Is it too late to start a university degree? And is there any point?

[PERLOU]

Davey72, pourriez vous me dire la différence entre STS et STO, je connais celle entre SDS (service de soi) et SDA (service des autres) ?... Merci d'avance pour votre réponse...
Merci pour le partage de votre expérience...

Davey72, could you tell me the difference between STS and STO, I know that between the SDS (self-service) and SDA (service to others)? ... Thanks in advance for your answer ...
Thank you for sharing your experience ...

 

[Pierre]

Davey72, pourriez vous me dire la différence entre STS et STO, je connais celle entre SDS (service de soi) et SDA (service des autres) ?... Merci d'avance pour votre réponse...
Merci pour le partage de votre expérience...

Davey72, could you tell me the difference between STS and STO, I know that between the SDS (self-service) and SDA (service to others)? ... Thanks in advance for your answer ...
Thank you for sharing your experience ...

STO = Service To Others = SDA = Service Des Autres
STS = Service To Self = SDS = Service De Soi

 

[davey72]

Thanks Pierre. I wasnt really sure of your question Perlou, as you seem to already have the definition. Have you read the wave yet? I believe it is in french. Here is the definition ala Casswiki.

http://www.thecasswiki.net/index.php?title=STO

 

[PERLOU]

Merci à tous les deux pour vos réponses, Goemon m'avait aussi donné sa réponse hier... https://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php?topic=1599.new;topicseen#new
Le lien est très instructif, je l'ai lu avec plaisir...

Thank you to both of you for your answers, Goemon also gave me his answer today ...
The link is very informative, I read with pleasure ...

 

[Ruth]

Keyhole, you might be one of those people - like myself; who has to go through an awful lot of 'crud' before they get any sense of direction or even any idea about what really 'suits' you, interests you, or what you really enjoy doing. And I'm saying this as someone who's in all probability twice your age!!

It took me absolutely forever to 'ditch' the programing and expectations of my family. You can imagine the extremely deep breaths they needed to take, in order to tell me ALL the things I 'should' be doing. There were a lot of them, and apparently I was expected to do exactly what I was told. It really annoyed me that they assumed that it wasn't up to me to make my own life decisions, and that having taken so long to find a direction, this made me a 'failure'! Bonkers, because it's not true! It is after all, the individual's life, not someone else's, however well intentioned these people are.

This may be a really bad example of some of the programing we are subject to by our significant others (in this case, my family). They were super keen for me to hurry up and 'do' something, preferably 'significant' and 'important', presumably so they could boast about it. I think it's important to realise what programing you have as an individual, that can inadvertently take you in directions that wont suit or help you.

If you have any ideas about what you want to do, there's a possibility that you could 'test the waters' by doing short courses or part time study in those directions. It can be a gradual process not an 'all or nothing' type of deal. It should be a journey of discovery into what really suits you. I have been surprised at the things I've done which have added to the job I now find myself in (nursing). Things I was interested in or dabbled in such as Reiki, massage, and yes, even a psychic course have added to my knowledge and perspective on human nature. I would still be happy in my job if it wasn't for the 'bitch' factor in nursing.

Yes, that probably means I need to be doing something completely different... and you guessed it, I have absolutely no idea in what direction to go! I guess they say learning is fun, huh?

 

[Keyhole]

So, I thought it would be best to network before making any big decisions about this.

I have successfully proven to myself that I simply cannot trust my whims. First psychology, then neuroscience, then carpentry, and now something completely unrelated. I have been searching over the past few weeks for some sort of professional training that would enable me to study something that I would enjoy and which would also earn me a sufficient wage to live on. I have found a specific course which focuses on two subjects in conjunction with one another : Nutritional therapy, and Naturopathy. After completing this 3 year course I would have the qualifications to become a certified nutritional therapist, and also a certified practitioner of Naturopathy. In total it will cost around £13,000 and is part time which means I can continue working while I study. I have booked a consultation with the course leader tomorrow to discuss the enrollment and payment options etc.

