I actually dropped out of college. It was the most toxic environment for me. I was in the hospital like twice a semester because I was just constantly sick, I was so afraid of approaching teachers because they were so up their own ass, the social justice environment felt almost controlling, its the reason I was diagnosed with severe generalized anxiety and I literally had a mental breakdown in my last semester. I felt completely suffocated and stuck and I got so depressed that I just kept skipping because I just couldn't be bothered. It's hard trying to make your parents understand that. No matter how many times I say it's never gonna happen, my dad is still pressuring me to go to uni. Right now I'm working to save up money to take a dog grooming course, and once I get good at it I'd like to take a do training course and eventually work in shelters and rescues. I wish we lived in a society where people didn't look down their nose at you if you tell them you dropped out. There are so many options out there, but all anyone sees is uni. So I admire people who continue their schooling, I could just never do it because it Fucking destroyed me.
This view of getting degree being the only way to succeed in life is sad and is taught to children at such a young age. When I was student teaching, I explained to a group of first graders that I was going to college so that I could be an elementary school teacher. One little girl said that she didn't want to go to any more school and, before I could say anything, another little girl says "Well, you have to go to college if you want to be smart." School just isn't for some people. There's no shame in that.
I know so many people who got below average grades who are among the most intelligent people I know and I feel dumb around them even with my straight A’s. College and school is not for everyone and most people probably don’t really enjoy the process, they just love learning in general not exactly the format. Find something that actually gives you meaning. Sorry that you had to experience such a horrible time, I have friends with similar stories. Life’s just too short to not live it the way you want to.
Tara Taillon I've been through that..some teachers can seriously ruin your perspective of education while some can bring up the light. But hey life is so much more than education...what and where you find happiness is the ultimate meaning of life.
I really like these kinds of videos. Especially since all the topics you choose are always SO interesting and I just love listening to you talk about all the things you are passionate about! I'm going to university in a year so learning things about masters is really cool! I'm also struggling to know what I really want to work as, since I've always wanted to be a writer, but I don't know what to study. I'm thinking about journalism, but I don't know if I will find a good job as a journalist (at least where I live it's hard). If you could do videos about finding your path and your experience, it would be a m a z i n g.
Most universities don't require that you state your major right away, and actually encourage that you state your major in your 3rd year! I just started university in September and am sort of just taking courses that I'm interested in to help me decide where I want to go. Don't worry right now about what exactly you want to study. Take multiple different kinds of english or arts/humanities courses and see what you enjoy!
The idea of you making free educational videos excite me. I have always wanted to do further education courses espically in English, but never been able to afford it. So chatty educational videos sound great!
i'm in my senior year of university and i'm sad real real sad. I feel like I've learned things but have not grasped any of my subjects very well because i'm always moving from one class to another, one assignment to the next assignment to the next essay and readings. My brain is very disorganized and I just feel mad at myself for taking out loans for university and my dad keeps asking do I wanna get a Master's and i'm like no idk after 4 years idk what even really interests me. I don't even like my major. i need a mental break.
i'm so glad i watched this video & i'd be so excited to hear more! i'm applying to grad school rn (hecka nervous) and it's so nice to hear someone talk about what it's actually like to be a student on this course :)
Ariel, you could talk about dirt and I'd watch it. The way you speak and present your ideas is such a pleasure to me. I feel smarter just listening to you, and inspired to DO THINGS that I love.
I love this kind of video! Like you said perfect for doing other stuff to. I'm an architecture student so listen to a lot of stuff when drawing and have been working my through your podcast recently!
I just finished my masters as well and I can understand how you feel (there were four people in my program), there is a feeling of exclusivity to graduate school. But I think that needs to be the be all, end all if that's not what you want. The education is what you make of it. If you are interested in a channel that does what you are talking about doing with your channel, check out The Art Assignment, Sarah Green (John Green's wife) does with art what you want to do with literature. She does great videos about art theory and specific artists (along with fun videos and answering questions about art) that are educational and fun. She gives concise information about what you would learn in art history classes. It might be a good framework for the type of channel that you want to create.
I love hearing you talk, Ariel! Any video you do is great! You're so engaging and your passion really shows through everything you say and create! Do more of these please! It's great to get to know you more through these sit down, free flowing videos!
