved and work hard, there is the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award. There is also Be the Boss programme – which helps you become self-employed, if that is what you want to do after your degree, it can give you free training, workshops, grants, and bursaries.

What I have done is used my course work experience and voluntary work to gain the Future’s Award and then I have integrated my degree, so all my voluntary work is part of my final project. Get savvy with your degree!  I am now helping my tutor in the Theatre with her work with Refugees and what I am learning about through this experience is what I am writing about for my Dissertation and this Voluntary work will help me get my Gold Future’s award. I am also getting paid for writing these thoughts and I have applied for a job with the Student Employment Agency, just for the Summer.

My tutors work has been so inspiring, we have been filming a play, that has been 2 years in the making, with her theatre company, Destines at Derby Theatre, which has been a privilege to be involved in. I was asked to be a Background Artist and yes, they threw in a free lunch.

My change of plan is to stay put in my Summer Halls, for my final year. It is going to be much better for me financially. Yes, I don’t get my bath, settee and telly but there is a power shower, it is nearer to the theatre and recently refurbished, so, comfortable. I’ll just go to my mothers for luxuries!

54 – big age – time to do something big and yes I am part of the way there. And enjoying every minute of it – yes I live in Halls but that was part of the excitement to doing my degree. My first year was luxury Halls but this year I have really “roughed it” and lived in an 8 by 6 room with no TV and no living room and a small kitchen – the Common room was closed because of Covid. Last year was amazing – living with Chi Chi – a missionary from Nigeria funnily enough I have just messaged her about meeting up and having fish and chips – what I introduced to her last year. I knew she’d like them all Internationals do. Yes – it was luxury Halls last year with a settee, double bed and TV. This year has been completely different – with no such luxuries as a bath, telly or settee – but I have still had a good time.

My first year at University was actually quite hard-going although the work went well. Personally I found it difficult – it was very hard to adjust to living independently as this was something that I had never done. I went to see student well-being at one point and they said talking to me was very similar to that of talking to students in their twenties – you have to learn how to live and survive by yourself. Although thankfully we all make friends at University. My first week there and my flat-mate had not arrived and I felt very lonely – I went to enrol and had already packed my things in the car to go home and I remember crying to the enrolement officer and he said – go and unpack your things and go for a walk – he had emigrated here from New Zealand – he said to give it time and this I did and have now, never looked back. I would always say to students going to live-in to give it alot of time – months even – yes you get homesick but later on the rewards are great.

With the academic maturity of Canada under my belt, it gave me such knowledge and maturity, as too, has all my work at the University, I have now started to look at my Dissertation, my final year project. This is where my final plans come into fruition, I can let my imagination run wild and put my heartfelt ambitions into place – I have always wanted to work with the vulnerable and persecuted. As I understand this and I really want to encourage creativity and freedom of self-expression. It was in my 2nd year that I volunteered to help my tutor, Ava with her work with Refugee teenagers, it was great to hear their stories, what they have faced and how they are on the road to recovery and becoming successful.

I have decide for my final project to build a group called “People of Sanctuary,” where anyone who feels that they have had difficulty, persucution or control in their lives, somewhere that they can come and have a “free space,” where we can create dance and music. A safe place where we can dance, talk, socialise and create theatre.

I am so looking to my final year but first I have to move from where I am living and go to “summer halls,” it will probably be busier than here. However, I am hoping to make new friends and enjoy my Summer. I am also helping my tutor with her work over the Summer and planning my own work. It is all good news, so now I start my next chapter in my University journey. Watch this space.

After luxury Halls for my first year – came proper Halls for my Second year. My room is very small but built for study – I have a huge desk and although the bed is very basic – I sleep like a baby on it – probably because I am happy – I have a very modest kitchen and no living area space – there is a Communial area but htat has been shut for most of the year because of Covid. I actually decided to join the David Lloyd gym as there they had settees and T.V.s, and it actually kept me sane. I have had to self-isolate a couple of times in the flat – which has been challenging but the fact that I had homework – it kept my mind distracted from being locked up – I have also enough room to practice my yoga, which again, has kept me sane over the past year. It was difficult when the gyms were shut – but I also found workouts online and also went to my mothers a few times to enable me some normality.

There is no-one in the flat now, I am alone here but I actually have enjoyed a bit of peace and quiet and I am waiting to move into my Summer Halls of Residence. Chen from China – my flatmate went home about 2 months ago – I did feel sorry for her – she came all the way from China to do her Masters here only to spend most of her her time shut away in her room. She also had a real problem getting a flight back – eventually we got student services involved andf they helped her get a flight home – she had to fly to Finland and then Finland to China.

I did have a good laugh with Chen – we would quite often walk to the local park – she introduced me to Chinese milk tea – which I actually think beats your Costa and Starbucks coffees hands-down and it is much cheaper. She introduced me to the local Chinese supermarket, where I could buy packs of milk tea for a few pounds. It was through Chen that I saw that the Chinese are a very modest nation – despite of what everyone says because of Covid, there are good and bad people in every culture – the Chinese eat modestly and I would do the slightest thing for Chen and she would be so grateful – a walk in the park would keep her happy all week. She told me of her family and her father working so hard – often at the office 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Her mother was the same age as me and I think that they were quite happy I was around, to support Chen. As a visiting American playwright at the Theatre once told me a Mature Student can add a different dynamic to a group and any situation.

I now await to go into my next halls, which i know will be much busier, but perhaps more friends await and I can spend the Summer staring to plan my final year project, which I am very excited about and I also have volunteered to help at the Theatre over the Summer with some theatre work with vulnerable groups and I will be assisting one of my tutors. Again more friends, more creativity and living the dream. I could be a student forever.