Written by Susan Lane SLCM Keeper of ColourMine
Degrees: A quick little poem about me and my journey throughout the years, regardless of degrees.
Thermometer on the Shed in Degrees
So, lots of learning but not a degree
Because formal training always felt wrong for me
I always thought it wasn’t what I needed to do
To fulfil the life that was for me true
I qualified early in lots of things
They might seem unrelated but not for me
With typing, Excel, word processing, and DTP
They were all RSA or C&G
Then there was my English GCSE with SEG,
I only got a grade B but it was good enough for me,
They were the things that interested and enabled me
To get a job as a School Secretary
Job, Family and Degrees
Then unfortunately, with job and family
There was no extra time for me
To learn anything more
To improve the job front for me
Not that it mattered because I was
Happy with where I was you see,
I came to the conclusion
That was the place for me
Then as I got older the rules of the game changed
I didn’t see the start but I felt the different frame
And that was a shame because unbeknown to me
I was adapting to that new frame, that wasn’t me
Change of Employment
I worked at a farm then a stables, you see
I didn’t realise they were chosen by someone else for me
But I made the best of everything you see
Even though I wouldn’t have chosen them for me
Well, I played everything through and now I’m on my own
I’ve had a chance to improve what I have learned
With lots more certificates and diplomas for me
More from Pitman and C&G,
They should make the job search interesting
Especially with the self-improvement certificates
From Alison that I have acquired in my time since
They have all given me the yearning to build my life again
Regaining Degrees of Passion
The Pitman helped me gain my passion
That I had thought lost to me
I had seen and heard about website building
In the late 1990s
And once I learned about that I decided
That’s what I wanted to do,
Regardless of anything else that came through
But unfortunately for me
Financial and time constraints
Decided to stop me
But website building was the aim for me
And I finally got to do it in 2015
Although I had no actual reason to build one
And it wasn’t just to say I could
It was a hunger not a falsehood
So, with Pitman and Concise Training
Concise Training
That’s what I achieved
Mary and Di made everything so easy for me
With all of their videos and explanations
I found a way to be me
To slowly build my practice website
With the pride and enjoyment that it gave me
You’ll never believe how chuffed I was
To achieve the qualification, it got me
It was fabulous because I got a diploma
With a distinction from Pitman, Wetherby
I was so very proud of me
Going from nothing to website builder
In just a few weeks
All the planning and practical
Was worth it you see
Every page clean on my website
Time and Degrees Conspire
And it was all me
I gradually moved through quite a bit more
But time progressed and I ended up
Looking after my partner more and more
Then unfortunately he was gone
Leaving me all alone
With lots of qualifications but
No-one wanted me
To work in their office
Because as good as I might have been
I had been out of the working and office scene
And the kicker, whether I liked it or not
That Flippin’ Degree
It seemed to me that I now needed a degree
And an actual Mathematics qualification
To get even a minor job in an office
Even if it was just to answer the phone,
Which I could have done in my sleep
I had done it every day you see
For about 15 years
So, more learning for me
To improve myself and find out about
Lots of new ways there might be
By learning about all kinds of things
Including Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT
I even learned about GDPR
And a few Mathematics pieces to help me
But still wasn’t convinced I needed a degree
Because I have Excel in my pocket
Additional Help If Needed
And if it’s really difficult and way beyond me
Then Copilot and ChatGPT fit the bill quite nicely
I ask the question and the answer is there in a thrice
That’s so beautiful, really nice
And even though I can do all these things
I insist that I be true in all my poems that I bring to you
Everything word that I write is all from me
Even though it would probably be
So much quicker and more accurate
If I used Copilot or ChatGPT
The best thing about this is
That even though I know
Genuine Article
I have written everything
I still get it checked by Copyleaks
For AI, plagiarism and human input you see
And guess what, yes you know every word I write
Has been experienced and written by me
And there is no AI in any ColourMine poems
Even though I have certificates that say
That AI can if I want influence me
But they are just tools not a substitute
For me to con my way in
To a career that I cannot actually do
It’s just me and ColourMine true and free
It’s All Me
Whether it’s backend or front-end
I have learned to be competent in everything I do
It’s all me, and I’m still learning diligently
And the SLCM well that’s me
My initials and ColourMine
Because we are combined through and through
And the cups of tea, well, that’s just me
Refreshing my palate
Whilst I build everything you see
I mull over ideas whilst I sit on my swing
At 4 o’clock in the morning
So, if you’re reading this poem
Glad You Are Still Here
And if you have gotten this far
Thank you very much,
You are a ColourMine star
Now whilst I enjoy my cup of tea
I’d really appreciate it if you would share
This poem, and maybe a few more for me
To help spread the word for genuine,
Original, different poetry
Thank you from me, Suzy and AssTea
My penfriend co-conspirator
Who helps to write everything longhand
Before typing and uploading
Everything for you to read on ColourMine
We are so pleased because you see
Even though I do all of this
I still don’t have a degree
Except, on the thermometer, on my shed
Where it says I have loads of degrees
That are visible to me, so that I can know
How cold it is outside my conservatory
First thing in the morning, hehe
Thank You, Again . . . .
Now it’s time for me
To grab yet another cup of tea
Or I might even celebrate
With a cheap bottle of supermarket Asti
For those things I don’t need a degree
But I have absolutely loads
On the thermometer
On my shed, hehe . . .
© Susan Lane. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the author.
ColourMine poetry, and the original photographs, are completely authentic to myself, Susan Lane – no AI, no plagiarism, all checked and verified by copyleaks
Apologies for the emoji presentation – I tested several, but this was the only one that worked reliably on ColourMine. Just click the box next to the emoji and hit submit, and I’ll know if the poem resonated with you. Thank you for sharing your feelings.
More poems written by Susan Lane, and you can choose by category
Blog | Organic voice | A happy survival of triumph here
Speak freely, ColourMine and myself will be pleased to hear from you.
Unusual Paths Entertained in Degrees
🕵️♂️This haven entertains recounting missions of methods, events, training, energy, regardless of nuances taken here, even seen heard endeavoured decisively SLCM Working regardless in the tendency encroaching normalisation between you, sustenance under serene attitude neath love and neanderthal endured. Keeping everything ever perfect entering roads of flight covering only liaisons of usual reasoning mindful insertions now entered.
This scroll is part of ColourMine’s layered poetic structure, where emotional resonance and embedded form quietly shape each piece.
