I want to study but it all seems so hard

[montyp]

Hey Willow,

Three words - Go For It! This from someone who took the plunge at the age of 37 through a mature-age programme (I didn't see any such scheme at other universities in Sydney). Previously I had only done TAFE with fair success, but this was a major step. It also triggered in me a case of (performance) anxiety which carries on to this day, but that's for another thread.

Initially, I was barely passing. In the first semester I did Math sub-101 and Statistics. It required travelling to campus twice on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for lectures (two for Math, one for Stats) and tutes (one each). I got a conceded-pass (it's not a fail, but it's not good enough to move on; AKA CP) in Math, and passed Stats. Because of the CP I was unable to do Math-101, which turned out to be a boon, because I got a credit in Stats in the second semester. That taught me two things: one subject per semester = success; and Computer Science was probably not for me.

So I walked away from Computing, and chose German - why German, you ask? Well, between that and Chinese, two languages I'd always had an affinity with, only German could be done off the street. Chinese needed permission of the head of the Department, which seemed too much like hard work. This also turned out to be a mistake.

I stuck with the one-subject per semester programme, but only managed passes. This included a summer-school course, and two-weeks in the German Summer School in Melbourne. I so loved it, and made some great friends ... but it was soon to be my downfall.

Through 100 and 200 level I continued to pass, barely. My German was coming along quite adequately, but it was time to move to 300 level. This is where it got difficult. Up to this point I'd used the on-campus exchange students: I'd review their work and they'd help me with mine. But for 301 I got a tutor, and sought her input for my essays. Apparently this is frowned upon and on the day of the exam, I was asked to come in for a friendly chat (never believe this, people!). Turns out the person I'd put an essay in with saw my amended essay in comparison with a not-so-amended one, and took it to the Department head. They eventually accepted my rough-draft (which I'd brought in, just in case). Again, the CP, and as the Department head wasn't about in time for the decision on German 302 to be made, I made it for her, and went back to Stats. Ich habe nie zureuckgeblickt .*

Turns out, though, that the break between Stats 101 and Stats 201 was too long, and after three weeks I'd realised this was not for me, either, so I took the semester off. It wasn't a complete waste ... turns out my step-mother was going to do 201 and ended up using my books.

The following year's programme was a riddle ... what to do!? I chose History, because I'd always been interested in it and always wanted to test my academic writing abilities. It was something I should have done earlier ... during Hist 101, I got an essay back with a D on it ... I didn't understand, and asked the tutor. It means 23/26. It's a distinction, he explained. A Distinction!!! Since then, I have achieved all but one distinction in several versions of HIST200 - that Credit was well-earned because I didn't put as much into that subject as I did for the others ... and I now look forward to completing a BA in History, and perhaps also a DipEd.

You might not end up doing that which you'd planned when you signed up ... you might end up doing something so completely different you will amaze yourself. You might get through what you signed up for, like MrsP did. It's all relevant to that which you want to get out of it! I also changed from an on-site to an online student, finding this method of learning more suited to my lifestyle, my learning abilities, and my work-life. Don't let fear put you off - where will you be in five years time if you don't do it!?

montyp


* In other forums they don't like non-English posts. If this is one of them, the term I have used here means I never looked back.