I really agree with you, I don’t like the idea that education is only for certain people, in addition to the cost of studying, some people don’t complete their education thinking that they are not smart enough, but learning is not a race and no one lose in it because it is a growth and growing is not always mean getting A in every subject.
I'm just shy of getting my BA, so no masters for me anytime soon (if ever), but I just gotta say that I'm LOVING university so much?? Like yes it can be very stressful at times, but I find that with each year it gets better and better for me. Like I'm finally feeling as if I know what I'm doing and am actually contributing rather than just listening? Gah, it's been great. Just had to say that, because it really does get better (I dropped out of uni during my first semester and took a gap year, so if someone out there is feeling troubled just know that there's no shame in retrying
Loving this chatty video! Your idea to share the interesting topics that pop up in your university classes is wonderful. It gives me class discussion vibes which is my favorite part of an English course. Can't wait to see what types of videos are on the horizon!
Finally!! You are saying a lot of interesting stuff here, finally, I see a booktuber going to a bigger scale, you've got it, Ariel, you keep going that way!!!! It's important that people get to know what it's only available in the academical space of university, just because they don't have the economical sources.
I love chatty videos.. nothing like seeing a 20+ minute video from a favorite channel! So great to have on in the background when making meals or cleaning.
Whatever you put out we will watch and love. We’ll always be here, don’t worry or put yourself under stress! You inspire me so much. I a, having to take a break from my channel due to health struggles at the moment, but seeing the quality of your content just makes me want to get back in front of the camera! I love books and talk about my palliative illness. Take all the time in the world Hun, take a break - you work hard and really deserve one xx
It's so refreshing to hear someone say that while they love the learning and discussing ideas aspect of university, they despise how elitist and intimidating the system is, because I feel exactly the same way. I find these rambly videos really interesting and thought-provoking so I'll definitely be watching if you decide to do more videos like this.
When I was doing my last year of undergrad (computer-sciency stuff, not English, ahah), I was approached a couple times by professors asking me if I'd be interested in continuing to do a masters in research. I've always been a great student (finished second in my program), and I've always liked school, but I knew it wasn't for me. Every time they asked, it was always an instant "no" from me. I'm getting my bachelor, and then finding a job, thank you very much! And now, almost 6 years later, I don't regret it a single bit.
Do not worry, Ariel! Any kind of video regarding studies and education, as well as casual chatting, are totally appreciated from my side! You're style of expressing thoughts and explaining things is so awesome and I can follow you so well. (:
i really liked this video. i'm an architecture student, so hearing what someone needs to do for your degree/masters is always fascinating. also, i don't live in canada, so the differences between the educational systems are interesting to learn about. this video was kinda refreshing, since it was different from all the other book-centric videos that almost all booktubers make. i of course like all of those types of videos as well, but this is something different and cool. i hope you make more of these :)
How weird that only so many people do a master's degree at your University! In Belgium it's standard and I would almost say expected to do one. (PhD is another story of course)
Nina Same in Germany, it was so strange for me to find out that doing a master’s isn’t as common in other places. To be fair though, we don’t have tuition fees here so I guess that that also plays a big role in why so many people do a master’s
FredeReads Yeah, and in America the tuition for for grad school is usually more expensive than it is to get a standard graduates in university. The lowest tuition to get a master's I've seen in my area is $25k a semester, and that's cheap. So it's just not worth it when most companies will hire a graduate degree.
Alexei Richards my masters cost $40,000 (for two years)....my bachelors was $40,000 (four years)! Not to mention all the interest. It's fine lol everything's fine.
Lindsay Puckett Wow that’s honestly insane. Here you only pay for administrative stuff so depending on where you are a two-year master’s could be as low as 400€ and wouldn’t really get more expensive than 2000€ in total so that probably really is the reason why we’ve got such a different mentality when it comes to postgraduate degrees.
It's super expensive, a lot of people wait or get jobs that will pay for it. I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do. as I've seen, the typical price is $20k a year.
I would love to learn about literature but I would never do university degree on it. Just the thought of subjective grading and esays gives me shivers. Until I had a history class in uni, I didin't even know that I was studying science. So the best thing about learning from youtube is that it doesn't give you a grade on what you cramed overnight and you get to just learn from interesting people who you really like.
