Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 August 2005 17:23:02
So, as lots of people now know I'm soon heading Up North (precise location to be revealed when I get there if you don't already know) to start my PhD. Without going into the precise title it involves health care in a particular part of Eastern Europe - how the heck did I get to this point? Inspired by the wibsite's other impending new postgrad Tractor Girl the other month, I've decided to use the next week to tell a bit of my story - it seems as good a time as any, particularly as my computer is about to get packed off in a couple of weeks to my parents until I'm more settled UpNorth, so my blogging from then for the next little while will be kind of sporadic. I will of course interrupt it with any breaking news too as and when anything earth shattering happens over the next week!
Obviously this story is very personal, but I've been thinking a lot recently about the purpose of this blog, and whilst it was largely to document the trials and tribulations (and occasional high spots) of my experience as a mature student, I enjoy writing it so much that I want it to be something I can leave for others to read back on and think "actually, she was kinda interesting in her way". It's certainly had that effect on me - before writing this blog I really thought I was quite dull, and although it hasn't banished all of my issues, it has helped me to see that lots of things about my life are really interesting. One thing I've found reading peoples' blogs here and elsewhere is that everybody has a story, every life is significant and has meaning, and I've really enjoyed reading other peoples' stories.
For the next few days, I'll be sharing a bit of my own. I'm hoping it will also serve as a boost to me - I'm feeling quite low, and scared, and wondering if I'm about to make a huge mistake, and wondering if I've bitten off more than I can chew, and I think that reminding myself of where I've come from to get to this point will be a good thing - I'm not just here by accident :) Also, having thought a lot about endings and beginnings (both of which I'm having by the bucket load at the moment!) it will be good to remind myself of my ongoing journey, not just the juddering stops and starts.