Paper Proof:
Academic et al for Roger J BurkeCertificates of accomplishment are more or less de rigueur these days. While there is one certificate we'd all like to avoid for as long as possible - the death notice - it's still important to have credentials of some sort to show proof of education, at very least. Other stuff is sometimes useful to flesh out different types of education and skills acquisition.
There are four certificates below which help illustrate that point, all of them acquired rather late in life:
1. Bachelor of Arts (Literature and Composition), Griffith University, 2003-2007
2. Master of Arts (Writing), Swinburne University, 2007-2009
3. Shotokan Karate Black Belt - Nidan (1985)
4. Diploma in Women's Self Defence (1996)
1. Having been writing fact and fiction since the mid-1950s, I set out in January 2002 to write a novel from scratch. I was determined to find out whether I had the perseverance to complete such a task. I thought about, researched and planned it for nine months; then, I typed the first draft on my PC in twelve weeks, 10-12 hours each day, each week, non-stop.
When I finished, I applied to Griffith for entry to the BA program. I figured I would need an academic qualification to bolster my image as a writer. Whatever the truth of that, I very much enjoyed and learnt from the experience.
So, here's the proof:
2. After which, I figured: in for a penny, in for a pound, as is often said. I'd been researching various MA programs while completing the BA and successfully applied to Swinburne U. After reading more about the benefits of academic qualifications, I'd concluded the BA wasn't enough: an MA ticket would be even more indicative of successful persistence in achieving a higher level of tertiary education. If nothing else....
Along that way, however, I did learn more about language and writing; and, I also cemented friendship with a number of Swinburne colleagues. Most importantly, my continuing education had confirmed that, while almost anybody can learn to write well, great writers are indeed born. Some might disagree, however.
So, here's my certificate:
3. When I began my study and practice of karate in 1978, I was simply out to learn a self-defence skill which, I thought, might just save my life one day. Little did I know that karate is a life-long lesson on how to avoid conflict.
In short, karate is death: when used, somebody could easily die.
After three years of constant training, I achieved 1st Degree (shodan) black belt. Three years later, I tested for 2nd Degree (nidan) and was successful on my first attempt. The demands of work then caused a long gap until 1992 when I next felt confident to test for 3rd Degree (sandan). For many reasons, though, I never got to test for that level.
Here, then, is my Nidan karate certificate:
4. While training in karate, I was also involved in assisting with self-defence courses for women over much of those ten years. Shortly after returning to Australia, I had the good fortune to apply for an accredited course in self-defence for women - the first of its kind in Australia.
Over two years, along with a number of other participants, we trained in twelve self-defence techniques any woman could learn, none of which had direct relationship to regular martial arts. It was an informative and useful addition to my knowledge about the whole concept of self-defence.
This is the certificate I received:
I have other certificates in computer programming, project management, facilities management and others; but I don't value them in the same way, or to the same degree, as I do those above. So, I won't bore you with them.
Thanks for reading.
Roger J. Burke
Twitter: @mayapan1942
Mixed Mentations
Some Passing Thoughts:
Get the free download of my complete chiastic thoughts in Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3.
Words sounding the same....
Confused by words that sound the same? Almost everybody I've encountered is, sometimes.
They're called homonyms and homophones. And I've maintained a dictionary of them for fifteen years. Click here for more....
Heard about chiasmus?
It's a commonly used language tool. Most people have used it, including you. It's been used continuously for millennia by many of the greatest minds in history.
Join the fun here to see how it works....
Here's the novel app about challenging words used in literary fiction:
It's the app that takes the tedium out of the medium!
Want to go to Papua-New Guinea?
Well ... let me take you there with my non-fiction narrative (aka memoir) about the last years of Australia's colonial life in the 1960s. And where I was a Cadet Patrol Officer from 1961 to 1964.
Read more about it and choose a fully illustrated paperback here or choose the ebook here.
Everybody has an opinion!
Over many years, I've written on a large variety of topics, all of which are here for you to read.
You can browse through the titles here, including one describing in detail how I cured arthritis in my hands. And how, amazingly and inadvertently, the end of a rainbow found me and my wife. I kid you not!
Most people like to see movies....
And I like writing reviews. I've been doing that for years at IMDB.COM. You can read, at IMDB, a few from my entire portfolio here. Or, you can sample a larger selection right here.
Is Terminator coming soon?
The short answer is no. Should you be afraid? Not yet....
For more information, news and articles on that touchy topic, you can read through my roboticswatch blog here at Wordpress.
Novel ideas and stories....
I completed a contemporary thriller, under a pseudonym of Cyrus H. Milton, ten years ago titled Loose Cannon. You can find out more here and get a free copy (PDF) of the original edition.
Here's the short of it.
Short stories are fun to write for many reasons. You can browse all the titles for my shorts here and read them all if you wish.
Note: occasionally, there is foul and profane language and explicit sex in a couple of stories.
