My last semester of college is something I'm less than proud of. I wasn't sober yet. I wish I had discovered the program in college, instead of right after college. I already have a great career, but I need to actually be a licensed with a masters to advance my career. I'm going to make that happen if that's what it takes. I have only made amends to some of my former mentors and professors, that may have put up with a lot from me. The right way to accomplish my goals includes resolving some of that now, to the best of my ability. I'm also going to try to get everything taken care of with online classes, because I already have a full-time career out-of-state that involves a good amount of travel, and working long hours. I'm not willing to put my life on hold to sit in a classroom if I don't have to. I know someone who started and online masters and couldn't finish it, but he's not sober. He's not me. I'm starting the process. I have filled out the FAFSA, and talked to admissions councilors. I think I've narrowed it down to 2 programs. I would like to start classes in February, if it works out, but that might not be realistic. I will however start online classes toward my masters degree in 2017. Anybody else making similar amends and/or going back to school?
Designer, I wish you the best in whatever endeavor you pursue ... I'm retired and stay plenty busy ... all I would say is that I didn't get anywhere until I stopped drink'n ... not only did my thoughts and ideas clear with sobriety, but my initiative and drive to succeed improved ... life got better ...
Keep your sobriety your main goal, else noth'n of what you're do'n now will matter, at all ...
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
I waited three years in recovery before attempting any education. When I did start I was fortunate enough (Thank you God) to meet another AA member doing the same course. Throughout the next three years we supported each other in terms of keeping it simple and attending meetings. Whenever the study got to much, I would get over critical, doubtful, and confused. These symptoms told me it was time for an AA meeting. I would close the book and check where and when the next AA meeting was. I was in Sydney at that time and there were over 400 AA meetings per week. So finding a meeting, catching a bus, or walking, to that meeting was also a reprieve from the brain-pain.
Actually, when I knew we had to read our assignments to the class, I would prepare by only going to AA meetings that had you standing up the front to do your sharing. This would desensitize my stage freight.
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"... unless this person can experience an entire psychic change there is very little hope of recovery." Dr. Silkworth. (Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd Ed. p.xxix)
My last semester of college is something I'm less than proud of. I wasn't sober yet. I wish I had discovered the program in college, instead of right after college. I already have a great career, but I need to actually be a licensed with a masters to advance my career. I'm going to make that happen if that's what it takes. I have only made amends to some of my former mentors and professors, that may have put up with a lot from me. The right way to accomplish my goals includes resolving some of that now, to the best of my ability. I'm also going to try to get everything taken care of with online classes, because I already have a full-time career out-of-state that involves a good amount of travel, and working long hours. I'm not willing to put my life on hold to sit in a classroom if I don't have to. I know someone who started and online masters and couldn't finish it, but he's not sober. He's not me. I'm starting the process. I have filled out the FAFSA, and talked to admissions councilors. I think I've narrowed it down to 2 programs. I would like to start classes in February, if it works out, but that might not be realistic. I will however start online classes toward my masters degree in 2017. Anybody else making similar amends and/or going back to school?
I don't get what the amends are that you made or feel that you should still make to mentors and professors.
Nonetheless, returning to education can be a satisfying and edifying process. I found it vastly so, and I really did not connect it to AA or recovery. For me, it was about the concept of inquiry: learning what ideas are out there and how to assimilate them...to use them...to analyze and...learn.
One of the major things I came to learn was how little I knew outside of my field of expertise. About greatly important objects and processes in the world.
After my formal education, a rather extensive one, I know less, much less, than when I started it.
Designer, give your academic program all you can muster. Try not to just check the boxes.
