Ok, this will be a long post… When I started the programme for the first time I wrote this post. I have thought to copy and paste the same text because I think it explains who I am and why I landed here very well. In addition, I will add some comments (in italic) to update information, or make comments I think can reflect the current reality.
Enrolling to the course has been one of the biggest decisions of my life, I feel it is a great opportunity to make a significant change for my professional future and I am excited and scared.- as I said back then, enrolling to the course was and is a huge step. I was ready to start the programme, but life happens and after years and years of waiting, finally my partner and i had a baby, that brought instability and craziness but also a lot of love! And I must take care of him, I needed to focus on that. So, once again, I dropped off my studies. But here I am again! – In order to explain my personal expectations, hopes and concerns about the course I think I should start from the beginning.
I was never a good student, well, some teachers would say that. My grades were fine, but I never fit in a traditional classroom. I talked too much and l distracted myself and everyone around all the time. So, I decided to drop off high school and find a job. After a year of working I decided to go back and get my certificate. I also did some professional training as social worker while i was working. I was lucky to find a job in a non profit organisation where I worked with children and teenagers in an informal education environment. At some point, I felt the need to learn more about theory and definitely, it was necessary to obtain a degree if I wanted to get a better job. So, I ended up going to university.
I studied Pedagogy-Education Science. When I started I wanted to learn different ways and methodologies to teach. At that time, I thought that I could do a better job that all my former teachers. When I finished the degree, I was convinced that the problem of formal education was beyond issues with methodology or motivation. And the fact that I did not fully enjoy classes was not 100% responsibility of my teachers. Ratios, money, rules, security, curriculum, Pisa test, politics… there are many factors affecting the education system and the way we learn.
During that period, I never stopped working. I knew that doing was my favourite way to learn things. However, in uni I learned a lot of theory of education and sociology. And I became very interested in the questions of “why do we learn? Or why don’t we learn? ” and “how we learn?”. Is there a magical way that works for everyone? Can this method be created? I always felt that my time in the university led to more questions than answers.
I never felt the need to continue with my studies. As I said, doing is my preferred way to learn, and I have been lucky to find jobs where I have developed new skills and knowledge. Also, I never found a course that I found interesting enough to invest my time and money. – I feel for the first time now, study is not only a need, a requirement or tool. For the first time, I want to do this. I feel this change completely the paradigme. I always faced my studies from a perspective where i needed to get the certificate, I must get it in order to achieve something else. Today is not the case. Today I want to learn, I want to interact and nourish myself with knowledge. i wanted that time ago when I first enrolled to the programme, but now as a mother, it is more clear! I want to this for me, of course it will open new doors I am ready to cross, but i study for myself. –
So, why now? Why this programme?
First of all, the last 6 years I have been working in tech. I moved from teaching to testing. I have learned a lot, even to code a bit in java! But, I feel it’s time to go back to education. I miss the field and, most importantly, I feel that there is a lot that my knowledge in tech can bring.
Secondly, I left the university almost 10 years ago, and I have been working since I was 16. I felt the need to stop a little and for the first time don’t prioritise my work. I decided to follow the part time version of the programme because I need to work, but I want that the course to be my main priority. I am willing to read, research, and learn. I want to be a new version of me that is actually a good student.
Thirdly, I live in a foreign country. English is not my native language and I think doing the masters is the next level of my learning process. I am scared and excited to do such an intense course in a second language. I know it will be challenging. But, I hope it will be the final step to feel comfortable with the language. Also, I think it will open more doors to new job opportunities and it will allow me to feel confident to organise and lead a group of people in the same way I do in Catalan or Spanish. The language it has been one of the reasons why I have been away from education in the last years, and now I am ready to break the cycle and allow myself to find a job where I need to speak at a very high level.
Finally, I still have lots of questions about education that need an answer. I am looking forward to sharing thoughts and theories with other people!
My expectations about the course are very high. I am making an financial effort –– OMG! double effort!!! – to do the course and I hope to learn more about theory and methodology, especially in digital environments. I spent a lot of time thinking and deciding what course to do and when I found this one it was not easy to make the decision. In fact I applied two years ago, but I never started because I felt it was not really the right time. Now it is. – And it wasn’t!!! (face palm) what a journey with this programme! our story started a looong time ago, but it seems that never is the time, but now it is? we will see. I hope it is, and I will do my best to make that happen, but life have taught me, not to plan, absolutely nothing! So, I will go one step at the time, week by week. –
