Convocation 2021: Sue Bedford

I found myself reading a lot of psychology books for fun (!!!) and realized that I may as well make use of it. Furthermore, I believe that our internal world is far more significant than our external world—cliche as it may be, happiness truly comes from within. I am interested in ultimately helping people understand and therefore master their inner worlds, be it professionally or on a personal basis.

Financial support was provided by my parents (along with the government of Ontario!) while moral support was provided by my family, including my late aunt, and my friends. Meanwhile, technical support was provided by my roommate… a must when doing online university!

Earning a 94 in stats class after not having done math in 16 years and achieving mostly 50s in high school. Looks like I am good at math, after all!

The independent, self-directed learning style of AU made me feel as though I was pursuing a passion through discovery as opposed to being told what and how I should think. I would recommend AU to anyone who has ever struggled with the authoritarian element of “regular” school.

In February 2020, I sustained a concussion that impacted me on a physical, cognitive, and emotional level for several months. The flexibility of AU meant that I only had to drop one course, meaning I still maintained my grants and was able to graduate as expected.

I always felt guilty and self-conscious about not finishing university despite being fortunate enough to have the academic ability and financial support to do so. Not only has completing my degree at AU boosted my self-esteem and changed my view of myself, it has also increased my ability to pursue desired employment.

I will miss the opportunity to spend hours curled up under the blankets, reading about and then contemplating a subject that I am interested in. Of course, not every page was riveting, and there were certainly stressful moments when studying for exams, but certainly most of the time I was enjoying what I was doing. I completed a minor in Humanities, and I especially enjoyed my courses on ancient civilizations as I was able to read about places I had visited while backpacking in my twenties. It made me feel as though I understood not only the history of the world better but also how different sites around the world fit together.

…bright, exciting, and open!

You only get out of something what you put into it. It is not up to the world to impress you—it is up to you to discover what is interesting and amazing about what you are learning, and sometimes that search requires effort. As previously mentioned, not every moment of getting your degree will be wonderful, and there will be times when you would rather use your textbook to prop up wobbly table legs than study. However, the more you engage with what you’re doing through contemplation and attention and striving for your personal best, the more satisfaction you will get out of the experience, and that will carry you through the moments that are dull or irritating or anxiety-inducing. Don’t passively expect the information to entertain and enthrall you, because it won’t. It is up to you to be entertained and enthralled by actively crafting the experience into that which you desire to have.

My time at AU has allowed me to work my brain and re-invent myself in my early 30s, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to earn a university degree.