I really like this video. I can't imagine the stresses on you but I really love your viewpoint of sharing your information with everyone! Like a few of the people here in the comments, I dropped out of college after about 5 years there. (changed my major about a year or two in) My mental health and physical health was deteriorating. I was getting sick, not eating well, sleeping long hours and staying up stupidly late, and my anxiety was in overdrive mode. If I was going to be late for a class my anxiety would make me just turn around and go back to my room to avoid having to walk in and have everyone stare at me. If there was a project coming up that required group work I would skip that class to avoid having to partner up/talk to others. My grades started slipping and I finally just broke down and told my parents I could not continue. They were fairly cool about it and I haven't even thought about going back since then.
Definitely enjoyed this video. Partly that's because I did a one-year humanities MA myself a number of years ago, also with no intention of going on to become an academic, so it was interesting to hear about your experience of that. But I also enjoyed it because it was great hearing your perspective as someone new to academia -- my partner, one of my sisters, and lots of other people I know are academics, so I hear lots of that older, experienced, and somewhat jaded perspective, and I really appreciated seeing it all through fresh eyes, as it were, and with fresh enthusiasm. :) (The one kind of downer note that I would add is that while your peers may all *think* that they are going to go on to do PhDs and become faculty, probably most of them aren't...it's actually really unfair that graduate schools are almost universally not honest about how hard it is, even once you've finished your PhD, to get a tenure-track faculty position, especially in the humanities and social sciences. So many people end up disillusioned and leaving the academy entirely or stuck doing incredibly underpaid precarious academic labour for years and years. I don't have any links off hand, but there is good critical writing out there that's a bit more honest than most grad programs are about how brutal the academic job market can be.)
Hi Ariel! I really liked this chat. Well done you for balancing your Masters and keeping up with your youtube! I also completed a one year Masters (history) in England (I'm Canadian), and I agree it was very fast-tracked! I am still on the fence about whether to continue into academia-- it always sounds appealing when I'm not currently in school lol. I definitely see your points about allowing others to gain the information you are lucky enough to be learning. Wishing you luck with finishing your semester!
Yes to the insular culture of academia. We need to share our info with non-specialists. I relate so much to your experience in grad school. More of us need to make videos about what we learn. It’s hard for grad students to get encouragement from profs when they want to get non-academic jobs. It’s ridiculous. There are some excellent, intellectually stimulating jobs outside of academia, but academia places a stigma on those jobs. I have a Master’s from a state uni and I’m currently doing my PhD at a private uni in French. Oh, and grading papers and exams is torture. I hate how repetitive it is. I don’t mind giving a bad grade when it’s deserved but I am generous. Make more videos like this :)
As someone who is terrified about making decisions about my own future education, I LOVE hearing about your journey. I would also love to hear about juggling life along with reading, because its something I have been struggling with as well, so I hope you make more of these. Good luck with it all!
I am loving this video ! I feel like we get to know you better with all your rambles and coughs and just generally the whole essence of you being you without editing or planning is really nice. I enjoyed it a lot and i hope you keep making these !
I’m a Canadian who did my undergrad at Ottawa and went abroad to Holland to do a one year masters and it’s so interesting to hear about the different environment and expectations between the two types of programs despite the fact they are the same kind of thing.
I love this kind of video! I hope you keep doing them when you have time. Your comment about learning more in one semester of Masters than you did in an entire Undergrad really resonated with me. I felt the exact same way when I did my Masters, although I did mine in a completely different subject (music performance!) The learning curve is so steep. I hope you have a restful winter break!
I LOVED this video. Because of many reasons, I will never go to college, but I've always been interested in learning and how it is for people who do get to go. It was so nice to have this while I did Thanksgiving cleanup; you have such a vibrant and personable voice and are a joy to listen to 💜 Thank you for sharing with us.
I love these kinds of videos and appreciate this as someone who is a student of English, creative writing, and education (I’m going to be a middle or high school English teacher). I spend a lot of time thinking about issues you address, as I also have wanted to make educational videos for a long time but have been swamped with schoolwork and other projects. Also, I’m amazed at how many masters and PhD students teach classes right off the bat because I’m going through so much experience and theory and psychology for 4 years to be a teacher! Granted, more creative lesson ideas and new might work better at the younger and the compulsory school level when you have your own classroom. I’ve been concerned about grading essays too, because grades can be so subjective, so I’m hoping to shift the culture of my classroom to more focus on improvement and learning rather than numbers.
