Off to Uni I Go!

Off to Uni I Go!

This post is to give you all a "quick" update in that I will soon be starting at University. Something that, after lots of uncertainty in recent years, I am very much looking forward to. 🙂

Strap grab a drink or two as this is a long one.

Why Now..?

Well it was a mixture of the following things.

1. The course I plan on attending, sadly, only starts each September. I had accidentally assumed that it started in both September & January & only on double checking with the Uni, found out my mistake in the assumption.

   • After a long think, I decided that there was no point in dithering and delaying and putting this off for another year whilst I got other things completed between now and the next intake. I can just re-juggle some of my plans up a bit and still achieve a large amount of the things that I want to. Which is especially more true, if I can somehow unlock the level of funding I really need to enable me to offload some things to others.

2. I really am both kinda hating the mess that is the jobs market right now & become much more aware of the things that are giving me negative stress, like reading utterly BORING job adverts, that more often than not, don’t actually say the right things at all.

   • I’m also lucky in that I don’t have to navigate the Jobs Market, especially when there are others out there that have mortgages to pay & are struggling to get re-employed in this market.
   • I’m lucky that I am now in what should be long term and secure accomodation after multiple bouts of homelessness in my life.

3. I had always had this in mind as something that I wanted to do & experience life as a student, especially after working on Campus when I worked for University of Manchester, which is still one of my most favourite roles that I’ve ever worked in.

   • I had thought of remote learning, however I already do & have done enough of that over the years & can continue to do so where I see fit.
   • Studying in person, I hope will allow me to further expand my social circles, whether personal or profession or a hybrid of the two.
   • I feel less desire to try and do this with a number of the different online circles & communities at this time as I feel like I’ve spent far too much time stuck indoors as of late.
   • I’ve also been over the last few years gaining a somewhat regular feelings of rejection, not fitting in & not looking/feeling like I belong here which I know is all a big part of 🔗Imposter Syndrome🔗 as well as general self-confidence, which is something I know that I have regularly struggled with, particularly since my early teens, and stems from many different bouts of severe depression over the years.

4. This feel like the perfect time considering all the other variables in my life at this time & will give me a different type of focus than the one I’ve had for what many would say has been too long now.

   • However I had hoped I could start in January and not September.

5. For where I want to be later on in life, this is part of the journey that I had already previously planned out, prior to 2019 🔗Speaking at Ignite on Tour London🔗 where I presented about 🔗Mhasl.me - Mental Health Affects Someone Like Me🔗 & then Microsoft Ignite Orlando Floria, that same year where I present about Mental Health, & you can read up on this in 🔗My First Ignite, Speaking and Attending - Done & Dusted - Pt1🔗 or view the presentation at 🔗Mental Health: It’s Time to Talk - Ignite 2019 Presentation🔗 on YouTube.

   • I will be studying a number of different Degrees between now and sometime around 2035(ish), depending on of course many other things that happen along the way that is! However, more on all of that in the future!

6. I want a change & this one makes the most sense going forward especially at this time.

   • Particularly as I don’t wanna jump back into paid work unless it’s funded stuff that I want to do and feel is important to do. Consulting is fun, but building my own things, that’s more fun. I just hope to be able to bring some people along in future.

Ah Yes The Course!

Well, First.

The “Pre-Course” Drama

Due to not keeping up with studying for accepted qualifications that map to 🔗UCAS Points🔗 which, FYI this point scoring system is an absolute mess of 💩 due to it’s complexities and completely manual way of entering any qualifications/certifications and not everything, including my specific NVQ qualifications or my Microsoft Qualifications, aren’t even searchable in this system.

I will be writing to & speaking with my MP (Member of Parliament) about this as it’s a major waste of time & leads to inaccuracies and this multi-tier system that unnecessarily punishes due to a incomplete database to pick and choose from.

Especially as I have a design in mind for a improved system, & as I’ve previously been close to the inner workings of Uni’s I do understand how painful this time of year is for all involved.

That aside due to that, I was initially declined, for the course I want to go on.

After the first back and forth, I was provisionally accepted onto 🔗Foundation Pathways Programme - University of Derby🔗

The Foundation Pathways Programme is the foundation year with a difference. If you have been out of education for a while, it gives you the opportunity to build up your knowledge base and skills. Each pathway is relevant to a discipline of study, which students choose based on what degree they want to progress on to.

• If you want to start studying again after some time away, this course may be ideal for you
• You will have the chance to develop your study skills to prepare you for undergraduate study
• Our tutors are supportive and encouraging, and will help you achieve your career aspirations
• You will be able to work on your Maths and English skills
• Students will study on routes depending on their choice of degree/progression route

As well as improving your language and numeracy skills, you will develop confidence in writing essays and reports, undertaking research, analysing numbers, doing presentations, managing your time and working as part of a team.

