Almost finished

 Last night I had my last New Testament Greek class. It's not totally over yet - I've still my exam to sit in a couple of weeks time.
I've also completed "An Introduction to Pastoral Care". The final class for that was last week and I've now had all the all the marked coursework for this back and I've done quite well by the looks of things. It's a continuous assessment course, so there's no exam for it.

I've enjoyed taking the courses. Both parts of NT Greek have been a slog, though. Just when I thought I'd got it, the goal posts were shifted! I suppose that's what it's like for any new language. Mark's gospel last term really gave me an insight into that gospel which I hadn't before. There's mush more to it than I'd appreciated, especially as it is the shortest and simplest of the gospels.

I must admit, when Edinburgh told me their requirements of 40 credits, I was a little surprised. I could see their logic though. They have to look fair and open in their selection criteria. These days, it doesn't look good to university funding bodies and OSCR if the rule book's bent. I know I haven't really used my degree for quite a while and the job I was doing did not require or use a university education. Like they say, use it or lose it.

When I discovered there are ministry candidates at Edinburgh who didn't have to meet their 40 credits criteria, I was a wee bit resentful. That just seemed really unfair and I have a very ingrained sense of fairness. I'm not a stomp and shout person. If the rules are fair and open, I'll generally play by them. So, I have.

I've got over the resentment, though. Doing these courses has given me a gentle re-introduction to university study. I had been away from it for 11 years and, as I wasn't that studious first time round, I suppose I was concerned whether I would be able to do uni all over again.

From my marks last semester, it seems I may be good at this uni stuff after all. Okay, so the courses are only first year university level and I am a graduate. So what? The subject is totally different from anything I had studied before (I'm a scientist, of sorts). At least I haven't totally crashed and burned. That would have been disastrous, Okay, so I didn't need the 40 credits to get any uni place, but it would have been a real dent to my confidence knowing I had a uni place, but struggling to actually do the level of coursework which would be required of me.

Looks like I'm going to Edinburgh. Obviously the results need to be issued and confirmed. I hope I do get a good mark in both Greek and Pastoral Care. Just one of those will ensure my place at Edinburgh, as each course is 15 credits, taking the total to 45. It would a a same not to have the full 60 credits, given the time and effort I have put into completing these course.

Another advantage with having completed these courses is, as they are first year university level, I should be able to transfer the credits to Edinburgh. This will take the pressure off me to begin with (she says, hopefully).

Overall, I'm glad I've done the courses. They have prepared me for starting uni full-time and shown me I'm more capable than I sometimes think I am. I just hope I can keep up with the high standards I have set myself.

3 weeks in

It’s now almost 3 weeks since I started distance learning and I am rather enjoying it. I more or less mastered the Greek alphabet in the first week of classes, though doing as our tutor recommended and writing it out daily, combined with testing myself with flash cards Spot downloaded to my phone definitely helped.

My first essay for Mark has now been completed. The system at Aberdeen is the first two essays are formative and, as such, do not count towards the final mark; they are there to check we students have the right end of the stick. My problem wasn’t writing 500 words, but only writing 500 words.

Sometimes I get concerned whether or not I’ll be good enough for studentdom; I wasn’t that studious first time round and it has been 11 years. So, distance learning will certainty break me in. I’m also concerned I don’t get a high enough grading for these courses and Edinburgh uni won’t give me a place. I’m sure it won’t come to that, as I am putting a reasonable amount of effort into my studies (maybe too much). I suppose I’d be happier if I had a letter from Edinburgh Uni confirming my unconditional place for starting divinity next year. But, I’ll just have to be patient for that. It also helps to have applied...

I am doing some of my study during breaks at work. I see my colleagues looking at the various books I have on my desk (the bible, Elements of New Testament Greek and a commentary on Mark). None of them ask why I’m reading them. I haven’t told my colleagues why I've applied for voluntary severance (VS). There are some who'd be thrilled and supportive. Unfortunately, they are in the majority. I know anytime I said or did something they felt was inappropriate for "someone who's going to be a minister"I won't hear the end of it. Given I have been bullied for my faith in this office in the past, I don't want to give them ammunition. Besides, if they knew I was leaving anyway, why accept my VS application when I will be natural wastage soon enough.

As for study, I also need to remind myself it is also first year standard. I think I am still very much in fourth year mode. On Thursday I, along with the rest of Mark's gospel's class, will receive feedback from my essay. Once that comes back, I know I'll feel more comfortable as I will then know what is expected of me. Hopefully it's positive!

Back to study

A few weeks ago, I posted regarding Edinburgh uni's requirement for me to gain at least 40 university credits. This can be read here. Edinburgh has a centre for lifelong learning, where I could have studied the required number of credits, the timing of the courses were such that I just couldn't fit them in with work. So, I will be studying with Aberdeen uni's CLL. They have the option of allowing students to undertake distance study.

This term, I will be studying New Testament Greek and Mark's gospel. I hope they will be interesting...I'm sure they will be. I've been told Greek, once you learn the alphabet, is much like Latin, which I have studied and really enjoyed. Unfortunately, I have forgotten much of it as it is 18 years since I did study it!!! It's funny, when it was first suggested I could study Greek, I thought "but that's why we have translations". Then, in the middle of August I was chatting to an American friend and called her a clart. I then had to explain what it meant. Like many Scots words, it's not that easy to translate. At that point I had the revolution learning biblical Greek may not be that bad an idea.

Naturally, Mark's gospel is going to be interesting and useful for my future career. Somehow, me thinks, I might just use Mark's gospel on a fairly regular basis.

So, my classes start on Monday evening. I'm looking forward to it. It'll also give me a more gentle start to study than no study for 11 years then straight to uni full time. I also hope, having some credits already will take a little of the pressure off me at the start of uni full-time next year. Maybe not, but I can always hope!