Hey hi hello - Adam here.
This newsletter is my 100th newsletter since starting The Freelance Graduate Student!
Wild.
As a result, I am feeling nostalgic. Getting back to the original purpose of why I started this newsletter in the first place.
This was and still is the reason on why I write this newsletter week after week.
The quote that inspired this idea?
From the book: āReinventing Knowledge: From Alexandria to the Internetāā¦
The only way up and out was to publish. Unlike the lecturer's reputation as a teacher, which spread off campus only in the most exceptional cases, printed scholarship acted as a calling card for the professional intellectual." (bolded by me).
The only way for āintellectualsā to survive financially, mentally and spiritually was for them to release their written work beyond the confines of academia to the public.
No longer were these āstudentsā keeping it confined to merely āgated researchā but instead they transitioned their work to face more as an independent publication to share their best ideas. To share the things that really make them tick!
I am still convinced this is the case today for many students (both former and present) feeling entrapped in the situation that they are unable to share their best ideas.. while being in a university system, let alone once they graduate.
The only way out is to publish
The overburdening student debt crisis, adjacent with the rise of overpriced courses filled with classes from the ivory tower, are leading some of us to doubt traditional academia.
Increasingly, we find an over-educated mass unable to find a job upon graduation from these academic institutions.
With the onslaught of COVID, forcing everyone to stay at home and learn remotely, we cumulatively learned a valuable lesson: That online education can be very misguided.. and really not all that good. However, with enough self-direction and discipline it can be revolutionary, just away from the traditional means aka in a classroom setting.
This led me to the initial belief that an: online, self-driven education can be a legitimate option for furthering oneself as long as one is passionate about the material.
How does one integrate what they have learned independently make connections across different areas of thought?
How do you verify that you have learned anything?
Are there still more credentials required for what it is you are attempting to do?
Just as it was in the attempt to break out of the confines of being solely an academic.. writing in some obscure research journal..
You publish the things that genuinely interest you and you do so using the available mediums best for distribution at the time.
In this state of technological history, the tool I have chosen for distribution of my music, exciting ideas, as well as overarching passion in psychology is the internet via this newsletter (for anyone and everyone to see) if theyād like.
Trained muscle of publishing online
Did I ever share my progression of thought outside of the ivory tower while acting as a university student?
Did I ever go to the internet for feedback for the progression of my ideas?
No. I didnāt.
Why didnāt I?
I was unaware of the internet as a medium to share the ideas in which I was most passionate about. And more than anything I wasnāt comfortable doing so.
The ability to publish is a muscle you have to train! Thatās one thing I am incredibly proud of, the confidence I have now in sharing just about any idea or song, (whether in a seed-like form) or in a full-on blossom.
Researching with open arms
In the past 100 newsletters - I have fully bought into the mantra of Learning in Public.
A big part of this transition has resulted into what I call IRL EXPOSURE THERAPY. Bringing the things that Iāve been so passionate about online and printing them out into my everyday reality.
Sharing my music in-person, sharing the online persona Iāve created in BARTYDARTY. Teaching the ideas of the self-care routine, sharing what I deem to be my HEALTH INSURANCE (and still remains so to this day).
Now discussing with ChatGPT the potentialities I can uncover with my converging interestsā¦ of psychology, music and self-education.
Sharing the latest Ten Book Challenge, where I share the next 10 reads I have planned, itās been interesting to see how much more specialized my intent has been with what I read. (Iāll publish my 3rd Challenge next week, these will be all psychology-focused. Hereās my most recent one if you are curious.)
I have really gotten so incredibly intrigued by the study of the soul.. which is the essence of Psychology, and what really makes humans tick.
BACK TO SCHOOL?
Here is where Iāll stake my increasing interest in going back to school. This time not only as a teacher, but instead as a graduate student.
Fun fact: to become a licensed therapist, this requires a masters degree. Iāve learned the hard truth that to truly apply my psychological learning in the way Iād like to requires more schooling.
At first this upset me, but I am now coming to terms with it, especially as it relates to the lifelong goals I have before me.
I am even considering applying for a PhD programā¦ in some form of Psychology, whether of the clinical variety (clinical science/clinical psychology), or even more broadly educational psychology.
The thing thatās significant about earning a PhD, is that this enables you to fulfill the educational requirement of becoming a university professor. While also building up my own independent therapeutic practice, which as Iāve said before is possible with the credential of a masters degree.
So do you think becoming a university professor, therapist, musician... all at the same time is possible? I genuinely believe so. These will all come at different times and zooming out and having the hindsight to recognize it may take a long time to come to fruition is something I need to find comfort in.
How many professor/therapist/musicians are out there?
How can I help people find the thing that lights them up within, which can overall improve their lives?
Parting Notes
I dare you to start a newsletter. Who knows it may even end up convincing you to apply to for a PhD Program.
This newsletter is a weekly stepping stone for my attempt of building connections, extensive learning and exploring what is possible with a self-education.
Letās strive for PhD level educations (self-proclaimed or facilitated by a university) which Iāll be doing regardless with my pursuit of reading 1,000 books ā¦ while sharing this research publicly.
When I reach my 1,000 books read (Journey to 1,000), I guarantee you itāll be the most proud moment of my life in terms of an education.
The self-proclaimed āPhD of Lifelong Learningā is what Iāll call it.
Iāll print out a plaque for the self-proclaimed diploma and everything, why wouldnāt I frame it?
(Perhaps itās time to frame my bachelorās degree in Psychology while Iām thinking about it.)
Letās end this newsletter by remembering that an education has always been about connecting individuals, and not hoarding information to ourselves.
I cannot wait to see where the next 100 newsletters lead me. Thanks for being a part of this journey with me.
As always.
Cheers to lifelong learning,
Congrats on the 100! Iām glad to see the wide spectrum of insights youāve gained since starting š
100!!