 The other evening I
received a call from the UCSD Alumni Association. The caller confirmed
the basics: Let’s see, you graduated
in 1985 from Muir college with a degree in Psychology ... He asked
if I had received a copy of the new Alumni Publication this year?
Yes, I told him, in fact I thought it was a great magazine ...
and about time, too. Then he asked me the big question: Are you
currently working in your field? I think that’s how he worded
it. And to be honest, I almost laughed. I am not a practicing psychologist,
psychiatrist, counselor or social worker. I don’t do psychology
research. “No, not really,” I told him. “I’m
a freelance writer.”
Days went by and this question echoed in my mind. Are you using
your degree? Maybe that’s actually what he asked. Now, that’s
a slightly different question, and other answers began to form.
Everyday I negotiate, motivate, and promote teamwork—in my
work and at home. I know how to phrase questions to encourage someone
to offer more valuable information. Those are definitely skills
I attribute to the focus of my degree. But I’ve had so many
detours along the way, it seems I’ve forgotten how much my
college experience has contributed to who I am. One
reason I chose Muir College was that the curriculum required
developing a broad base of knowledge. Like other Muir students,
I was able to explore a wide range
of courses before deciding on my major, including computer science,
music and writing. And even though I’m not actually working
in my field, I rely on knowledge about those subjects in the work
I do everyday. Weeks passed and the big question would not leave me alone. How
did he say it again, exactly? Are you using your experience at
UCSD? If he’d phrased it that way, I may have had more to
say. Classes for my major presented theories and case histories
about human behavior and child development; others focused on how
to dig up almost any kind of information I needed. I learned the
importance of being critical of information until I’d found
agreement from other sources. My freelance work relies on all these
skills, whether I’m writing about the challenges of parenting,
or doing research for an education or health article.
What about my experience living in the dorms? I considered how
much of that has influenced my life. Living in such close quarters,
I was forced to learn some basic social skills, like the balance
between when to voice a complaint, and when to be tolerant. And
being a House Advisor for ‘H’ House during my Jr. year
forced me to learn to balance school and work. Although it required
patience, being part of the Muir community always meant there was
someone around to join for a study-break, dinner, or a game of
frisbee out on the quad.
The other day my neighbor knocked on the door,
and asked to borrow his spare key. My family keeps a basket of
keys — left from
when we’ve fed our neighbors’ animals
or watched their houses during vacation, and over the years our
friends have asked us to keep their spare keys for emergencies.
As I handed my neighbor his key, I realized I’ve somehow
become the ‘HA on duty’ again, only not for ‘H’ House
anymore. I live on ‘H’ Street now—no kidding.
So if I had that phone call again, I’d
have a lot more to say this time. Or maybe, now that I’ve
mulled it over, I could just sum it up: Getting my degree from
UCSD was a great experience.
I’ve always done better when I’ve got time to think
carefully about my answers (that phone call was almost a month
ago!). Maybe that’s why I write ...
Robin Pratt is a freelance writer. She lives in Salt Lake
City. |
