Alumna Heather Doherty's first novel, Goody Bledsoe, was reviewed by The Globe and Mail and included in its spring fiction books section (April 14, 2007). She lives in Fredericton, N.B., where she is working on other novels.
I signed up for my first AU course in 2001 and, depending on life's demands, studied both part- and full-time until I earned my BA (English, with distinction) in 2005.
I have two sons, the youngest of
whom is severely autistic, so my life is pretty busy, but I was ready to return to studies and finish the degree I'd started so many years before. That had been a desire of mine for a very long time. I really felt it was time for me to go after this goal.
That's where AU came in.
The course selection was terrific, and most importantly for me, I was able to take the courses I wanted when I wanted, and apply myself to those studies at my own pace. I didn't have to fit myself around a set schedule, and the classroom was where I made it. AU fit around me.
I actually didn't start out as an English major. Initially, I was studying psychology, but I enjoyed the English courses so much and was starting to really look toward my heart's desire of writing more and more seriously that a switch in majors made sense.
The courses that I enjoyed most of all were the writing courses, but also Women in Literature and Literature of Work really held my interest. Both of those courses provided amazing reading material. Some of the best books I have ever read, I read while studying with AU.
I am a fan of AU. It was a very real option for me in my very busy and complicated world! Being a mom is demanding. Being a mom of a severely autistic child has its very real and very unique challenges. AU worked with my life to allow me to obtain my degree.