I love this type of video! I always feel like you get to know the person a bit more with the rambly videos! I love when people who talk about a certain topic, like booktube, talk about topics or throw in videos that don’t necessarily have anything to do with their channel!
I'd like to express all my admiration for your work and authenticity! Thank you a lot for such kindness and for sharing your love for books and Education! Here in Brazil I've been connecting with people like you to find some solutions. You're a inspiration to us! ❤️
I was actually just talking about this with my other English major friends about the language barrier that knowledge has and the words that we know that separate us from the people who don't know. It's all very troubling to me as well. Sidenote: I taught my first two lessons over Animal Farm and you were in the back of my mind the whole time. I loved this video!!!
I absolutely loved this style of video! I'm currently in the first year of my undergrad degree so it was fascinating to hear you talk about how your masters is even more of a step up - it sounds like a loooooot of work! It will be fab to have more sit-down chatty videos like these and also to hear how your course is going :)
I love these kind of videos!!!!!! I am currently an undergrad English Major and I do plan to attain a masters and a PhD in English as well. I think it is incredible that you want to share all the knowledge you learn in your classes at university, and I highly support and recommend that you do. Like you were saying about feminist critics, I would LOVE to watch another 25 minute video about it. I personally do not plan on becoming an English professor at the moment, but the reason I want to continue with my schooling is because of how much I love school. Personally, I am the most happiest when I am sitting in a class learning things everyday that I never knew. So, YEEESSSSSSSSS, I would totally love more videos like this!
I love these types of videos! I just reorganised my bookshelf while listening to you chat away. I love the idea of education videos that inform on topics that are interesting even if you aren’t necessarily interested in that topic, eg I love sci show for all the little informative tidbits and learning without feeling obligated to, it’s more fun than anything else!
Dear Ariel, Your idea about sharing what you learn and know as an English literature is amazing. It's something I keep looking for. I've studied Business and IT myself, but as reading is a passion of mine I was always intrigued by the Liberal Arts programs. Never enough to consider studying it in university and that somehow leaves a bitter aftertaste. I have a lot of friends who got their degrees in Liberal Arts and it always astounded and upset me how with each year/degree they get more and more disdainful towards any reader without the degree. Any thought or idea shared is always scoffed at with the air of "I've spent N years studying this subject, what could you possible have to say that it interesting or new". And for some reason they never wanted to or agreed to share the knowledge. I quite aware that when I read a certain book I might miss or not know of a certain historic reference or pick up a theme or tone of a book. It is hard for me - and why wouldn't it be? I never studied these principles or developed certain skills. Anyway, what you are saying is like balm to my heart! I'd love to watch more of your "rambling" videos on any literature and life related topics.
I'm also currently a literature MA student! Although I'm in my second year out of a two-year program, I know you must feel very overwhelmed in a one-year program. Even now, juggling teaching as well on assistantship, I do feel a bit overstimulated for also working on my thesis, and I share the bewilderment of my small class sizes. But largely, I'm so glad I'm in my program. I feel very liberated to feel I'm contributing in some form to all of the ideas I've had about books, and just talking about books in general. But I share your feelings with academia, for me its a matter of not feeling too motivated to land publications, but instead spill my enthusiasm to my classmates and professors. No matter what you do with your degree, I wish you luck! Also p.s. I also binge watch Mercy's videos like this haha and look forward to doing the same with yours!
I have struggled with going back to collage for a masters in English. This has helped me realize that it is not the path I am wanting to take. Thank you.
Hi Ariel :) I just found your channel in the past couple of days, and I already feel so connected to you and the community you've built. I'm currently a senior in English undergrad, but I'm actually taking a 5th year to delay "real life." It's incredibly refreshing to hear you be excited about your career instead of terrified, which is how I feel constantly. It seems like STEM grads have a monopoly on the job market and contentment sometimes. I'm so glad I found you. I feel more inspired than I have in years, and I can't wait to see where your channel goes!