So at the moment, I plan to start the course and I am feeling really excited. What is going through my mind is :
1. I really enjoy learning about biology.
2. Many people have told me I should have studied nutrition in the past yet I have never really thought about it much.
3. I would be able to set up my own Paleo/Keto practice and attempt offer an adequate service to people who are in need of dietary advice.

So I'm kinda thinking, why not just go for it?

But then again, I am like a bouncy ball with no direction. One day I am on the path towards one thing, another day the next thing. I would have felt guilty for not networking about this tonight, as the interview is tomorrow and I am probably going to enroll on the course.

 

[lainey]

So, I thought it would be best to network before making any big decisions about this.

I have successfully proven to myself that I simply cannot trust my whims. First psychology, then neuroscience, then carpentry, and now something completely unrelated. I have been searching over the past few weeks for some sort of professional training that would enable me to study something that I would enjoy and which would also earn me a sufficient wage to live on. I have found a specific course which focuses on two subjects in conjunction with one another : Nutritional therapy, and Naturopathy. After completing this 3 year course I would have the qualifications to become a certified nutritional therapist, and also a certified practitioner of Naturopathy. In total it will cost around £13,000 and is part time which means I can continue working while I study. I have booked a consultation with the course leader tomorrow to discuss the enrollment and payment options etc.

So at the moment, I plan to start the course and I am feeling really excited. What is going through my mind is :
1. I really enjoy learning about biology.
2. Many people have told me I should have studied nutrition in the past yet I have never really thought about it much.
3. I would be able to set up my own Paleo/Keto practice and attempt offer an adequate service to people who are in need of dietary advice.

So I'm kinda thinking, why not just go for it?

But then again, I am like a bouncy ball with no direction. One day I am on the path towards one thing, another day the next thing. I would have felt guilty for not networking about this tonight, as the interview is tomorrow and I am probably going to enroll on the course.

Sounds like in the past you have been victim to the whims of system 1. Aren't we all? Our lives seem to meander from one thing to the next without us really knowing why we choose to do the things we do. Have you read Thinking Fast and Slow? I loved it, that and Strangers to Ourselves makes a good pair of books for understanding our compulsions and mechanical actions.

I thought about a nutritional therapy course myself and the only think that stopped me (apart from money) was wondering what kind of nutritional advice they would teach. What if the exam is all about being able to learn and understand what we see as the wrong angle to healthy eating? Perhaps I don't understand what the course entails fully but it makes me think of being lectured about 5 a day fruit and veg. Anatomy and physiology is part of my course and I'm reading this gigantic textbook about the human body. It's so interesting and you can see how the knowledge about for the ketogenic diet fits in. So you could always soak up the points you know are "true" and just pretend with the stuff you know is not. Remember strategic enclosure and don't try to get everyone on board with a keto diet!
Naturopathy sounds really interesting and right up my street. I think more knowledge in that area would be incredibly beneficial. If you feel like you would really get a lot from this course then I say go for it.

I have to sympathize with you because when I first started reading Laura's work I was convinced I would have to become an expert in every field and went through phases like you for different subjects that in reality I either couldn't get a handle on or I just found incredibly boring. I wanted to throw Marc Blochs The Historian's Craft out the window because I just couldn't read it but because Laura had recommended it I was like "I....must....understand...."

I don't really know what my point here is. I guess the feeling of needing an aim can cause us to make rash decisions in order to feel like we belong somewhere. We want to feel like we have a purpose and not knowing what that purpose is can be frustrating.
I would say give it a go and whether it turns out to be your calling or not won't matter so much as the accumulation of knowledge that you will get from it.
Good luck!

 

[patty2292]

So, I thought it would be best to network before making any big decisions about this.

