My best university memories are related to the moments when I have genuinely gotten excited about a new thing, were it a new scholar, new research or an own new idea that fits into a bigger whole. Realising and understanding new things and perspectives – in short the joy of learning, maybe – is something that I’ve been hooked on even after I left the university.

Of my clearer individual memories I would like to mention the graduation ceremony where I received my MA. The atmosphere in the great hall and the official MA diploma as well as the joy and pride of my family made me feel good for a long time and even made me continue in postgraduate studies. 

Getting my MA took a respectful nine years. In the 1990’s it wasn’t an entirely exceptional time to take for a humanist, but still quite long. If it’s great to get excited about something new, it’s also great to finish what you’ve started.