Maybe it’s not too late for me to become smarter by earning some qualifications at the ripe old age of 69.
The other day, I read about someone who took 61 years to earn a history degree. I thought to myself, “Surely, I can get something accomplished in less time than that?”
The inspiration for me is tennis great Billie Jean King, who started a history degree at California State University in 1964. She left to become possibly the greatest female tennis player ever.
Billie Jean not only won everything worth winning, but she also was a trailblazer for gender and pay equality. In typical fashion, the 82-year-old went back and finished what she started.
It makes me want to achieve something meaningful in the next 13 years: something that qualifies me to do more. If I had a resume, it would list roles such as hotel manager, group hotel manager, CEO, sports administrator and project manager. But I have no formal qualifications for any of them. Sure, you may argue, I didn’t do a very good job on some or all of them but hey, someone gave me the job!
Maybe I could do law, like politicians? I have always been somewhat critical of them, so why not walk in their shoes? I ticked the politician box by at least trying to be one. Apparently second doesn’t make you the deputy mayor, but at least I tried.
Why would I pick law? While I do respect lawyers’ intelligence, many years ago a very smart and successful one mistook me for a journalist. So, that gives me some hope that I might be able to manage a degree.
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While I think I could do it, bear in mind I thought I could play football and that didn’t work out well. Would I really want to defend people in a court when I knew they were probably guilty?
As I write this, I have had an epiphany: why not get some qualifications in something that requires zero. Canberra is full of people who have no qualifications. The ones who do have them have no idea about the real world. I could study political science: past and present representatives, public policy and government systems. But I imagine that would make me depressed.
Maybe psychology would be better. I could just study myself. Perhaps I am better just staying an unqualified mushroom.
Ashley Robinson is Metropolitan Caloundra Surf Club CEO, chairman of Thunder Netball and a lifetime Sunshine Coast resident.
