29 replies to this topic

[City Girl]

As a young adult, I finished high school and went to university directly after to complete a 4 year BA specializing in Linguistics (University of Toronto 1984). When I had my SCI, I was 42 years old and had completed my education and had an established career at a college in curriculum development and testing methodologies for Health Science education. (Don't ask how I got from Linguistics to Health Science. Life definitely takes us on surprising journeys.)

This fall, I am returning to university part-time with the Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nutritional Science to complete 8 undergraduate courses and then move on to do a Masters degree. I am 46 years old now and probably won't finish my MSc until I am in my early 50s but nutrition has become a passion of mine. Although I currently work in Health Science education, I would like to specialize in nutrition and consult. My goal is to work less, make more money and do what I love. So I am going back to school. My decision to go back to school was inspired by my injury.

Hence, I am just wondering what others have done and whether they completed their studies before or after their SCI?

~ City Girl ~

[mcferguson]

Got my Masters of Science in Environmental Geology 5 years before my injury.

[mellowgator]

i graduated from college in 1983. i have a ba in finance from the university of south florida. i got my degree pre injury.




mellowgator

[goose]

i graduated from Auburn University in 1983 [i finished college in 3 years which was a stupid move by me] i set a goal to be the first one in my class to grad. stupid stupid stupid i reached my goal but it was a dumb one.
my degree was in org. management minor in marketing. my first job was regional manager of durable medical supplies. i really loved helping people find products that would enrich their lifes. i still like finding these things however they usually are for me.
my accident was 3 years later.

ps. let your kids take forever to graduate [best time of your life]

[mellowgator]

goose, on 01 May 2011 - 04:51 AM, said:

i graduated from Auburn University in 1983 [i finished college in 3 years which was a stupid move by me] i set a goal to be the first one in my class to grad. stupid stupid stupid i reached my goal but it was a dumb one.
my degree was in org. management minor in marketing. my first job was regional manager of durable medical supplies. i really loved helping people find products that would enrich their lifes. i still like finding these things however they usually are for me.
my accident was 3 years later.

ps. let your kids take forever to graduate [best time of your life]

amen to that. i also finished college early and would of loved to of stayed much longer.

[twentieth]

I did undergrad at LSU and earned a degree in Political Science (which I really enjoyed). I stayed on at LSU and earned a Law Degree and now practice Injury Law. I was injured in my second year of Law School (motorcycle and a fifth of vodka). I had a lot of trouble with my insurance company and got fed up and wheeled into the Deans office and asked him who are the lawyers who sue insurance companies? And he said trial lawyers. So that is what I am.

[samsara]

I have a BA in occupational therapy. I got my degree after my sci.

[The Black Sheep]

I finally finished a degree after bouncing around to 3 different colleges. I was 1 course short before having my associates for Computer Science. I hated it. It was just one class, but I HATED it. Transferred to a University for Game Design! Fun! Awesome! Every kid's dream... not very practical. One year later I transferred again to Westwood College and finished my 4-year BA for Game Art and Design, and I actually found employment. It was one of those "I'm young and can afford to be stupid" decisions where I just wanted to go do something fun, probably unrealistic, and completely love it. I'm programming-retarded and when I was in community college, I just couldn't stand thinking that I was going to be stuck with something I hated so much. I'd rather fail at something I loved than work as a programmer.

After injury. On campus for 2 years and then took mostly online courses.

[Wheelsonfire]

Yes,paperwork is very important,for without it we wouldn't know our capabilities.
And since we are seeing who can pee the highest.

I bought a thermometer and it has loads of degrees

[Smileyblue]

We all graduated with honours from the school of hard knocks!

[The Black Sheep]

Wheelsonfire, on 06 May 2011 - 11:39 AM, said:

Yes,paperwork is very important,for without it we wouldn't know our capabilities.
And since we are seeing who can pee the highest.

I bought a thermometer and it has loads of degrees

I didn't think this was a peeing contest. It's not like I can just go out and apply for a manufacturing job or something physically constructive. A degree was really the only chance I had of working, but maybe I should have just planned for a future in check-collecting.

I totally went into school thinking "Wow, I'm going to earn the right to be an asshole to everyone after this." (sarcasm)

Edited by The Black Sheep, 06 May 2011 - 06:48 PM.

[Maltese Cat]

The Black Sheep, on 06 May 2011 - 06:47 PM, said:

It's not like I can just go out and apply for a manufacturing job or something physically constructive. A degree was really the only chance I had of working, but maybe I should have just planned for a future in check-collecting.

