posted by K Carter Steeves
Calamity
In 2006 at age 50 I wanted to learn to write well.I have always loved writing, and have kept journals since age 11.More off and on in later life; then to return to this generously lazy pastime these few year past.I love the way words can bring passion to reality,vision and imagination,perhaps even propelling ones own informing along the learning pathways of life.
When I enquired into my University status I learned I had 12 credits to go on my B.A. which began in Women's Studies at Mount St. Vincent.I decided that there were enough women doing that so I went for my passion. To write! Since most of the best writers seemed to be Irish and most of the sweetest music I have ever heard in English came from Ireland and the nicest people I have ever met came from there I chose to switch my enrollment to St.Mary's University under the D`arcy Chair in Irish Studies with a complimenting major in English.
All this took place quite by fate.I accidentally walked into a social services office for persons with disabilities.I have lived with a learning disability all my life.I have over the years found myself in need of assistance and Im very grateful they have been there for me.Yet I must confess most of the resourcing has been God's doing or some Greater Creator.
"Is miss Benton in please"? "Sorry she works in the main office up stairs, this is for persons with disabilities".
"I have a disability,what do you do? "We help people go back to work,open a small business, or go to school, would you like to fill out an application?" "Sure!"
Thus began the most wonderful and the most horrific next three years of my life.
I went into an office where a red haired man sat sneezing.He asked me to decide in three minutes go into business or back to school? I didn't bat en eye."Go back to school.
They would fund me 5000.00 and I would borrow in student loans,5000.00,hey thats a good deal everyone else was paying back the whole 10,000.00 I jumped at the chance.I think now most people would.
My friends gathered round and helped me with a few new clothes and a computer.
I loved it!!! I fell in LOVE with Yeats,Chaucer,Heaney,Joyce and many many others.Being that I am a musician I love the poets and the stories from the 4th and Medieval Times.One can almost get stuck in a time worpe on that one, as I saw some profs fall into. God they had romanticized their lives into a past life! ha ha
I was 18 hours from my last home stretch of credits when the government program put in place by the red haired man was cut off funding! As it was, one of my friends whom I shall be forever grateful to stepped up to the plate funded in part my last semester.
So with 18 hours to go I reluctantly left University.
However here I was with no B.A. a whack of a student loan,and no job prospects with no peice of paper to verify my credentials nor my abilities.I did however come away with what I needed.This was brought home to me when I called in a fit of sadness to my long time friend and mentor Winston."Well you have three years of study so you got what you went for.Truth be told.
Soon began the calls from student loans of the province for money.Rightly so.Each three month period began with me filling out the forms of proof that Im not working.Not working .Not working. One of the most depressing acts of my life thus far.Sometimes they would call on the phone then two sets of officers began to call.To say the least I began to feel stressed! Im living with Post Trauma Disorder and you people are going to help me what? It just lead me to a highly confused state!You stop payments on my courses,however you want me to pay you, now??I dont know who is maladjusted here? Im very confused!
I decide to go to the local community Student Loans Office and have a chat.
Jane is on the ball! What a saint! She files for a forgiveness decree at once! We explained that government funding stopped ( not me).That as things remain I may never work again.We got it first try.I will always be so very grateful to her for her work on my behalf with the Student Loans situation.These people are very short sighted, they have no interconnections to create a whole project, they are just a bunch of projects!They turn them on and they turn them off at their own convenience.
Because of this experience I may not work again.But I have learned to put a pretty good word to paper and a very well informed way.
I've learned poetry and classical writers, classical music and how to listen to what I love actually as I write I play Mozart and find my inspiration flows in to my works here on the page much easier.
I learned how to put music to poetry and have written a wonderful Bluegrass tune to one of Christina Rossetti"s poems.
I write every day on my blog, I write about my years working and not working, I write about my studies in this white culture and other ethnic living traditions I joyously been part of.Not always safe? but what is?
I have learned that there are very well educated people teaching about things they know nothing important about and they are not very effective teachers.
I came away from University that Christmas with a VW Camper Van a 1977. I titled her Red Fern and we took off up the coast and did a project on the Bay of Fundy! WOW!
I lived in small communities,I sold garden rocks for gas and sang my heart out at the local cafe` on weekends in Truro NS.
Education is great if it doesn't come at the cost of a persons common sense.Opportunity is wonderful with well balanced motives that include a big picture, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.I know I've been there and back.
What a life experience.
Gotta go play some Boran` now.You take care.
