28 UP Part 2

I have to start with the 28 UP part 2 because I missed the first viewing because of illness. Class was a little confusing when I walked in and people were making predictions on what would happen with Paul, Suzi and Nick. WHO?

What I got out of Paul was:

- He had no idea what a university was when he was 7 "What's university?"
- He had said he was quite lazy in school, and didn't have the "discipline" like the elite
- He had been discouraged from his occupational dreams of teaching because of his grades
- At 7 years old he could be seen building houses on the playground
- He had not been close to his family as his parents were divorced
- At age 8 he had immigrated from England to Australia
- He became a brick layer
- He married and traveled 15 000 km through Australia for 7 months
- He was from a working class in England and moved to a contest mobility country where he became upper middle class with his taking on of a trade
- He began to work independently
- He took on the view that "I don't sit on my bum all day, I chase it."
- He sees himself as just average, which shows a lack of self-confidence
- He shows aspiration for his kids

It's interesting that this man went through some very big life changing situations. I think as a child he was strongly influenced by his family social status as well as the detachment from family during the move to Australia. Because of his marks and his economic status in England he was not encouraged to pursue post secondary education, even at a very young age. His lack of confidence could be related to a lack of relationships and the types of encouragements he received growing up.

If he had stayed in England and still became a brick layer, he would have taken on the role and accepted as his place. Probably never aspiring for much more. However, because he was in a different context he was able to get some on hand training and make his way up fairly quickly and eventually work for himself, giving his children a good economic basis to live with.