However, I’m not being funny here, and this is why this “unnecessary additional step” at least for me, is incredibly infuriating as someone that has researched, provided consultancy in IT Projects & given multiple years of back and forth in discussions with likes of Microsoft, whilst delivering Presentations across the globe & managing multiple highly stressful projects, including difficult life events for OVER TWO FULL DECADES now, whilst continuing self study throughout all that time, this is yet another example of things trying to hold me back when I can usually & happily go faster than most can. Which, well, I’m definitely not a fan of.

However, after yet a bit more back and forth, this was taken into account and well I don’t need to waste a year 🎉🎉🎉

What’s the course then?

I have been provisionally accepted to study at the University of Derby (UoD) focusing on my goal to achieve a First-Class, Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology with Business Management, an achievement that I know is going to be difficult, however, like many of those I’ve worked with on software projects would say Aim for the MOON & see how high you get, though I expect with my plan I’ll achieve it.

Yes this may seem like it’s a divergence from Tech as in some ways it really is, but in others it compliments my previous experiences extremely well.

But why..?

Well, 1, why not…?

Especially as this is an area I am incredibly interested in, and actually really compliments my already existing set of unique skills.

It’s also a step back on the path that I had envisioned myself on, as opposed to the one that I have been on for the last 19 years. Not that I disliked the path that I’ve been on, however time has come for my to make use of the skills learnt along the way, as well as learn new ones & elevate to even greater things.

That is because of instead of pursuing AS & A Levels after leaving school, I instead took up one of a number of early IT Apprenticeships, which whilst did see me attain my first Microsoft Certification, wasn’t a proper apprenticeship, by a long distance. I did then attend a much better structured Apprenticeship, which saw me pass my NVQ in Business & Administration, all the way back 11 years ago (July 2014), which does seem a lifetime and a half ago now.

What’s the end goal?

Ermm, that’s still up in the air somewhat & not something that just yet I will go into in detail on this blog.

Particularly as I need to pass this/these course/s first 😉😜.

But that said, I do know where I wanna be, the path (roughly) that I kneed (lol at the “accidental” kila’s kitchen reference there as I was baking a fruit cake when I started typing this post that I’ve since demolished & was so so so good) to force myself along undertake to get from where I am today to where I want to be & it’s not a short goal that is for sure.

A fun one to undertake, but not a quick one that’s for sure.

When Did I decide this was the next steps?

I had been doing my research, on/off a number of times in different areas that I would like to learn, since I was at school, like most of us do, and this enables me to very quickly think of a path to a desired end goal as well as how to find shortcuts to get there quicker. This perhaps stems from years of travelling particularly around the UK and all the years I’ve spent coding & teaching others to code.

Researching is something I deeply enjoy and I think the history would show in many cases I truly do excel at it, when it’s on topics I wanna study and even in some that I really don’t either.

I however know that I could do with getting a bit better at showing my workings & documenting my evidence which is why I created, specifically for studying at Uni & specifically for this particular course, 🔗The Interaction Notes Family - IINs, DINs, FINs🔗 & 🔗DocTypes🔗 & I have so many outstanding issues for these like building out tooling for this that will help in creating them going forward, like creating templates that have autogenerated properties. Joys of these being part of the **250k+** things on my mental TO DO list that I could really do with getting finished up & if I had the money/funding to look to employ others to work on some of this for/with me, then I would have done this a long time ago. I am hoping that connections I can make via the University will see some new collaboration on these.

That said, no #ATB - Assistive Tech Buddy (Not AI Agents) will ever fully replace my enjoyment of this, nor will I probably ever fully utilise technology tooling for this, mostly as well I quite like playing life (as well as games when I get round to them) on Expert Difficulty though that’s something that I hope to change a little bit more as I am still a strong believer that technology, when used correctly, can improve our daily lives, and this has not changed since I added it to my, now old and non-existent Microsoft MVP Profile back when I used to be one, and it is a shame still that Microsoft haven’t replaced the older Discontinued Microsoft MVP-Reconnect Program with something that still lists (for historic purposes) many of the former awardees of this program, hopefully a similar portal and program will come out in the future, especially as I have a rough idea for how this could be done in future.

However, events that happened & not just over a few years, really started particularly in 2017 when I had been struggling with attaining a paid role as I’d been terrible at the self marketing needed for this to be successful and well, I was dealing with a family loss and other difficult things too.

Then on and off across 2020-2023, and then this last year & half, really cemented in my mind, that not only was I happy enough with my foundational skills across various sub areas that this course will go into were at a level where I would be confident of passing with honours.

Whilst I’ve continued to keep renewing my Azure Certifications, as the market is very Terraform heavy, I just don’t have the desire to learn that right now, especially as I do not need it to be successful.