Calamity
In 2006 at age 50 I wanted to learn to write well.I have always loved writing, and have kept journals since age 11.More off and on in later life; then to return to this generously lazy pastime these few year past.I love the way words can bring passion to reality,vision and imagination,perhaps even propelling ones own informing along the learning pathways of life.
When I enquired into my University status I learned I had 12 credits to go on my B.A. which began in Women's Studies at Mount St. Vincent.I decided that there were enough women doing that so I went for my passion. To write! Since most of the best writers seemed to be Irish and most of the sweetest music I have ever heard in English came from Ireland and the nicest people I have ever met came from there I chose to switch my enrollment to St.Mary's University under the D`arcy Chair in Irish Studies with a complimenting major in English.
All this took place quite by fate.I accidentally walked into a social services office for persons with disabilities.I have lived with a learning disability all my life.I have over the years found myself in need of assistance and Im very grateful they have been there for me.Yet I must confess most of the resourcing has been God's doing or some Greater Creator.
"Is miss Benton in please"? "Sorry she works in the main office up stairs, this is for persons with disabilities".
"I have a disability,what do you do? "We help people go back to work,open a small business, or go to school, would you like to fill out an application?" "Sure!"
Thus began the most wonderful and the most horrific next three years of my life.
I went into an office where a red haired man sat sneezing.He asked me to decide in three minutes go into business or back to school? I didn't bat en eye."Go back to school.
They would fund me 5000.00 and I would borrow in student loans,5000.00,hey thats a good deal everyone else was paying back the whole 10,000.00 I jumped at the chance.I think now most people would.
My friends gathered round and helped me with a few new clothes and a computer.
I loved it!!! I fell in LOVE with Yeats,Chaucer,Heaney,Joyce and many many others.Being that I am a musician I love the poets and the stories from the 4th and Medieval Times.One can almost get stuck in a time worpe on that one, as I saw some profs fall into. God they had romanticized their lives into a past life! ha ha
I was 18 hours from my last home stretch of credits when the government program put in place by the red haired man was cut off funding! As it was, one of my friends whom I shall be forever grateful to stepped up to the plate funded in part my last semester.
So with 18 hours to go I reluctantly left University.
However here I was with no B.A. a whack of a student loan,and no job prospects with no peice of paper to verify my credentials nor my abilities.I did however come away with what I needed.This was brought home to me when I called in a fit of sadness to my long time friend and mentor Winston."Well you have three years of study so you got what you went for.Truth be told.
Soon began the calls from student loans of the province for money.Rightly so.Each three month period began with me filling out the forms of proof that Im not working.Not working .Not working. One of the most depressing acts of my life thus far.Sometimes they would call on the phone then two sets of officers began to call.To say the least I began to feel stressed! Im living with Post Trauma Disorder and you people are going to help me what? It just lead me to a highly confused state!You stop payments on my courses,however you want me to pay you, now??I dont know who is maladjusted here? Im very confused!
I decide to go to the local community Student Loans Office and have a chat.
Jane is on the ball! What a saint! She files for a forgiveness decree at once! We explained that government funding stopped ( not me).That as things remain I may never work again.We got it first try.I will always be so very grateful to her for her work on my behalf with the Student Loans situation.These people are very short sighted, they have no interconnections to create a whole project, they are just a bunch of projects!They turn them on and they turn them off at their own convenience.
Because of this experience I may not work again.But I have learned to put a pretty good word to paper and a very well informed way.
I've learned poetry and classical writers, classical music and how to listen to what I love actually as I write I play Mozart and find my inspiration flows in to my works here on the page much easier.
I learned how to put music to poetry and have written a wonderful Bluegrass tune to one of Christina Rossetti"s poems.
I write every day on my blog, I write about my years working and not working, I write about my studies in this white culture and other ethnic living traditions I joyously been part of.Not always safe? but what is?
I have learned that there are very well educated people teaching about things they know nothing important about and they are not very effective teachers.
I came away from University that Christmas with a VW Camper Van a 1977. I titled her Red Fern and we took off up the coast and did a project on the Bay of Fundy! WOW!
I lived in small communities,I sold garden rocks for gas and sang my heart out at the local cafe` on weekends in Truro NS.
Education is great if it doesn't come at the cost of a persons common sense.Opportunity is wonderful with well balanced motives that include a big picture, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.I know I've been there and back.
What a life experience.
Gotta go play some Boran` now.You take care.
A great read Cait! Now I understand the meaning of the VW van and the name "Red Fern"! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYour quote:
"Education is great if it doesn't come at the cost of a persons common sense."
...that is so true!
Namaste!
Eddie