That part about teaching was so interesting because I never really get inside on how teachers must feel (I'm a highschool student) and I recognized those types of teachers that don't like giving students bad marks ( one teacher at my school even once said she cried while marking; later it turned out she used the wrong table of the mark percentages and everyone was actually way better :D)
I loved this chatty style of video! I’m currently a first year English undergraduate, and I know very few people who went to university, so it is great to hear and learn from your experiences. Thanks Ariel! xx
LOVE THE CHATTING VIDEO! I’ve been waiting for you to do this all year!! Just talk about anything. Your voice and ideas are so positive, hilarious and informative. I can’t wait to buy whatever you publish!
I LOVED this video!! I know you like making concise and short videos, and I enjoy every single one of them, but you talking for almost half an hour? Perfect. Thank you so much for uploading this, I can't wait to watch whatever you will come up with next :)
Ariel, you are so inspiring. Out of all the content creators I follow, I'm most excited to follow your career and see what grand ideas you come up with! I just finished my undergrad in digital humanities and now I'm just waffling around, trying to figure out what to do next. I share your views of academia and your desire to create awesome projects! I love this style of rambling videos. You're awesome. Thanks for being so genuine :)
I’ve just rediscovered your channel and, Ariel, I loveeee this content! I think it’s interesting, thought-provoking, original, and all around entertaining. Please keep making these chatty videos, I feel like I’m discussing a topic with a friend, and I’m learning so much. Thank you!
I’m a junior at university and I’ve been looking at master programs lately because I do love learning and I feel it should be the next step after I get my bachelors. This type of video is so so helpful because I don’t actually know what to expect if I do decide to peruse a masters and if it really is what I want to do or not. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!😄
Yes Girl, we do want more of this kind of videos. God, I'm so in awe of your how articulate you are. It's interesting how different education looks around the world. I'm also finishing my master's this year, and in my country (Poland) this focus on becoming a uni professor starts on PhD. But we have a bigger dissertation to write (I think; it has too be more than 144 000 words and include scientific research). I'm not saying it's better or worse, but since we want people to be able to go and study around the world, the same standards should be put in place. Sometimes I wish I could go to US/Canadian uni, because of the reading thing students do. My studies are (to simplify) librarianship and information management. We did courses about theater and drama and reading... And you can do 5 years of studying without reading one book. Only one professor made us read articles and then talk about it. I wish I could do more, because it could make me be better and analyzing books and texts just for myself. Now that I'm in 5th year, all we do in practical, editing photos and scanning things and being able to manage digital objects. It's cool, but I wish for more reading. Anyway, I hope you'll go through this. Can't wait for more videos, especially education-based.
I absolutely love these kinds of videos, you always have something interesting and thought provoking to share and long videos are so wonderful because they allow you to speak so much more in depth!
I really like this type of video! (I like podcasts and stuff so this type of format is perfect for me) Also I agree with making learning more accessible and free! Not just for people with the privilege to go to uni. Thank you for being a person! Xxx
I'm starting an English MA in January and am really excited about. I graduated in May with a BA in Journalism so it'll be a bit of a change, but not too drastic. I love hearing you talk about this stuff. Looking forward to future videos.
I LOOOOOVE these kinds of videos!!! And I love listening to your voice and hear you talk about your life and your struggles because I feel the exact same way about uni-and it's good to know that you're not alone
School was hell for me, the most boring thing that I was sadly forced to do by law 😭 I'll never forget that for five years (the worst part which was five years of high school' I was forced to go to this building everyday for five days for seven hours with people I didn't get along with and lessons that were incredibly boring. All together if you include primary, 16 years of my life were taken away from me. I have learned far more on my own time and on my own terms with things I actually want to know. I don't have letters being stamped every time I find out a fact. No boring essays. School is TORTURE to me. I will always carry that resentment.
