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Author
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Topic: Thinking about returning to college for my master's -- at age 43
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Richrod Smurf
Smurf
Member # 5003
Member Rated:
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posted 09-20-2013 08:16 PM
Aloha fellow BlueBuddies old and new... yesterday I visited the admissions office of Chapman University, my alma mater where I earned a bachelor's degree in communications almost 20 years ago, so inquire about coming back to pursue a master's degree in possibly Creative Writing or Production Design (for Film/TV). My legs were as stable as wet noodles and my stomach felt like somebody spiked Greedy or Baker Smurf's soup and it coming back to haunt me. My brain was telling me "What... am... I... DOING?!?"
But I did it. I am looking over the degree programs and will stay in touch with the admissions counselor assigned to me. I am also looking at the Creative Writing program at the University of Hawaii. When I opened up online and with my family about it, they were very supportive and told me to go for it.
I am 43 years old, unemployed, living with my parents and struggling to find any type of job. While my Smurf fan art and off-site graphic design work has been hailed as high quality, the field is ridiculously competitive and favors kids half my age. Is it really worth a possibly six-digit figure over two to three years (Chapman has generous financial aid, BTW) to reboot my career?
I know that this is a strictly off-topic forum, but I am reminded of the wisdom of Papa Smurf: "It's not who you are or where you've been, but what you choose to be," and "It's better to have smurfed and failed, than to never have smurfed and succeed." I'll let those sink in for a moment.
For the Creative Writing program at Chapman, I need to submit a portfolio of work for consideration. I'm a newbie to this whole fan fiction thing, but could such online stories be considered worth inserting into my portfolio if I feel it's high enough quality to be published by my professional peers? I would appreciate your smurfy input.
And for those so inclined, please keep me smurfed in your thoughts and prayers about this whole thing. It may be crazy, but it's often the people others consider crazy that make things happen.
Mahalo smurfy loa,
Rich Rodriguez (alias Richrod Smurf) ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
2 Cor 1:3-5
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Vexy is still my favorite Smurf. Tomboys need love, too. :)
Facebook: Newport Muse
On DeviantArt: newportmuse.deviantart.com
Posts: 338 | From: Honolulu, Hawaii | Registered: Sep 2013
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Richrod Smurf
Smurf
Member # 5003
Member Rated:
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posted 10-09-2013 07:10 PM
As of today I am looking at three schools for a master's degree in creative writing: Chapman University, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the University of California at Irvine. They all have strong programs, and both Hawaii and UCI offer tuition assistance or waivers through teaching assistant positions. This is getting really smurfy.
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Vexy is still my favorite Smurf. Tomboys need love, too. :)
Facebook: Newport Muse
On DeviantArt: newportmuse.deviantart.com
Posts: 338 | From: Honolulu, Hawaii | Registered: Sep 2013
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Smurfy1For2
Blue Believer
Member # 1224
Member Rated:
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posted 10-14-2013 04:45 AM
I agree go for it Richrod Smurf! You can do it!! ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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u wished u rocked as i
Posts: 1970 | From: Fairfield, VA | Registered: Nov 2005
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Amy Sue Smurfette
Nurturer Smurf / The Odd Smurf
Member # 4050
Member Rated:
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posted 10-14-2013 07:40 AM
more power to you! always live your dreams i say. ;-)
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we're all someone's little fangirl.
Posts: 903 | From: fah fah aweeey... | Registered: Oct 2011
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Richrod Smurf
Smurf
Member # 5003
Member Rated:
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posted 12-31-2013 12:43 PM
Yesterday I submitted an online application for admission to the University of Hawaii at Manoa as a graduate student to eventually pursue a master's degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. I don't meet all the necessary requirements for admission to the Creative Writing program, so I am applying as undeclared for now.
UH Manoa's graduate admissions office just sent me an email, and if I understand it correctly, pending receipt of official transcripts from my other schools, I've just been accepted!
I won't know officialy one way or the other until the office receives those manuscripts, but I'm as happy and excited as Vexy and Hackus immediately after their "smurformation"!
More to come... aloha! ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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Vexy is still my favorite Smurf. Tomboys need love, too. :)
Facebook: Newport Muse
On DeviantArt: newportmuse.deviantart.com
Posts: 338 | From: Honolulu, Hawaii | Registered: Sep 2013
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