I have successfully proven to myself that I simply cannot trust my whims. First psychology, then neuroscience, then carpentry, and now something completely unrelated. I have been searching over the past few weeks for some sort of professional training that would enable me to study something that I would enjoy and which would also earn me a sufficient wage to live on. I have found a specific course which focuses on two subjects in conjunction with one another : Nutritional therapy, and Naturopathy. After completing this 3 year course I would have the qualifications to become a certified nutritional therapist, and also a certified practitioner of Naturopathy. In total it will cost around £13,000 and is part time which means I can continue working while I study. I have booked a consultation with the course leader tomorrow to discuss the enrollment and payment options etc.

So at the moment, I plan to start the course and I am feeling really excited. What is going through my mind is :
1. I really enjoy learning about biology.
2. Many people have told me I should have studied nutrition in the past yet I have never really thought about it much.
3. I would be able to set up my own Paleo/Keto practice and attempt offer an adequate service to people who are in need of dietary advice.

So I'm kinda thinking, why not just go for it?

But then again, I am like a bouncy ball with no direction. One day I am on the path towards one thing, another day the next thing. I would have felt guilty for not networking about this tonight, as the interview is tomorrow and I am probably going to enroll on the course.

Sounds like in the past you have been victim to the whims of system 1. Aren't we all? Our lives seem to meander from one thing to the next without us really knowing why we choose to do the things we do. Have you read Thinking Fast and Slow? I loved it, that and Strangers to Ourselves makes a good pair of books for understanding our compulsions and mechanical actions.

I thought about a nutritional therapy course myself and the only think that stopped me (apart from money) was wondering what kind of nutritional advice they would teach. What if the exam is all about being able to learn and understand what we see as the wrong angle to healthy eating? Perhaps I don't understand what the course entails fully but it makes me think of being lectured about 5 a day fruit and veg. Anatomy and physiology is part of my course and I'm reading this gigantic textbook about the human body. It's so interesting and you can see how the knowledge about for the ketogenic diet fits in. So you could always soak up the points you know are "true" and just pretend with the stuff you know is not. Remember strategic enclosure and don't try to get everyone on board with a keto diet!
Naturopathy sounds really interesting and right up my street. I think more knowledge in that area would be incredibly beneficial. If you feel like you would really get a lot from this course then I say go for it.

I have to sympathize with you because when I first started reading Laura's work I was convinced I would have to become an expert in every field and went through phases like you for different subjects that in reality I either couldn't get a handle on or I just found incredibly boring. I wanted to throw Marc Blochs The Historian's Craft out the window because I just couldn't read it but because Laura had recommended it I was like "I....must....understand...."

I don't really know what my point here is. I guess the feeling of needing an aim can cause us to make rash decisions in order to feel like we belong somewhere. We want to feel like we have a purpose and not knowing what that purpose is can be frustrating.
I would say give it a go and whether it turns out to be your calling or not won't matter so much as the accumulation of knowledge that you will get from it.
Good luck!

I feel exactly what lainey has put. Sort of wanting to achieve something in a sense. Afew years ago i went in for Open University, and just scrapped the first year (this was before i was on the forum etc.). And recently i was going to do it again, got to the point where i had all the books delivered but cancelled it at the last minute because i just didnt know why i was doing it. I also think it was fear that got to me, what if i failed?

I love the idea of learning something new, reading and studying for some tests now that the pushed school/college is over and done with. But as lainey was pointing out, the subject would be hard to fit into this lifestyle. Diet and health would be a great subject, but the information taught wouldn't be inline with what we read ourselves.
It's a good idea Keyhole, as its not for the sake of it, its for a future goal; a career you enjoy. So i would really try to devise afew questions for the interview, really understand what will be taught and if it will give you what you want at the end of it. Other than that, i have no advice.

Open University is something i do want to do in the future, possibly when i have got more control over the machine for study and concentration, but again i think finding the right topic and it being something we can study and then apply to our lives is the best type of course.

 

[lainey]

So, I thought it would be best to network before making any big decisions about this.

