"Follow me on......."

Well, for those of you who are interested in following me on my journey back to school beyond age 65 ( I will be 67 this year ), I am continuing my blog entries at the new site, while I remain enrolled in Doctoral studies at St.Stephen's College / University of Alberta. Follow me there at www.thekogblog.blogspot.com. It's an ongoing narrative that will hopefully continue to inspire you on your own journey of life. And thanks for inspiring me over these past years of graduate research. It's a blessed adventure with many more chapters to come. And your comments, either on the blog or personally, are always appreciated. Gerrit.

"I did it!"

On Wednesday, February 22, 2012, I received the good news from the University of Alberta that my Master's Thesis has completed all course requirements and was approved. As a result I have now officially completed the Master of Arts in Communication and Technology graduate studies and the Degree is mine. Wow! Just two months short of my 67th birthday.
My thesis is titled: "Think Art Think Smart: a dialectical model to examine the relationship between art and critical thought." Thanks to everyone for your support and encouragement. Now it's onwards and upwards with my doctoral program in time for my 70th birthday, which a friend said, "is the new 50's."

2012 and beyond

Having completed all the research studies for my Masters degree, and a Masters thesis that will be done by early 2012, I have set my sight on 2012 and beyond. I have been accepted into a Doctoral Program at St.Stephen's College, University of Alberta ( pictured is St.Stephen's College ). It means that the goal of "going back to school at 65," has taken on a new dimension that will take me to age 70. My focus will be the Intersection of Art, Critical Thought, and the Kingdom of God, and I begin early in January 2012.

To chronicle my doctoral journey, I have created an additional blog. So don't be alarmed as I switch more of the discourse to the new (Doctoral) blog. I'll still be here, online, sharing my journey with you. The new blog is http://www.thekogblog.blogspot.com/

"Merry Christmas and blessed New Year"

Alice and I wish you a truly Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year. To all who have followed my back-to-school journey on this blog, it is my prayer that you will have a fulfilling new year, and that the road ahead in 2012, will be a great adventure. I have completed all my Master's graduate studies, except for the final thesis due by April. In the meantime, I have taken a new leap of faith and enrolled in a Doctoral program at St.Stephen's College , University of Alberta, Edmonton. I look forward "to getting my scholarly kicks on Route 66," and beyond.

"Creativity as antidote or complement to academics"

Over the many years I have counseled and mentored individuals, I have often said, “find something creative to do.” If the complexities and challenges of life overwhelm you, creativity is an abundant source of relief. With just over two years of graduate research and study completed, and the prospect of a Doctoral continuum, I face these same complexities and challenges in academia. Even though I find solace in my artwork and studio, academic pursuits have meant a sabbatical of sorts from studio time. However, it is to creative writing I turn to refresh and regroup for the next university assignment. My faithful companion has been Cerulean, the principal character of my epic poem which I began in 2004. Cerulean, the long distance voyager, is now on his 8th journey. In addition, I keep a running chronicle of wherever I find myself in my latest novel, should a plot development emerge. All of it, a bit at the time, but enough to be the antidote when academic pressures overwhelm me, or a complement when I want to add colour to my academic writing. Some people dance, sing, play music, read books, or cook, others tend a beautiful garden, some engage a satisfying hobby, others collect memorabilia. Whatever creative endeavour you engage, “finding something creative to do,” is good medicine for the human spirit.

"Dr.Gerrit I presume?"

Yes, it's official. I have been accepted into the Doctoral Program at St.Stephen's College at the University of Alberta, where I plan to undertake research as a continuum of my master's degree, with a broad scope of "The Intersection of Art, Critical Thought, and the Kingdom of God." If going back to school at 65 was a rollercoaster ride of scholarly pursuits, with plenty of ups and downs (metaphor intended), then 2012 at age 67, will be a trip into space and back. If you can stay with me as I expand my adventure of faith, I will do my best to continue to be an encouragement to whoever wishes to be inspired by my journey. Over the past 2 1/2 years, many have shown their support for going back to school and I truly appreciate everyone whose kind words of encouragement kept me going. Of course you don't have to call me Dr. Gerrit. Just Gerrit will be fine. Imagine, graduation at age 70. And many thanks to my wife Alice.

From the Archives

This is my press photo in the Wallaceburg News. It's 1963, the year I won the "Bending Art Award Trophy" for being the best artist in the Wallaceburg District Secondary School, Walaceburg, Ontario. I was 18. (L2R, Principal Allan, Me, a representative of the Bending family). It gave me confidence to enroll in art college. Not that being the best is everything, but being motivated to excell sure helps. Along the way to 2011, there have been many awards, primarily in the form of encouragement from special people I've met on my journey as an artist, and who did not laugh when I said I was going back to school at age 65. Yes, there have been and continue to be challenges, but that's life. So, be encouraged wherever you find yourself today. Be motivated and excell in what you do. Confidence will be its reward.