On my terms

Once again, I have resumed my university studies. Although I had not planned to return to university, I found no reason to decline the opportunity to study for a semester while receiving unemployment benefits.

Despite just starting school, I find myself fascinated by how my perspective on learning and higher education has changed now that I am 35 years old and have more experience than when I was studying at the University of Iceland before.

I have always held education and educational institutions in high regard. Since elementary school, I have understood the significance of performing well academically. However, the intense focus on academics made me somewhat of an education elitist. I always intended to further my studies and believed nothing was more crucial than my education.

Since the start, my education has focused on grasping the requirements and strictly adhering to them. I mimicked my teachers' guidance rather than solving problems independently. After completing high school in three and a half years, I commenced my undergraduate studies in my twenties and promptly pursued a master's degree after that.

It was only when I began my second master's program that my perspective started to change. Even though I had finished my undergraduate and master's studies at the University of Iceland, I was eager to fulfil my dream of studying at a foreign university. At 26, I applied to study publishing at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England and relocated there in the autumn of 2012.

Upon my initial relocation, I was enthusiastic about moving to a university town that is home to one of the most renowned universities globally (although my school was considered the 'other' university in Cambridge). Fortunately, I had the chance to explore the university multiple times, experience its atmosphere firsthand, and interact with some students.

Yet, becoming familiar with this university setting personally led me to reconsider my perception of education. I realized that the students I once saw as superior were, in fact, just regular individuals like myself. This included those attending prestigious universities, some of whom were younger and a bit immature.

Adding to this experience was the fact that my teacher was just a few years older than me, leading me to view her less as an authoritative figure than I would have previously. This allowed me to critically assess the school, the curriculum, and the teaching methods for the first time, becoming accustomed to the realization that I wasn't always in agreement with the established practices.

Engaging in this university program exposed me to the various avenues for personal growth and lifelong learning. It has changed my view on education, emphasizing that being a lifelong learner is just one of many possible approaches. I no longer feel the need to seek education for validation or to meet societal norms. Although I have resumed my studies, my primary goal now is to gain knowledge that interests me and supports my future endeavors.

I appreciate the practical nature of the course I selected and value the emphasis my instructors place on providing feedback for assignments rather than focusing solely on grades. Furthermore, I am uncertain about completing the program and obtaining a degree. I will begin this semester and see how things unfold. What matters most to me is having the opportunity to study at a university once again, this time under my own conditions.