I have successfully proven to myself that I simply cannot trust my whims. First psychology, then neuroscience, then carpentry, and now something completely unrelated. I have been searching over the past few weeks for some sort of professional training that would enable me to study something that I would enjoy and which would also earn me a sufficient wage to live on. I have found a specific course which focuses on two subjects in conjunction with one another : Nutritional therapy, and Naturopathy. After completing this 3 year course I would have the qualifications to become a certified nutritional therapist, and also a certified practitioner of Naturopathy. In total it will cost around £13,000 and is part time which means I can continue working while I study. I have booked a consultation with the course leader tomorrow to discuss the enrollment and payment options etc.

So at the moment, I plan to start the course and I am feeling really excited. What is going through my mind is :
1. I really enjoy learning about biology.
2. Many people have told me I should have studied nutrition in the past yet I have never really thought about it much.
3. I would be able to set up my own Paleo/Keto practice and attempt offer an adequate service to people who are in need of dietary advice.

So I'm kinda thinking, why not just go for it?

But then again, I am like a bouncy ball with no direction. One day I am on the path towards one thing, another day the next thing. I would have felt guilty for not networking about this tonight, as the interview is tomorrow and I am probably going to enroll on the course.

Sounds like in the past you have been victim to the whims of system 1. Aren't we all? Our lives seem to meander from one thing to the next without us really knowing why we choose to do the things we do. Have you read Thinking Fast and Slow? I loved it, that and Strangers to Ourselves makes a good pair of books for understanding our compulsions and mechanical actions.

I thought about a nutritional therapy course myself and the only think that stopped me (apart from money) was wondering what kind of nutritional advice they would teach. What if the exam is all about being able to learn and understand what we see as the wrong angle to healthy eating? Perhaps I don't understand what the course entails fully but it makes me think of being lectured about 5 a day fruit and veg. Anatomy and physiology is part of my course and I'm reading this gigantic textbook about the human body. It's so interesting and you can see how the knowledge about for the ketogenic diet fits in. So you could always soak up the points you know are "true" and just pretend with the stuff you know is not. Remember strategic enclosure and don't try to get everyone on board with a keto diet!
Naturopathy sounds really interesting and right up my street. I think more knowledge in that area would be incredibly beneficial. If you feel like you would really get a lot from this course then I say go for it.

I have to sympathize with you because when I first started reading Laura's work I was convinced I would have to become an expert in every field and went through phases like you for different subjects that in reality I either couldn't get a handle on or I just found incredibly boring. I wanted to throw Marc Blochs The Historian's Craft out the window because I just couldn't read it but because Laura had recommended it I was like "I....must....understand...."

I don't really know what my point here is. I guess the feeling of needing an aim can cause us to make rash decisions in order to feel like we belong somewhere. We want to feel like we have a purpose and not knowing what that purpose is can be frustrating.
I would say give it a go and whether it turns out to be your calling or not won't matter so much as the accumulation of knowledge that you will get from it.
Good luck!

I feel exactly what lainey has put. Sort of wanting to achieve something in a sense. Afew years ago i went in for Open University, and just scrapped the first year (this was before i was on the forum etc.). And recently i was going to do it again, got to the point where i had all the books delivered but cancelled it at the last minute because i just didnt know why i was doing it. I also think it was fear that got to me, what if i failed?

I love the idea of learning something new, reading and studying for some tests now that the pushed school/college is over and done with. But as lainey was pointing out, the subject would be hard to fit into this lifestyle. Diet and health would be a great subject, but the information taught wouldn't be inline with what we read ourselves.
It's a good idea Keyhole, as its not for the sake of it, its for a future goal; a career you enjoy. So i would really try to devise afew questions for the interview, really understand what will be taught and if it will give you what you want at the end of it. Other than that, i have no advice.

Open University is something i do want to do in the future, possibly when i have got more control over the machine for study and concentration, but again i think finding the right topic and it being something we can study and then apply to our lives is the best type of course.

