Well I've only gone and done it. Accepted onto the Counselling Psychology Doctorate course at University - something I thought was never going to happen.
Perhaps a little background would help?
I left school at the ripe old age of 16 with 4 glistening Scottish O Grades under my belt (English, Maths, Arithmetic and Biology if anyone is interested!) before embarking on a Youth Training Scheme job with the local council as a 'clerical trainee'. After a year of filing and typing I duly reported back to the Careers Office to be offered another YTS course as a bricklayer!
It was at that point I realised that YTS was nothing more than Government jiggery pokery to manipulate the unemployment figures so I 'politely declined' the offer to continue earning £26 a week (average wage at that time was £168 a week) and set about searching for employment as an office junior or some-such. How naive I was, I mean who wouldn't want to employ a spotty teenager with no qualifications and a tendency to phone in sick at least once a week?
So after two months on the dole I joined the Army. I know, clearly that was the logical step - it seemed to make sense at the time.
But the discipline was what I needed, oh it was a shock to the system, but after surviving basic training (early morning PT, inspections, more PT, drill, ranges, more PT and remedial inspections) I was posted to Germany and set off on an Army career.
You're wondering now how the hell this leads into studying to be a Chartered Psychologist aren't you? Well, I had always regretted not doing better at school. I was actually quite studious during my early years at school - straight 'A's all through primary and for the first two years at high school. Then, when I was 14, in the midst of my pubertal angst, my Mother re-married. I didn't particularly like my new step-father, or my new step-brother, with the result that home-life was turbulent, emotional and certainly not conducive to studying or homework. I'm thinking that people can probably see why my decision to join the Army and get away from that environment seemed like a logical step now.
Then one day, while sitting in an Army camp in the Midlands of England, someone told me about the Open University. "I'll give that a go" says I, and 6 years later after lots of stress, tears and cramming I graduated with a BSc(Hons) in Psychology. One year later I left the Army after 27 years of service and set out with my shiny diploma to put the world to rights.
I did say I was naive didn't I? Hundreds, if not thousands of clean faced, 20-something psychology graduates with years of voluntary work all competing for the same finite number of posts and me, 45 years old, ex-squaddie who could march in a straight line and follow orders. Ironic isn't it? I had spent almost 3 decades of my life seeing the worst shitholes in the world and the worst people that humanity had to offer and was surprised that no-one was queuing up to beg me to work for them. I could have papered my house with rejection letters.
Then I got invited to an interview! That was the break I needed, I was offered a 4 month contract working in an NHS Psychology department and was over the moon. I could start gaining the experience I needed to compete with those bloody youngsters! I got stuck in, listened, learned and obviously did something right because that 4 month contract ended up lasting for 15 months.
15 months of experience under my belt I optimistically applied for every Assistant Psychologist post under the sun but those damned thrusting young 'uns kept pipping me to the post. I applied for the Doctorate Course at the same time but that just resulted in another rejection letter to add to my collection. Disillusioned, downhearted and despondent I accepted a post with the Army Reserve and tried to forget about any aspirations to a career in Psychology.
4 months into my 3 year contract with the Army Reserve I receive a letter offering me a place on the next Counselling Psychology Doctorate course! I had half-heartedly applied again before taking up my new employment but seriously did not think it would ever come to fruition. I duly handed in my notice and walked away from £45k a year to become a penniless post-graduate student.
And here I am, one month into the course and loving every minute of it. Sure money is a bit tight but you can't put a value on satisfaction. I'm struggling a bit with the academic side of it but the tutors are excellent and I'm looking forward to taking up a placement with real clients soon.
3 years to push, that sounds like a lot but this has been 30 years in the making and I just need to muster up the energy, motivation and drive to get through this last uphill battle. Wish me luck!
