As I progress in life, the old adage “if I’d only known then what I know now” comes to mind.

To those of us in professional life, what is the one thing that you wish you had learned at university that wasn’t offered?

To those of you who are still students, what is the one thing you wish was offered (but isn’t) that you think is necessary for your future professional life?

On the news it has been announced that two hospital fundraising foundations are asking the government to incorporate “implied access” to the pending personal health information legislation to enable the foundations to automatically access the names and addresses of patients for the purpose of soliciting money. They are suggesting that if a patient does not want to be on the mailing list they can make application to have their name removed from the mailing list [in the privacy world we call this an “opt-out option”].
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The point is…it’s not the studies and papers, lectures and seminars, deadlines and readings that prepare us for the Real World. It’s not the knowledge absorbed that allows us to function in the Real World. It’s the actual ‘doing’ that prepares us for the Real World. It is the act of organizing studies and writing well, the art of listening and contributing, differing and compromising, negotiating and standing ground, the skills of time management and prioritisation, and the love of life-long learning and never-ending absorption of knowledge. Yes, Academia does prepare us for the Real World…but in ways we never realize at the time.

After looking back over two careers in the Real World, and two segues into Academia, I am still optomistic. I actually have made a difference and have affected change (I think) for the good. And when Real World gets to me, I hide in Shakespearean sonnets!

Oh to be back in Academia! But alas, the Real World calls.

Way back (in the seventies) when I first graduated, I was going to change the world. Then the Real World hit me. Rent, student debt, food, life events, work obligations, and work realities all overtook my zeal for change. Living life became my priority…but I was young still, and optimistic! I must admit however that I was rather naive in my belief that Academia would prepare me for the Real World.
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