FWIW Huxley you might like to try out a short course, even like a weekend starter or a weeks course just to see how you feel about something. I did a one day introductory shiatsu course and then went on to do a weeks seated shiatsu which is what prompted me to my current HNC in complimentary therapies. I tested the water and it was good! With the short course there is no obligation to put a year of your life on the line for something you maybe aren't sure about.

 

[patty2292]

FWIW Huxley you might like to try out a short course, even like a weekend starter or a weeks course just to see how you feel about something. I did a one day introductory shiatsu course and then went on to do a weeks seated shiatsu which is what prompted me to my current HNC in complimentary therapies. I tested the water and it was good! With the short course there is no obligation to put a year of your life on the line for something you maybe aren't sure about.

Wow, thank you lainey. Im looking into some now that are only over about 10 or so lessons for a relatively good price. You dont come out with anything fancy, but it's something that will increase knowledge and also provide some of that 'study and test' that i like the sound of :)!

 

[Chu]

When it comes to studying something, I think the best advice one could get is to look at what you want to do with it later, because what you will have to study is, usually, mostly garbage. You're going to have to put up with classes about how good fiber, whole cereals, etc. are. If you can do that because you see a better future and you still like it, then it's good. But it's a huge amount of money and a a big commitment for something that you're not too sure about. Biology is not the only thing in that syllabus I'm sure.

 

[truth seeker]

Something that may also be helpful is to speak with / interview people in the field you are looking to go into. Maybe find our what the challenges are that they face and what they enjoy about their chosen profession.

Sometimes people write about their experiences in blogs and websites which can give a more practical understanding of what happens after receiving a degree or certification. Along the lines of what Chu wrote, lso, find out what options a particular degree/certification allows you to do. Is it only what's listed on the paper, or can you branch out in other areas without too much trouble. In other words, how flexible is it? Hope that helps.

 

[Keyhole]

Sounds like in the past you have been victim to the whims of system 1. Aren't we all? Our lives seem to meander from one thing to the next without us really knowing why we choose to do the things we do. Have you read Thinking Fast and Slow?

No, that ones on the bookshelf but I haven't been drawn to it just yet. It is on my to-read list.

Open University is something i do want to do in the future, possibly when i have got more control over the machine for study and concentration, but again i think finding the right topic and it being something we can study and then apply to our lives is the best type of course.

What did you study? It might be worth doing what lainey recommended. Dip your feet in a few things and you will have a better idea whether you would like to commit to something like that. I understand how you feel though, I study a lot at home with the recommended reading/forum, but something in me still wants to study officially for a qualification.

I thought about a nutritional therapy course myself and the only think that stopped me (apart from money) was wondering what kind of nutritional advice they would teach. What if the exam is all about being able to learn and understand what we see as the wrong angle to healthy eating?

When it comes to studying something, I think the best advice one could get is to look at what you want to do with it later, because what you will have to study is, usually, mostly garbage. You're going to have to put up with classes about how good fiber, whole cereals, etc. are. If you can do that because you see a better future and you still like it, then it's good. But it's a huge amount of money and a a big commitment for something that you're not too sure about. Biology is not the only thing in that syllabus I'm sure.

Well, I checked out university nutrition and the whole syllabus looks like total nonsense. A lot of the content focuses on the agricultural industry and food regulatory systems etc. However, the course I would like to do is called "Naturopathic Nutrition" and from what it looks like, a lot of the material is based on biochemistry and natural supplementation etc. Although I do expect to have to learn about a lot of the mainstream BS about health as well, I have kind of accepted that in order to achieve most qualifications these days, you have to 'play ball' to some extent. Perhaps I would be able to implement alternative information into my work providing it was backed up with sufficient evidence, who knows... I will have to talk to her tomorrow.

Fwiw here is the syllabus which actually looks OK (the first year is pure biomedicine). What do guys you think?

Year 2 – The Building Blocks of Nutrition

Water, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients, antioxidants, superfoods (spirulina, algaes, wheat and barley grass, propolis, aloe vera, etc).

