Convocation 2020: Carmen Olsen, BA

I had to work full time and I wanted to be able to travel.

Staff and teachers at AU who were always helpful and truly interested in my learning.

My favorite memory involves having an exam invigilated while I was working overseas about 18 years ago now.

I was working in Thailand for five years as an ESL tutor (helping the computer teacher put his materials into English), and I had to go to Rajaphat University in Surat Thani to have one of my AU exams invigilated. They sat me in the middle of a gym all by myself with the invigilator at the far wall and student spectators, who wanted to watch me through the glass because they didn’t get many foreigners there then. Half way through my exam, a student quietly walks up to me carrying a silver tray with a pink orchid flower, a cup of tea and little Thai desserts because they thought I might be hungry. I felt like the Queen. 🙂

It will give me more options when changing jobs. But, I started my journey simply to learn not with any job goal in mind.

When the pandemic hit I was about two weeks away from writing my two final exams for my entire degree. It was very stressful thinking everything might be on hold for a very long time, but I was very impressed with how quickly AU staff jumped into action to help me reschedule into the ProctorU exam system; I was able to finish only a month later than planned.

My passion for learning is now transferred into learning the violin to the best level I can! I’ve just written a short story and entered it into a competition (my first ever!)….and I’ve started my first novel.

I started my journey 20 years ago when I took my first course. I’ve always worked full-time, I’ve changed jobs, moved countries, changed majors, divorced, remarried, seen loved ones die, developed new friendships all while studying with AU. Some courses I was very good in, others not so good and I struggled. But, AU gave me that ability to study and grow, and I can’t sing their praises enough.