As a middle-aged man, the thought of going back to University for a year seemed near impossible. I'd be surrounded by thousands of "children" in their teens and 20s, all looking at me thinking "what the hell is this old guy doing here?"
But the opportunity was just too good to resist.
Artificial Intelligence was being called the greatest seismic change to hit humanity since the industrial revolution 350 years ago. I know there is a lot of hype, but if true, that means it's bigger than the bicycle, motor car, international plane travel, shipping containers, the microcomputer, quantum physics and even the Internet itself.
As a software developer, I either had to update or get left behind. And besides, in the industrial revolution, it was the mill owners and engineers that came out alright.
So with just two weeks before the start of the new term, I took the chance and made my application - and the Uni green lit me all the way. From accepting my qualifications and giving me a place, to offering me a discount & sorting out the finance, it was all very rushed, very last minute.
It was so last minute, nothing was ready for the University "welcome week".
I decided to go in on the Thursday and see how far I could get, using my old Taurean strategy of "head down and CHARGE!" It took me a while to sort out the payment for the course, but then I went back to the University's office, climbed the steps up to level 2 and was polite to the youngling students acting as gate keepers.
I sat down at the desk, the lady checked her records, went to the back of the room, thumbed through her box and pulled out my ID card that said I was a post-graduate member of the University.
I had done it.
I was officially "IN".
Like any precious object that is new to me, I was terrified of losing it.
So I put it in my pocket and throughout the day I was brushing my hand on my leg to feel it was still there.
This card helped alleviate at least 50% of my imposter syndrome.
What I learned from this Star Event, was that sometimes things seem really out of reach and scary. But when the will and volition is strong enough, all that doubt washes away. It's amazing how much further in life you can get, simply by trying. I'd posit that more locked doors are in your own heart & head, than in the real world itself.
But the opportunity was just too good to resist.
Artificial Intelligence was being called the greatest seismic change to hit humanity since the industrial revolution 350 years ago. I know there is a lot of hype, but if true, that means it's bigger than the bicycle, motor car, international plane travel, shipping containers, the microcomputer, quantum physics and even the Internet itself.
As a software developer, I either had to update or get left behind. And besides, in the industrial revolution, it was the mill owners and engineers that came out alright.
So with just two weeks before the start of the new term, I took the chance and made my application - and the Uni green lit me all the way. From accepting my qualifications and giving me a place, to offering me a discount & sorting out the finance, it was all very rushed, very last minute.
It was so last minute, nothing was ready for the University "welcome week".
I decided to go in on the Thursday and see how far I could get, using my old Taurean strategy of "head down and CHARGE!" It took me a while to sort out the payment for the course, but then I went back to the University's office, climbed the steps up to level 2 and was polite to the youngling students acting as gate keepers.
I sat down at the desk, the lady checked her records, went to the back of the room, thumbed through her box and pulled out my ID card that said I was a post-graduate member of the University.
I had done it.
I was officially "IN".
Like any precious object that is new to me, I was terrified of losing it.
So I put it in my pocket and throughout the day I was brushing my hand on my leg to feel it was still there.
This card helped alleviate at least 50% of my imposter syndrome.
What I learned from this Star Event, was that sometimes things seem really out of reach and scary. But when the will and volition is strong enough, all that doubt washes away. It's amazing how much further in life you can get, simply by trying. I'd posit that more locked doors are in your own heart & head, than in the real world itself.
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