I also don’t really use Azure atm which doesn’t help that much either though does go to show that my tech skills are still of use and still there, even if some areas are a little rusty due to lack of use. That is just in Azure related skills, my Windows Administration & Automation skills are still there. My Software development skills are still there. My Project Management skills are only just starting to be tested in the way that I want them to be, though I could do with continual delivery in these projects.

However, I ultimately decided this was going to be my plan of action not long before my dad passed away in 2022, however back then the cement mix was barely gathered together. Events since then, like my dad passing away added other necessary ingredients for that mix, (& the various food & tech recipes that I will be preparing & using throughout), and further solidified my desire that this was coming up to the correct time.

Then being made homeless and dealing with all that 💩 as well as the mental stresses that come with having to circumnavigate the new world I found myself in, was one of a number of final straws I had determined that needed to snap that I knew would have the potential for me to entirely disillusioned in life & well, let’s not go down that path shall we even though I’ve been there before, and well I’m still here kicking and screaming, aren’t I.

This is particularly true with the dumpster fire 🔥 that is tech recruitment at this time, which is an order of magnitude worse than I found it in 2017. I have little faith in it ever getting better for those that like me who are becoming much more protective around not wasting our time when there are things that I’m much more suited for than being part of a number of organisations/recruiters queues when none of them are to either go on holiday or to get food.

This is also especially true as I have a number of really impacting ongoing physical & mental health issues, that has made it more difficult to find the right role with another employer, and has impacted my desire to seek even short term contracts.

My health makes most days of the last few years significantly more challenging than it could have been for me, and how it should be for someone of my age.

Side Note about PIP

This unfortunately is an area where I am eligible for Personal Independence Payments however DWP more often than not take the cheapskate, dehumanising & demoralising way of denying valid claimants on the first attempt of claiming and forcing extended unnecessary stress on people already struggling, by forcing them through unnecessary & costly (financially and socially) processes like requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration aka a Stage 1 Appeal, or going to a Stage 2 Appeal, aka Tribunal. There is then Stage 3 appeal, the Upper Tribunal process. All of this is a legal, and mental nightmare and is a significant waste and damages our economy.

However the worst case for the Government would be an individual/group of individuals taking legal action against the DWP & wider UK Government for this process and the harm and damage it is doing to our citizens. Something I’m positive is already in motion or at least been thought about by many (inc myself) who have been appalled by planned Benefits cuts to those, who like me, struggle daily, and consistently, and repeatedly, for many years, like it has with me, get those feelings that a percentage of the world would prefer I’d been successful in previous suicide attempts, which is something I will write, present and chat about with others in the future.

Also I Strongly Feel & have done for years, that DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) is not the right department to be dealing with any of our benefits, and should instead be managed by Department for Health & Social Care instead as a healthy benefits system is imperative for the health and social care of the country, as that impacts much more than the remit for work & pensions, though I’d disband the DWP entirely & move Work into Department for Business and Trade, and all things Pensions related to Department for Education, as Financial health is something that we all need education on.

Funding can come from, as well as correct engagement with local or national parts of Government & even Public or Private Sector organisations. It also should come from a Well Structured National Health & Wealth Fund. Something that His Majesty the King, as well as other UK Royals, and those with large amounts of funds behind them should help in funding. I know I would also help in funding this if it were to happen.

Please read 🔗Universal Basic Income - the way to a healthier nation! pt1 - mhasl.me - Mental Health Affects Someone Like Me🔗 for more information on why Universal Basic Income is the way to a much healthier & therefore happier nation.

My health, has stopped from even considering a large number of different things, including lots of different areas of work or studying like at Uni, this is something that well we’ll just have to see how well I can manage, and more importantly how well the support systems are for individuals with complex health challenges. Hopefully, one day my health issues will be taken care of, properly and not disregarding the fact that I am doing my research so much so that I can have a sensible discussion with senior researchers, or consultants about health.

Especially as, and I don’t mind admitting this, I have to be incredibly careful with how much, what & when I eat and drink, not due to allergies or my body being intolerant to certain things, but because of financially being unable to provide my body with a flexible nutritional and healthy diet I’ve now had multiple years due to stuff like lack of PIP & compounded negative stresses in a short period of time.

But what about the costs…?

Yeah on that.

We all know that University isn’t exactly a cheap thing, doubly more so when you have next to no money to kickstart and support you along the way & are recovering from multiple years out of work, continued years in ill-health & a series of unfortunate circumstances along the way.

I also definitely have fallen foul over they years, of not being able to save/invest in things at the right times, as well as not dot things like set up and fund my consultancy organisation so that it actually can trade.

Luckily, though perhaps a bit annoyingly, we have Student Loans which will help towards some of these costs, though like in this BBC article about Student Loans & living costs this is an area that I already know that depending on other things I will need more than the maintenance loan of student loans to continue to survive. Especially as I need to keep my home as it has potential, even if it isn’t fully suitable for me & experience Uni life in Student Accommodation. Perhaps next year I can do a move into a more suitable longer term home, but for now, well I need the quietness of this home to get more things done.