I have a BA (which according to weird tradition at my university,has somehow 'transformed' into an MA after a few years with no actual extra work!) and a veterinary degree. I am AB. But i have a question for all of you regarding equal opportunities etc.
One of my friends who qualified the same year as me works for a vet practice that has recently taken on a new grad. all very normal. however, after a couple of weeks of working with the new grad making some shocking errors of muddling meds and not seeming to have any idea what she was doing, it emerged that she was really severely dyslexic and unable to read the labels on the medicine bottles. All through university she had had extra time in exams, and mentors with her permanently helping her with reading etc. However, she was under no obligation to tell her boss this at interview, and so able to make serious mistakes which would have led to the death of animals under her care if they had not been spotted just in time by some super vigilant nurses.
Her boss is now angry with the university, asking why they even admitted her onto the course if her disability was such that it would affect her working as a vet to this degree.
What are your views on this kind of thing? i feel equal opportunites are really important, but sometimes think people get carried away (think that character in come fly with me whose job is to get poeple in wheelchairs to their plane, but sh'e s in a wheelchair herself, so has to have someone push her, while she pushes the person in front..... - a comedy sketch show for thoseof you accross the pond, or not familiar with david walliams and matt lucas!)

what do you guys think??

i've just realised this is a total thread hijack - really sorry.

[The Black Sheep]

Maltese Cat, on 06 May 2011 - 07:25 PM, said:

The Black Sheep, on 06 May 2011 - 06:47 PM, said:

It's not like I can just go out and apply for a manufacturing job or something physically constructive. A degree was really the only chance I had of working, but maybe I should have just planned for a future in check-collecting.

I have a BA (which according to weird tradition at my university,has somehow 'transformed' into an MA after a few years with no actual extra work!) and a veterinary degree. I am AB. But i have a question for all of you regarding equal opportunities etc.
One of my friends who qualified the same year as me works for a vet practice that has recently taken on a new grad. all very normal. however, after a couple of weeks of working with the new grad making some shocking errors of muddling meds and not seeming to have any idea what she was doing, it emerged that she was really severely dyslexic and unable to read the labels on the medicine bottles. All through university she had had extra time in exams, and mentors with her permanently helping her with reading etc. However, she was under no obligation to tell her boss this at interview, and so able to make serious mistakes which would have led to the death of animals under her care if they had not been spotted just in time by some super vigilant nurses.
Her boss is now angry with the university, asking why they even admitted her onto the course if her disability was such that it would affect her working as a vet to this degree.
What are your views on this kind of thing? i feel equal opportunites are really important, but sometimes think people get carried away (think that character in come fly with me whose job is to get poeple in wheelchairs to their plane, but sh'e s in a wheelchair herself, so has to have someone push her, while she pushes the person in front..... - a comedy sketch show for thoseof you accross the pond, or not familiar with david walliams and matt lucas!)

what do you guys think??

i've just realised this is a total thread hijack - really sorry.

My opinion might actually not fit in with some of the disabled community. I think that if you can't do your job, you can't do your job. Period. Other people and property gets hurt when someone that is unqualified does something they have a difficult time doing. I wouldn't expect to get a job in construction and I chose my education based on something I actually could do well with my abilities. Or lack there of. I understand there are some little inconveniences that can be easily accommodated for, like making a bathroom handicap accessible or a ramp into a doorway. But if a woman can't read, she really shouldn't be writing prescriptions. The circumstances are different with everyone's disability, but if there's the probability of someone getting injured because a worker isn't physically able to, it shouldn't be allowed for someone to throw in the handicap card, or the race card, or the sex card, etc.

[Tetracyclone]

Maltese Cat, honestly, this is a no-brainer where rules and regulations push the whole situation through the looking glass. Your friend had every right to be furious with the university.

[Wheelsonfire]

I do apologise, people, it has been brought to my attention that my humour is very hard to grasp and I did not wish to demean the efforts that ye put into educating yourselves, I hope it doesn’t take ye too long more and wish ye the best results possible.

Again, very sorry if anyone was offended due to me having the craic as no ill will were meant, I thought ye would have had the grey matter to understand my humour and not the goldfish mentality as I have been here for sometime.

I hope ye accept my sincere apology.

[The Black Sheep]

Wheelsonfire, on 08 May 2011 - 01:49 AM, said:

I do apologise, people, it has been brought to my attention that my humour is very hard to grasp and I did not wish to demean the efforts that ye put into educating yourselves, I hope it doesn’t take ye too long more and wish ye the best results possible.

Again, very sorry if anyone was offended due to me having the craic as no ill will were meant, I thought ye would have had the grey matter to understand my humour and not the goldfish mentality as I have been here for sometime.

I hope ye accept my sincere apology.

Accepted, and sorry as well. I get a little crabby when someone picks on someone's else education or lack of it, and I thought you were mocking, not joking. =) I guess the thing for me is I tried really hard to do something that would make a decent career, rather than jump on the DSS wagon, and it's like rubbing a sore spot with a Brillo pad when someone goes "Oh, look at the smarty pants." Bah! It's probably best to ignore me for a day or two until my grouchy faze passes. My brain is super touchy when I have PMS.

