Those with long memories or an interest in elderly archives may remember that back in 2002 I began studying with the Open University, with the vague idea that perhaps I might do enough courses to get a degree.
In the last four years I’ve acquired a passable ability to read Latin. I’ve learned that writing academic essays in the style of a step-by-step tutorial isn’t going to get me a decent grade. I’ve met some great people at tutorials and online - from young people combining study with work to avoid student debt; new mums studying while their children are pre-school age; to retired people bringing a lifetime’s knowledge and experience to their studies. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to study something just because it interests me and not because I have any particular need for the qualification.
Today I accepted my BA (Honours) in Humanities with Religious Studies, First-class Honours. I’m very pleased with that.
Congratulations Rachel, great piece of work, a time well spent.
Comment by John Davies — December 18th, 2006 @ 11:08 pm
Woo, congrats!
Comment by Ben Charlton — December 18th, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
congratulations, indeed!
Comment by Chris Casciano — December 18th, 2006 @ 11:42 pm
Ooh, congratulations!
Comment by Simon Willison — December 19th, 2006 @ 12:20 am
Congrats Rachel! Now on to grad work
Comment by Jesse Rodgers — December 19th, 2006 @ 12:29 am
Congratulations!
Comment by Lisa Risager — December 19th, 2006 @ 5:30 am
Congratulations!
(It’s nice to know I’m now not the only web geek with a religion degree!)
Comment by Kate Bolin — December 19th, 2006 @ 9:50 am
Fantastic! Well done and congratulations, Rachel.
Comment by Ben Ward — December 19th, 2006 @ 11:31 am
Congratulations and well done!!
4 years doesn’t seem long at all to get a bachelor’s degree — were you taking a lot of courses in parallel?
Are you going to move on to a PhD next?
Comment by Meri — December 19th, 2006 @ 1:14 pm
Rachel, that’s fantastic! Good for you, and well done.
Comment by Peter Hyde-Smith — December 20th, 2006 @ 5:02 am
Congratulations!
Comment by radiac — December 20th, 2006 @ 10:11 am
Congratualtions, Rachel. Very well done - a first class honours degree is an achievement to be proud of.
Comment by Simon Mackie — December 21st, 2006 @ 4:07 am
Congratulations and thanks for your books as well!
Comment by lewro — December 26th, 2006 @ 1:09 am
Congrats Rachel, that’s excellent! Kelly, my wife, did her Masters of Arts & Religion at Yale Divinity School. If we run into each other one of these days, I’m sure you two will have a lot to talk about.
Comment by Aaron Gustafson — December 26th, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
So what happened to the loud bird under the street lamp? Did it meet with a KFC style demise? Did it meet it’s maker via Colonel Sander’s secret recipe of herbs and spices? And did said demise of the feathered creature lead to a guilt ridden trip to vegetarianism (as well as a good night’s sleep).
Congratulations on the Degree. It sounds like you’ve worked hard for it.
Comment by Peter Mount — December 29th, 2006 @ 12:08 am
Nice one! I’m glad all the hard work paid off.
Comment by Tim Payne — December 31st, 2006 @ 6:16 pm
Well Done Rachel an encouragement to all us out here in non degree land!! Keep up the great work
Comment by Angela McDonald — January 13th, 2007 @ 10:15 am
Congratulations Rachel! A couple of us here have done OU degrees. So we know what dedication it takes, and know how pleased you must be.
Comment by Matt — January 17th, 2007 @ 11:44 am
Congratulations Rachel!! I know we studied together one of those years - i’ve taken a break so have yet to achieve mine. Well done you!
Comment by Mandy — January 24th, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Congratulations Rachel!
We studied together one of those years…i’ve taken a break so have yet to achieve mine. Very well done to you.
Comment by Mandy — January 24th, 2007 @ 10:44 am
Well done, I am just setting out on an open degree with ou, nice to see someone get there…
Comment by greg — March 7th, 2007 @ 12:52 pm
Congratulations. I am pretty sure you were on one of the same courses as me, and in the same tutor group. Could have been AA308 (Philosophy) in 2005. I remember thinking, hold on, I might just have read one of your techie books on CSS, as like yourself, I spend my days developing web software.
Good luck for the future in any case. I’m two months from finishing my BA Hons with the OU!
Comment by Tim Woods — August 4th, 2007 @ 12:15 am