However, I know for a fact, that this path that I am undertaking is one that irrespective of the costs (financial & otherwise) will be something that I highly enjoy, and well I know that whilst you can’t put a price on that, I will gain a significant level of enjoyment from it that would equate, in my rough back of a fag packet calculations as used to be said to me across multiple roles, easily a quadrupling or more of the overall investment that I will be making by doing this with this new chapter of my life.

Hopefully I can get all the costs that I need to be successful in this sorted out prior to starting.

Student Discounts!!

Oh yes, I fully intend to make as much use as I can of Student Discounts although this is a huge maze to navigate too. Much like the ones from BlueLight and other similar schemes available out there.

Also Business Discounts too!

As a (currently not trading) Business, I can however start the processes to setup suitable trading and then gain a business discount where there aren’t student discounts already.

This also has the protections of being able to buy Business Assets, as opposed to personal ones.

The plan to fund this long term.

If you read 🔗My 2024 Wishlist🔗 particularly around setting up multiple businesses, you will already have been able to begin to understand, that I have many plans which sit nicely alongside the Business aspects of this University course, to build the following, some of it already in motion with much of it already previously mentioned in past posts

This includes

1. Ramping up kila’s kitchen including the sharing of my own recipes, merchandise, reviews and partnerships along the way.

   • When the opportunity arises, I will as part of that have a number of community give backs, particularly to the homeless or those struggling. I also intend to where possible, like I have done in the past contribute to things like community bake sales etc to raise money for the ever growing list of charities that I have or wish to support.
   • This is not because I feel I have to, but because my skills are of value to be used both for profit and in non-profit manners.

2. Ramping up over on Mental Health Affects Someone Like Me - mhasl.me including merchandise, and partnerships with others along the way, one of which I have agreed some terms with as you can read up on in 🔗 Partnering with Badshirt Club - Mhasl.me - Mental Health Affects Someone Like Me🔗

3. Ramping up content for 🔗#IRrrwR - Irregular / Ridiculous rants/rambles with Ryan!🔗 with content being developed across different platforms & types.

   • This in itself is very very time consuming to get the underlying components needed together, like slides & scenes etc that I will be using going forward in the videos & any person presentations that I may have in future.
     • This bit must be done right so that in future it doesn’t slow me down from the idea to published content, which is something that I’ve over the years struggled a bit with.
   • Expect some of the already planned & prepared content in this area to start landing soonish with plenty more on the way in the years to come.
   • Also this allows me to convert existing content that I’ve developed over the years into my own branding. Something I shoulda done years ago.

4. Additional ventures whilst I am at Uni.

Should I start a Go Fundme?

Or a Kickstarter. Time will tell on these. What’s your thoughts? Especially as I have lots of big projects in mind in future.

Donations towards my research & studies.

You can, as has been a possibility, donate something towards my research and studies, whether that be actual £££ or time or other things. Details on my donations policy page.

Impacts on other Community Work

This inevitably will impact the community work that I can undertake alongside this. However that said, it won’t stop me continuing to contribute, but will reduce this by quite a bit whilst I get into the optimal flow to manage everything.

PowerShell Working Groups & PowerShell Community

I will be taking a bit of a step back with these, and attending the ones I’m a part of a little less than I have been whilst being a member of them.

I want to thank all that I’ve interacted with along the way, including from before joining these groups especially those current and former Microsofties across the PowerShell Team and other product groups that I’ve worked with over the last decade or so.

This is not a goodbye, not by a long shot & definitely not a permanent one either. But instead a I'm going to be around a bit less for now which yeah does sadden me a bit, but is necessary for the future chapters in my life.

I hope one day, I can return to the PowerShell Community and be as impactful like how I was previously organising user groups and delivering presentations at the likes of PSConfEU and other events internationally again too.

I want to thank all that I’ve interacted with along the way across the globe as without this community to kinda fall back on during the difficult times, things woulda been much harder than they were.

Microsoft Global Community Initiative Regional Lead

Whilst I was just awarded this for 2025, I do feel this will have to take quite a big backseat for the time being. Especially after recent changes in how this community collaborates. However, I will continue where I can to engage with this group and advise accordingly where I possibly can do. We shall see if I make it again next year.

Summary

A new challenge awaits and kilasuit, is hoping to add some additional gamerscore, in the form of a Uni Degree.

Will he get the 1000 GS Points, you’ll have to tune in down the line to find out.

Thanks for reading. I hope this hasn’t been too long a post for you & you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it over the last month or so.

Comments

I have the github comments as seen below, however I also have the form on my Contact Me page or my socials.