I understand your position in regards to the whole academia bureaucracy and the whole "publish or perish" culture and (at least in my country) the poor access to public universities and very little pocket the government has for those institutions. Your point on the access to knowledge being restricted to university, when videos that can reach people without the financial means to study "officially" can be revolutionary, is also something that I agree with and bothers me a lot - especially now with the loss of net neutrality. We're a generation that has seen some of the best humanity can give, and we're entering a new dark political climate and things are getting scary. We need access to knowledge for all, we need to break this system and we need equity and a sense of community. I studied Biology and it was only after I was reaching the end of my journey as an undergraduate that I realised what being a biologist would mean. Depending on scholarships and working under so much pressure and being basically at the mercy of my tenure peers is definitely not for me. Those tenure, older colleagues are part of the ones who are interested in keeping the university circles to elites, because they'll have less competition; and rich people who have the pocket to finance scientific investigation lead the way "new findings" follow; and the portion of people aware of how social and political even STEM sciences are is way too small. Those with power want us ignorant, and I'm frustrated because I don't have a solution for this, for this whole world where you're played with and read as "dumb" just because you didn't have money to have a further level of education. Sorry for the rant Ariel, but this video really touched my heart and unleashed all these disjointed thoughts.
I love these videos you post. They're so interesting and I love your passion on specific and innovative literary topics. I especially loved the way you analyzed "Catcher in the Rye" and I loved your analysis in the "Exploring Magical Realism" videos! I always end up learning something new whenever I watch any of your videos!
Omg Ariel!! You are so dedicated, so smart, and so likeable! I am so glad you are reaching for the stars! And the fact you want to share this info with us is so kind and caring!! I love your Channel and you overall.
i love these types of videos!! they're so much fun to just put on whenever i'm doing something that doesn't involve much thought, because of the way that it sounds like a podcast. i think the idea to do more educational ones would be great! as someone who is not yet in university (or even high school, to be completely honest), i find myself doing a lot of research over concepts that i've already grasped. being able to listen to someone that has learned whatever subject it is would be an absolutely fantastic idea. thank you so much ariel!
KEEP DOING YOUR THING. I'm a MA student as well (in Denmark) and I relate so much to this. But not a lot of people talk about it. People are in such awe of academia....
I do have a college degree. However, I've found that a classroom setting is not the best environment for me to learn. Too much is thrown at me at once for me to process and absorb the information. Throughout college I felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants . I did all-nighters working on term papers or cramming for tests. I'm not even sure how much information I've retained from my years in school, but the most valuable thing I gained from college was learning to think for myself. I've heard several BookTubers talking about being a mood reader. I am too, but I am also that way with learning. I get so interested in a subject that it becomes an obsession to learn as much as I can about it. I read books, watch documentaries and UA-cam videos until I'm satisfied, get burned out, or find another subject to move onto. Outside of a classroom I have the leisure to go at my own pace, focus on the things that interest me the most, and drop it and go onto something different anytime I want. I appreciate people like you, who want to make education available to the public, and your UA-cam videos often sparks ideas and thoughts that I may not have considered.
I really enjoy this type of video! it feels like we get to just sit down and chat with you, you're really passionate and personable! I love it!! More please :)
keep doing these videos!! i love it because you're talking about things you really care about and you are just so easy to listen to! it feels like hanging out with a friend and catching up :)
YES please make more videos like this. I'm a senior year English major trying to figure out my life so I can't even tell you how much I appreciate this kind of content 😅
In South Africa, pharmacists are really in demand. I'm doing my undergraduate in pharmacy now, so when people suggest I do masters, i just think about how it would feel like a waste of time and money. As a high school student, I really idolised people who studied further and felt as if I should, but now that I've seen academia and the environment, I doubt I'll study further. It won't really help job opportunities, and post graduate education is not always about learning. It's not the fun type of learning where I tackle classics in my own time, or when I learn to play instruments. Post graduate education is gruelling, and like with any other decision, I think it's important to think carefully about why you're entering it. There's absolutely no shame in being happy with just an undergraduate, if that is all you need to reach your goals.
These chatty videos are so inspiring!😍 You have so much interesting things to share and you're so good at making it coherent and easy to follow. Every time I watch one of your chatty videos I feel lika I get a new, deeper perspective on life/literature/university. I look forward to more "educational" videos in the future!😙
I love your videos! Your videos are honestly my favourite Booktube videos to watch - especially your videos on poetry and discussions, because I love to listen to discussions and am greatly interested in poetry. You're amazing x
All of your videos are amazing, book and non book related. I'm currently in my first year of university and although I love everything I'm learning it is definitely a period of a lot of self-discovery, but also a lot of self-doubt.Hopefully, I can figure out what direction I want to pursue and feel fully content. Keep up the great work!