Foods

Fibre
Flowers
Bee and Flower pollen
Fruits
Grains
Vegetables (legumes, sprouts)
Seeds
Nuts
Dairy products
Seafood
Poultry and eggs
Meats
Beverages
Herbs
Teas and infusions
Spices

Types of Diets

Lacto-ovo
Vegetarian
Vegan
Macrobiotic
Raw foods
Atkins diet
Weight loss diets
Blood types
Low calorie diet
Food preparation
Cultural diets
Over/under eating
Acid/alkaline balance
Food combining
Zone diet

Environments

Chemicals
Food additives
Air
Water
Food processing and storage
Sweeteners
Flavourings
Colourings
Preservatives
Food irradiation
Electro pollution

Detoxification

Juicing
Bowel-liver-kidney cleanses
Parasite programmes
Gerson Therapy
Fasting
Enemas
Colonic irrigation
Exercises

Energetics

The Four Humours
Ayurveda
Traditional Chinese Medicine
The laws of cure
Suppression of diseases
Basic Naturopathy
Functional Medicine
Chinese principles

Year 3 – Nutritional Applications for Diseases

Diseases

Digestive and metabolic disorders
Muscular skeletal disorders
Cardiovascular diseases
Autoimmune and infectious diseases
Respiratory and urinary disorders
Skin diseases
Diseases of the senses
Mental and eating disorders
Female and male health problems
Diseases of babies and the elderly
Chronic disorders

Clinic

Case taking
Follow up
Nutritional assessments
Clinic Management
Public relations
Setting up a business

Diagnostics

Functional tests
Liver and parasite tests
Tests for allergies
Candida and yeast
Biochemical urine and saliva tests
Diagnosis of face, tongue, hair and nails

Something that may also be helpful is to speak with / interview people in the field you are looking to go into. Maybe find our what the challenges are that they face and what they enjoy about their chosen profession.

Sometimes people write about their experiences in blogs and websites which can give a more practical understanding of what happens after receiving a degree or certification. Along the lines of what Chu wrote, lso, find out what options a particular degree/certification allows you to do. Is it only what's listed on the paper, or can you branch out in other areas without too much trouble. In other words, how flexible is it? Hope that helps.

Thanks truth seeker, this is something I have already been doing. I think it's relatively flexible and there are a few options, although the most common from what I can see is a self employed nutritional therapist.

 

[luke wilson]

Good luck keyhole!

I admire your tenacity at trying different things out.

I don't particularly have much to say as it's a completely open future you are walking into and the outcome will depend on your efforts and know-how. For me ontop of considering the course content, I would consider the cost + how I will apply the knowledge gained from the course + if I can hang in there for the duration of the course before coming to a final decision. Ultimately though, I don't think anything is written in stone, and the outcome is dependant on yourself plus you ability to read your environment. When you add networking in there then you are pretty much locked and loaded. The biggest risk is the financial aspect as at £13,000 it's quite a steep price so I would analyse the impact of this on myself. Plus 3 years is a sizeable chunk of time investment so I would also consider this in the overall picture. In the end it's down to what you want and how this fits into that.

 

[obyvatel]

Keyhole, right now you are excited about the prospect of this course and it will look pretty good to you. This is common, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you wish to develop a wide variety of skill sets then going for this may be a good idea. Collect some real data regarding the chances of a self-employed nutritional therapist making enough money to support himself and/or others using only those skills.

An alternative approach to looking for an occupation is to leave aside "what I like" and look for "what does society value". The society, as we know, does not really value things which we would directly consider as good. So what we would consider good may not pay. Here it is possible to choose an approach where one does something that pays well i.e something that society values, while not taking up all one's time and energy. Then one can potentially work on something that one enjoys in one's free time instead of tying it to the need to support oneself. Not saying it is easy or ideal - but still something you may want to consider as a practical alternative. If you are the kind of person who just cannot do what you do not believe in - then it may not work. However, we never know what we can do if the situation warrants it - notwithstanding the ideas we have about ourselves.