CHAPTER SIX

What do you see here? Do you ever take the time to see the same place from a different perspective? Like this area here… how could we see this place differently? See the big brick wall? How about we lean on that and look straight along the path?

Can you give the wall all your weight? Take a look round from where you are…up above down below, can you tilt your head to the side? Look at the path stretching out ahead of you. The possibilities for learning and expression and communication are endless. Why do you think they called them universities in the first place?! Because, like the universe, the scope and breath of learning available here is ever expanding. Knowledge is an infinitely branching tree, but speaking personally, I don’t like to clamber too high.

Anyway, someone who has no fear of heights, at least when it comes to knowledge, or new beginnings, is one of our second-year students. Lyndsey.

Lyndsey has in recent times, experienced some great challenges. Her story starts in November 2020. Over the course of 3 months she lost both parents, and then in May 2021 was diagnosed with cancer. During her chemotherapy and radio therapy her mind sieved through all the things she wanted to do but had put off. The concept that ‘life is simply too short not to do the things you love’ took hold of her and having spent the last 12 years of her life teaching, she made the bold decision to leave teaching and pursue a BA in Fine Art as a mature student. Nothing she has been through in the past couple of years will stop her from pursing her dreams and living life on her own terms.

So, I’m sure you understand why her story means so much to all of us here at the University. This woman doesn’t just believe in her own future, she believes in all of our futures. The future of this very planet! Since joining our student body, in addition to her own studies, Lyndsey has started working to help educate children and young people, through art, about climate issues. Stories such as Lyndsey’s encapsulate, at least for this cat, what the University of Hertfordshire is all about. The courage and determination, not to mention the imagination, she has shown in changing the course of her life, after such challenges, would be inspiring by itself, but to then use her experience as a springboard to help the next generation and indeed, through her climate work, the whole world?! Well, I think you understand now why I keep her story so close to my heart. If you take one thing from my tour, take this, the path of your life is not set. You must decide its course, and with that in mind, let’s keep moving.

Follow the path keeping the building on your right. Follow me.

Do you see the lines on the floor leading us? These pavement slabs creating a path in-between these benches? imagine that this is the path of your life, with each square and the way you decide to walk on it diverting the course. Changing with each step you take. Choose whichever path feels right to you, don’t be afraid to walk backwards, dance, hop, skip jump or even walk onto the benches. Don’t mind if people stare, you might even enjoy it.

Well, were almost coming to the end of tour of stories Just one more location to visit up ahead

Keep up... Nearly there…