Not University Educated

I don’t remember the essay question or what I wrote. I do remember feeling strongly about my work’s quality and how my teacher’s comments made me feel.

“I found this frustrating. As I read your arguments, all I could think was, this read like it was written by someone who is not university-educated.” This is what my year eleven English teacher wrote on an essay of mine. What an unusual thing to say; I remember thinking at the time. Obviously, I was not university-educated, so why would she point it out? Clearly, there was only supposed to be one response to the essay question.

Like most essays, I was asked to argue for or against something. My classmates all agreed that the positive was the only way to go. Young Davey did not respond to it in such a black-and-white fashion. I boldly decided to go against the grain by arguing in the negative, and I would do it well. You can imagine my disappointment when I read those comments and the ugly grade accompanying them.

The red ballpoint pen ink jumped off the page and smacked me in the face. The confident strut I sported to collect my results from my teacher was now replaced with an inability to move. The shock has stuck with me for over twenty-plus years since I graduated high school.

The feedback has been dissected with friends frequently after a few wines, “I was just expected to conform like the rest of the sheep.” I have been known to say. “If that is what a university education is about, I am glad I never went.” It is always relived in anger, disappointment and hurt.

Perhaps she was trying to tell me something, not just shoot me down. Perhaps my arguments were weak and would not have stood up at the university level. Instead of telling me I was not university-educated, she could have just said that.

I did not get the marks needed to go straight to university. I have spent a long time wondering if I missed out on something. I have heard colleagues and friends talk fondly about that part of their education and the lifelong friendships they formed. However, I have been successful in my chosen field, despite the lack of a tertiary education.

The hands on skills I have harnessed from almost fifteen years in Tech and Cyber are irreplaceable. They will only continue to grow with the opportunities those industries offer. But the desire to experience University is always perched on my back.

So, I proudly announce that I am starting university. At the ripe young age of thirty-nine, I am commencing an undergraduate certificate in creative and professional writing, and I could not be more excited. Also, I’m a little nervous.

Not just because I have not written an essay since high school and I have one due in four weeks. I am nervous about diving into something unknown; I have never known what I should study. I have never adept at classroom learning.

I have discovered something to study at university that excites me. I did not know enough about who I was in high school to make such a decision. Although, my teacher’s comments did frighten me about whether I was ready.

If I could remember her name, I might look her up and tell her I am finally getting that university education. She would have no idea who I was, which would be pointless. Instead, I will go back to being overjoyed that a new adventure is about to begin.

I am just starting out as a writer and welcome all feedback on my work.

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