The Graduation Ceremony

Today I attended (even participated) in my graduation ceremony. It was held at Bridgwater Hall in Manchester. The most stressful part of the day was actually travelling there in the rush-hour, but in the end I was in the hall with 15 minutes to spare before we were supposed to be seated. It was only about 30 miles from where I live, but the journey took 2 1/4 hours!

It all went without fuss really, and I didn't get a great deal out of it to be honest, but it was nice that I could share the day with my wife, children (more young adults by now) and parents especially since my Dad has been unwell recently.

There were a bunch of honorary graduates in the program, although none of them were actually at the event that I saw. It was nice to see that David Braben was awarded for services to arts and sciences. He is of course famous for the computer game Elite on the old BBC micro from the 80's. This was one of the handful of computer games I ever owned or played (never did make Elite status though). Anyway, a bit of a computer super-hero if there is such a thing.

So I took my place in the queue along with a few hundred others and stepped up on stage to get my handshake and a tube containing something (later found to be a USB stick with OU links on it), and after a couple of hours it was all over.

Then we left my son in Manchester where he is currently studying at the University and the rest of us made our torturous way home in the car, stopping off for a pub lunch on the way.

So that's it. Now I feel I can draw a line under the whole thing. I will write one more blog post after I've had time to let today sink in, and then I will bring this blog to a close.

Degree certificate and graduation photographs

Yesterday my degree certificate arrived in the post. I wasn't actually expecting it, as I thought it would be presented to me at the graduation ceremony (next Friday the 10th October) but I guess they must just hand you a rolled up 'fake' at the ceremony.

So now I have the certificate in my grubby hands at last. All that work for one sheet of paper!

Last weekend the photographers held an advance session for the graduation photographs, so I took that opportunity to head over and get that over and done with. I must admit I felt (and probably looked) a real clown in the robe and silly hat. Not a comfortable experience for me at all.

This may be my penultimate post on this blog. I will probably write another entry after the degree ceremony, and possibly an epilogue summing up my experience over the four years, then I'll be done.

Degree offered (and accepted)

Today I was offered and accepted my degree. This is what it said on my student home page...

You have been awarded an Upper Second-class Honours (2.1)

I was never exactly sure what the title would be, but here it is...

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Computing & Information Technology and Mathematics

And I can use the following letters after my name...

BSc (Hons) CITS (Open)

All a bit of a mouthful but there you have it.

Ceremony, gown and photography is duly booked and will take place in October, after which I will write the final post in this blog and lay it to rest for evermore. No more education for me.

It's all over, finished, done, mission accomplished

Today I took a peek at my OU student homepage, and my exam results were up 8 days ahead of schedule. I was delighted with my results which was a grade 2 pass in both MT365 and M336.

I had been more than a little afraid that I might have flunked M336, but my score was actually better than that from MT365 (73% vs 71%). OK, I obviously just scraped a grade 2 in each, but that doesn't matter now. The result is what counts.

I'm feeling a bit numb currently, so I won't say any more for now. I might sink a couple of cold beers tonight to celebrate though.

My first OU-free day in almost 4 years

It's 6:30am, the sun is shining and I'm about to start the first day where I can go about my business without feeling guilty that I'm not doing something related to my studies, and right now that feels pretty good.

Since October 2010 there has not been one single day where I have not been in the middle of some module or other. This has been because in every year except 2014 I have had modules that ran both from October to June and February to October, so there has been no respite, even over the summer. Try selling that to a student at bricks-and-mortar university.

Sadly, I have to go to work, but hey-ho, you can't have it all good.

M336 Exam

It finally came around, the one I'd been looking forward to like a trip to the dentist.

Four years work all riding on one stinking three hour exam. I only need a pass, just 40% will do. If there is any justice in the world the OU will grant me that small mercy.

The paper wasn't too bad as they go, but whether I have done enough I can't say. I've struggled all year with M336, and I did my best. 'nuff said.

Six weeks hence I will know, but first I have some life to catch up on.

MT365 exam

One down and one to go.

Just got back home after sitting the MT365 exam. Part one was OK, but part 2 was quite different to recent past papers and not what I was prepared for. Naturally, I ran out of time too and only attempted 2 out of the required 3 part 2 questions.

I'm fairly confident I will have done enough to pass, but it will be 6 weeks before I find out for sure.

M336 tomorrow.