The Australian Association of Writing Programs

I know all the comments you will get will be on the line of 'every one's good enough', 'check out your advantages' etc. Thing is, however phrased, they are all true!  It is up to you to recognise that you are 'good enough' to try whatever you want. Two of the males in my family started life as tradesmen in the building industry after leaving school ASAP, went into the police, moved on to something else, then one took to studying law, helped by the other: both are now well recognised lawyers working in different areas - one Legal Aid, one Human Rights. Maybe in some instances it is good to wait until you know what you can contribute, as well as what you can get out of, whatever you want to do.

Lots of time for a 'juvenile' like you to move on, but don't waste time.

Just as confused at 57 I suspect. ( I have a couple of years up my sleeve for that one). the higher degrees are never enough o their own. They are indicators of self-worth and achievements but they are not The Answer. Neither is a PhD although to achieve one, against the odds as a sufferer with mental illness is certainly inspirational for others and oursleves.

For me, on a political note I see it as critical that the many of us living with mediacl diagnoses of mental illness speak out publically. We are often located within the creative industries and the professions, thus we are very likely to have been or are currently enrolled in Higher Education studies.

Often our 'good enough' is not ever going to be 'good enough'... that's a symptom of our illness. I use Professor Kay Redfield-Jamieson as my inspiration and theoretical mentor. If she can succeed in  the academy at the highest level of research productivity and edcational practice then we can all aspire to such a career.

All we need is the same support, compassion and understanding shown our physically disabled peers. The support may be slightly different but our periods of hospitalisation and illness are equally disruptive of our goals and pathways. We can be highly productive researcher/writer/ employees if only the Academy would recognise our needs and and offer flexibility of systems for us and our academic completions.

Do not ever let the mental illness (or inner voices) de-rail your dreams, and if your supervisors and academic staff make ignorant comments and decisions that inadvertently put your off balance, utilise your mental health and wellness support teams (and friends and family). They are your foundations and from this solid base you can re-build constantly until your at are the pinnacle.

Keep on plugging, Mandy. There are many of us 'out here'.

Thanks for your support, I honestly didn't realize the blog was public, and was just letting off steam. It wasn't until I was bored enough to google myself that I discovered it was mainstream commentry. Apart from this, thank you for your support, and I am going to continue with my degree and see where it heads. I'm feeling good at the moment and am taking full advantage of it to study and work on assignments etc.

There's a lot of things I want to do with my life. I am thinking of maybe being a part time librarian and working in Fitness as a personal trainer or something. That's just what my currents thoughts are. No guarantee that they will remain that way. There's every possibility my entire attitude to life and dreams will have changed by 9.43 tomorrow night.

I am Christian and I think sometimes that makes the 'What am I here for?' question even more poignant. I want to live out Christ's dreams for me too. I don't know if they'd be to be a part time librarian/part time PT though :)

Anyway, thank you for caring enough to drop a kind word to a confused student.

Hi Mandy - Just a few thoughts . . . .

Belonging is a strange concept to confront as we grow older.  Do we excel far beyond "normality" to be accepted as something special - or do we adopt a minimalistic existence to show the world that we just don't care about their ever-changing standards and social rules.

Making an effort to fit in - to be and do what is "normal", is like living someone else's life.  This is the advertiser's world of buying you a lifestyle - and it is forever changing.

If there is a meaning to life, will we like it?  Will it affect how we think and act and will it make us happy or sad?

As a writer, you can have as many life experiences as you are willing to create and share with others.  Looking at other people's lives will make you experience their own feelings - putting yourself in their shoes - even for a while.

Doing an MA in writing will help you to examine yourself and how you have arrived at the way you think (rightly, wrongly or by being refreshingly different).  You will change in a positive way. 

Your fellow students, tutors and your writing will help you to understand the "unknowns" that may not have been considered before.  They will equally have such new insights about the person you are, and will become. 

Take the new challenge and count your previous accolades as stepping-stones that have directed you to the next stone.

We think differently every day.  One run of bad days will eventually be replaced with many good days . . . if you let your life run its own course.

- Stefan 

Surely Christ's view would be you are here to do the best you can with the talents and interests you have. Don't waste your abilities, just be useful where you can and avoid being a pest. I am sure Christ would have made a great librarian with his patience and passion for detail.