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00:00:00 – 00:11:04
The video features a speaker recounting their non-traditional educational and career journey, from leaving school at 15 to earning a doctorate and becoming involved in higher education and European-funded projects. Initially, they left school without formal qualifications, supported by their mother who expected an early marriage. They later pursued GCE subjects for personal enjoyment, which led to A-levels and a degree in sociology from the Open University (OU). This set the stage for a postgraduate diploma in career counseling and a role in a career service. Their career progressed into higher education, specializing in career guidance and counseling, culminating in a part-time Master’s degree and eventually a doctorate from OU, supported by their institution.
The speaker's doctorate provided career advancement, professional recognition, and opportunities in academia and publishing. They emphasize the importance of commitment, organization, resilience, and passion in balancing studies, work, and family life. Personal anecdotes include overcoming societal expectations and discouraging remarks. Overall, their story underscores the transformational impact of lifelong learning, supported by family and institutional backing, highlighting the rewarding nature of their academic and professional endeavors.
00:00:00
In this segment, the speaker recounts their educational journey, starting from failing to pass the high bar for entering a grammar school and attending a modern secondary girls school instead. At 15, they chose to leave school without taking GCE exams, a decision supported by their mother, who expected them to marry early. They initially worked at GPO and Boots, where they took various GCE subjects for personal enrichment rather than for career purposes. This enjoyment in learning eventually led them to pursue A-levels and, subsequently, a degree in sociology with the Open University (OU), which allowed them to balance family life and studies. After completing the degree, they considered a new career, leading to a postgraduate diploma in career counseling. They then began working for a career service.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses their educational journey in psychology, focusing on career guidance and counseling. They describe starting a part-time Master’s program, which aligned well with their job in higher education. Their workplace specialized in training career counselors and eventually became part of a university, enhancing their involvement in writing and research. The speaker decided to pursue a doctorate, partly influenced by a conversation with their mother, who subtly challenged the feasibility of such ambitions for a woman. Their institution funded their doctoral studies at the OU (Open University), where they appreciated the supportive structure and rigorous materials provided. The speaker also highlights the excellent supervision they received, which later influenced how they supervised their own students in doctoral programs.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the speaker discusses their experience of not reading a novel for six years, focusing instead on their studies with strong support from their institution and family. They emphasize the importance of commitment, organization, resilience, and passion in balancing full-time work, family responsibilities, and doctoral studies. The speaker highlights that achieving a doctorate provides professional status, facilitates career progression within the university, and opens opportunities in the career counseling sector and publishing.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the speaker reflects on their involvement in various European funded projects, emphasizing how their doctorate enabled their participation and leadership in these projects. The speaker recounts their unconventional educational journey, noting they did not follow the traditional route of attaining a degree immediately after school. They share an anecdote about being labeled an adult learner despite having learned significantly after leaving school at 15. They also mention a discouraging remark from a teacher, which they later referenced humorously in their inaugural lecture as a professor. Furthermore, the speaker underscores the personal and professional importance of their doctorate, highlighting it as both a significant achievement and an enjoyable, albeit challenging, endeavor.