Edited by The Black Sheep, 08 May 2011 - 03:07 AM.

[Chel]

I am a few classes away from my BA; I want to finish online when I get the pain under control. I also have a degree in Home Health Care and have done some Business Administration work. I have a gift with fixing technicial stuff like computers, printers ect.

[Wheelsonfire]

The Black Sheep, on 08 May 2011 - 02:41 AM, said:

rather than jump on the DSS wagon,

I don't do the social welfare thingy either

Quote

and it's like rubbing a sore spot with a Brillo pad when someone goes "Oh, look at the smarty pants."

Um, I didn't say ye were one of them either......










sorry sorry sorry sorry

Edited by Wheelsonfire, 08 May 2011 - 09:27 PM.

[Eric T]

NZ School Certificate, 5th Form (year 11) 1955. Trade Certificate (panel beating)1960. Various draughting certificates since 1965.

[dom]

Wheelsonfire, on 08 May 2011 - 09:26 PM, said:

The Black Sheep, on 08 May 2011 - 02:41 AM, said:

rather than jump on the DSS wagon,

I don't do the social welfare thingy either

Quote

and it's like rubbing a sore spot with a Brillo pad when someone goes "Oh, look at the smarty pants."

Um, I didn't say ye were one of them either......






I get your meanings between the words WOF it's a true statement grey matter and paperwork don't always correlate



sorry sorry sorry sorry

[Wheelsonfire]

Ehem, why, I don't know what you mean, Dom.
Surely you didn't read too much into my comments.


Oh my, I wonder if the peeps with the degrees thought I was taking the mick out of them for being sooooooo clever.
Then again, reading between the lines can be sooooo difficult for some(which means they see things that may or may not be there)

Now where's my Sarcasm for Dummies book....

[KayDub]

Pre getting sick I went to Brown University in Providence, was an urban studies major on a track scholarship. I had my first round of nerve damage and surgeries that came from degenerative foot cartilage. Tried to stick it out but ended up coming home after two years for my first lumber nerve surgery. From there I finished my bachelor's at University of Colorado at Boulder in history and geography/hydrology. I was on and off crutches then but always considered myself AB.

Now post illness I'm working on an environmental law degree at University of Denver. I also got into the masters of Urban Planning program at the University of Colorado at Denver that I might go into after law school (if it doesn't burn me out too bad!)

So far school has been the same as an AB or in my chair, not sure if that will change.

[coffeecups]

BS in mathematics with a degree to teach. This was pre injury. . I taught for 5 years and right now homeschool my kiddos. I hope someday to go back In the classroom. I've thought about going back for a masters in education or mathematics.

[dreamerr]

Taught Physical Education before this happened for 22 years. This was just a "little" change in my life ugh.

[gimpguy]

BS in Business Management and Administration, Kelly School of Business, Indiana University. Go Hoosiers!

[snaggs10]

Sarah graduated Columbia University college of dental medicine She did it post-injury. I have a degree in civil engineering from the Universityof New Hampshire.

[bantughost]

Injured playing rugby halfway through my third year of uni. Went back 2 years post injury and completed my BSc in Production Management. I'm yet to really put it to good use ... A decade later.

[steelchariot]

Seems most people got their degrees pre-injury. Probably no coincidence, I went to a community college after my injury and after two years of courses I was so ready to be finished. It wasn't that the work was hard but the frustration of not being able to handle my own books and papers or being able to take notes for myself was just… well, frustrating. Classrooms were not always accessible and sometimes my cathing schedule didn't always want to coincide with class times. That's said, I'm glad I stuck it out and got an engineering degree and I think it'd be a good experience for anyone with a SCI to go back to school if you can afford it or get financial aid.

[The Black Sheep]

 steelchariot, on 29 April 2012 - 05:08 PM, said:

Seems most people got their degrees pre-injury. Probably no coincidence, I went to a community college after my injury and after two years of courses I was so ready to be finished. It wasn't that the work was hard but the frustration of not being able to handle my own books and papers or being able to take notes for myself was just… well, frustrating. Classrooms were not always accessible and sometimes my cathing schedule didn't always want to coincide with class times. That's said, I'm glad I stuck it out and got an engineering degree and I think it'd be a good experience for anyone with a SCI to go back to school if you can afford it or get financial aid.

I was in community college for 2 years after injury and your experience sounds just like mine. We have some pretty narly winters here in NY and I just loathed the thought of hauling crap back and forth. After getting my associates I switched majors and finished my BA online. Those were the best 4 years of my life, I think. I know online schools get bashed pretty bad, but I got WAY more out of it than community college. And I could still work full time without working school around my schedule.

[Chococat]

Got ill in second year of law degree at uni, took a year to recover practically fully (or so i thought), went back finished the degree...just in time before the real permanent neuro symptoms kicked in.