BA Blogs - Christy Mitchinson
Christy Mitchinson is a cancer research tissue technician and freelance writer originally from Chesapeake, Virginia who has lived in the UK for nearly seven years. She is studying English literature and creative writing with the Open University and working on her first novel, writing as Christy Kate McKenzie. Christy can be contacted through her blog (www.christkatemckenzie.blogspot.com) or website (www.christykatemckenzie.com).
I’ve heard it said that anyone can be a writer; all they have to do is write. If that’s the case, then I’ve been a writer ever since I could write. My mother insists that I started making up stories as a toddler and that as soon as I could master a pencil I started writing them down. The desire to write was always in me, but it was something of a guilty pleasure. I never took it too seriously; I never even let anyone read my work.
That changed in high school, when my English teacher took an interest in my writing. He had read the pieces I wrote for assignments and he urged me to enter the Young Authors of America contest where I won first place both for my grade and for my city. That contest changed the way I looked at writing and gave me confidence to tell my parents that I wanted to become a writer.
I knew writing was a difficult vocation, but I planned to teach high school during the day and devote my spare time to crafting the ‘great American novel’. My father’s reaction when I proudly told him of my intentions will stay with me forever.
‘You’ll never make a living that way. Do science instead. You’re good at science.’
So, I abandoned my dream of studying literature. Writing went back to being a guilty pleasure that I found less and less time for as the years went on.
My university charged $15k per year (about £9,200) no matter whether you were working toward a BS or a BA and the high costs of university meant I had to work full-time and study part-time. Eighteen years later, I still haven’t finished my degree.
In 2009, I decided to complete my degree with Open University. I enrolled in science courses aiming to complete a BS Open Degree. I also enrolled in Start Writing Fiction-- both as a reason to write and a chance to see if I actually did have a talent for writing. That course changed my life. Not only did I realise that I could write, I realised how much I missed writing. Here I was 35 years old, unhappy in my career and looking back wondering what life would’ve been like if I’d become a teacher and writer.
New Year’s Eve 2011 was a turning point for me. My mother-in-law asked how my degree was going and I told her I hated it and I wish I could do English literature instead. She laughed and said that there was no way I could trash 18 years of education and experience. But that’s exactly what I did.
On January 5th—the day before registration closed—I cancelled the 3 science courses I was enrolled on and added literature and arts. I formally changed my degree to English Literature and Creative Writing. My new classes started in February and I can honestly say that I have never been happier. I spent years trudging through science classes which bored me and left me uninspired. The classes I am taking now excite and challenge me. I plan to continue on to complete a Masters in education—to teach and to write. Its early days, but I know in my heart that I will never regret my decision. I only regret not following my dream sooner.
If I can offer prospective students any advice from my experience it is this: University is expensive regardless of what degree you pursue. Choose the degree that is right for you. Follow your dreams. And never look back.