Friday, May 31, 2019

An Update on my College Work and Major


Hey, hope everyone is dealing well! I've had a pretty good week so far in credit largely due to the academic stuff I have been learning. I am very blessed to have some of the well college educated people in my life, and often gets directions and insights from them.
 I would probably be enrolling for Liberty University online shortly from now. Up until this point over the last few years, I have been doing college courses from home through other means.
 Very consistently I have wanted to teach history over the years. That desire indeed still remains, but perhaps with a little more color to it than ever.
 Liberty University now provides a B. S. in English and Writing online. As I have considered getting an English Major in the near past, this opens another doorway to me if I decide to take that route. As it is, Liberty still gives a minor in History online. That is helpful to me, as I would like the freedom to teach both subjects.
 Most of my life I actually did not so nearly distinguish the two subjects of English and History, as many do.  I read The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara while studying the actual events of the Battle of Gettysburg. Likewise, it is hard to separate the historical study of the Puritans without enjoying the English Work of Pilgrim's Progress. On a final note, my own Kings and Crusaders novels are historical fiction, despite the fact that much of the historical information for them have been from non-fiction.
 Some of my mentors include C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Michael Shaara. What do all three of these people have in common besides being writers? They were all either English majors or literature majors. Perhaps it is only natural then that I take such influence in part from them. Of these in particular, C. S. Lewis has been a lifelong mentor to me. It was through the reading of The Chronicles of Narnia that I would become inspired to be a writer.
 While I am no filmmaker, I have often been inspired by Steven Spielberg's films. He too was an English major.
 I am no lover of Grammar, though I have often found at least some if it, interesting. But I do love English literature. I also like to analyze and niterpret literature.
 I love both Medieval History and Medieval literature. Some of you may know that I have had a desire to gain the double masters in English and Medieval literature. Indeed, to get formal education in Medieval literature from a college, one needs to be in a English Studies or a literature class.  That may also give more reason to my interest in this field.
 I like literature in general, but English literature is clearly my favorite. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, I think had a lot to do with my more recent appreciation of English literature.
 The study of the historical Crusades would be history, but the study of the stories about it, like Ivanhoe or Robin Hood, would be literature, often English literature.
 My point is that I have taken largely from both history and English my whole life. I would love to teach either subject.
 Up until this point, some of you maybe aware that I desired a B. S. in History, and an M. A. in English. If I choose to get a B. S. in English and Writing now, I may even drop the master's idea, though I am keeping the option of going or not going that route open either way for the future.
 My desires for a life long career besides that of a writer, are teaching in a school, or being a public librarian.
 Only God knows the future, but I plan to major in one of these fields, and minor in the other. One of my professor friends, informed me that by me gaining a minor in one of these two degrees, I could likewise teach in it. He advised me against a double major though, seeing it as no more beneficial than one major, with a minor.
 Prayers would be appreciated for my work in College, my degree, and my future career. For now, Adieu! All praise be to the Lord Jesus!


11 comments:

  1. The future is yours. Seize it. I can see you as a college professor quite clearly. Also a famous author.

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  2. I’m thankful for your friends too Joshua they are instruments of God! This is a good plan!

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  3. I have always enjoyed your writing Joshua. I know of your inspirations and love hearing you tell of them. You are certainly on the right road to getting a degree in either English or History as you have written and read so much about both. Thanks for sharing I deeply enjoyed this .

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  4. Blessings on your journey forward. I pray the Lord will guide you, prepare you, and fill you with His wisdom as you seek to serve him in word and deed.

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    1. I really appreciate that Doug! That is most kind!

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  5. "Some of my mentors include C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Michael Shaara. What do all three of these people have in common besides being writers? They were all English majors." --- wow, I knew about Lewis and Tolkien but not about Shaara! How funny!

    I believe you have definitely found your passion, career, and goal. That took a lot of courage, though, and soul-searching! Not an easy decision, for sure. I'm proud of you and I know you will do well <3

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