I love this kind of video. You have so many thoughts and I'm grateful you sit down and spend the time to share them. Usually I agree, but often you pose thoughts in such a way that it makes me think and I love that. I love learning in whatever form it comes and it's wonderful to see someone who clearly loves it as much as I do as you are so passionate. So yes, please make more videos just sharing your thoughts.
This is such a fascinating video, Ariel! Chatty videos are definitely the way to go if it‘s what works for you right now. I also love your way of thinking when it comes to sharing what you‘re learning. I felt very much the same at university in that I was so frustrated with learning these amazing things, but then only getting to write an essay that (at best) a couple of other people would read, give me an abstract mark that doesn’t really say anything and that would be it. But I can totally see you making amazing, creative educational videos that a much broader public could benefit from. I cannot wait what you will get up once you‘ve finished Uni!
I love this style of video! I’m studying architecture and I love having videos on in the background while I’m working on my designs, and this was perfect, it was so interesting, please make more! 💖
This is great. I love the way you talk about your studies. I'm in my first year of university in Argentina, I want to become a Spanish teacher. Your videos really pop out in booktube, you don't just do book hauls or things like that. Keep with your hard work, congratulations!!!
I’m also in my first year of an English masters with a teaching assistantship, and I completely could relate to everything you said in this video. My school doesn’t have a 1-year track, you are lucky yours does! That’s awesome!
I really love these videos. Subscribers watch people on UA-cam not only because we like the content but most importantly the person. Which is why I enjoy these chatty videos because I like your personality which these type of videos really showcase. I hope you continue to make more of these.
Ariel. I absolutely loved this video! It might be my favorite out of all your videos! I loved the different subjects you talked about and you sharing your thoughts and ideas.. It was so interesting. I had a great time. I’m currently a junior in high school studying science and I keep thinking about college and how that’s gonna be for me, especially since I don’t really know what I “want” exactly. Watching you talk about education with such passion made me so happy because there aren’t many people who are passionate about learning and the fact that you are is amazing! Keep making these type of videos, I fully support you ❤️
ooh documentary!!! that's so interesting!! But also yes I completely understand the feeling of 'academia isn't for me'. I go to film school and while it's great for networking, working on sets and getting a small feel for how the film industry works, in general, I feel like a lot of the classes I'm taking are ones that I do not need and/ or could learn from working on professional sets? I canNOT WAIT to get out of school so I can really start exploring the industry. school's a great stepping stone but in no way can I see it as a destination. I loVE THE IDEA OF EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC THING Academia is soOOO isolated, I swear if every lecture could be a youtube video I'd be so much more interested hahaha. I would love to see more videos on what it's like to be a TA/ what your masters is like!! definitely love this kind of video!!
I really love your incites into your Master's program, job, and plans for the future! More videos like this would be great. Keep up the good work and good luck with school!
i love this! pls continue i'm at the end of my first semeseter of my literature degree and i love hearing your journey navigating this (omgreallyreallyfreakingconfusingbutreallycool) world!
I love to see you talking about books, but I also love when you talk about other stuff. Either way, I'll be here to watch. S2
Thank you!!! It's really nice to hear this :D
I noticed a video on your channel about Norway, but I don't understand Portuguese so, I'm wondering, do you live in Norway?
Chika Anene She lives in Canada. Sometimes, she visits London.
I actually dropped out of college. It was the most toxic environment for me. I was in the hospital like twice a semester because I was just constantly sick, I was so afraid of approaching teachers because they were so up their own ass, the social justice environment felt almost controlling, its the reason I was diagnosed with severe generalized anxiety and I literally had a mental breakdown in my last semester. I felt completely suffocated and stuck and I got so depressed that I just kept skipping because I just couldn't be bothered. It's hard trying to make your parents understand that. No matter how many times I say it's never gonna happen, my dad is still pressuring me to go to uni. Right now I'm working to save up money to take a dog grooming course, and once I get good at it I'd like to take a do training course and eventually work in shelters and rescues. I wish we lived in a society where people didn't look down their nose at you if you tell them you dropped out. There are so many options out there, but all anyone sees is uni. So I admire people who continue their schooling, I could just never do it because it Fucking destroyed me.
This view of getting degree being the only way to succeed in life is sad and is taught to children at such a young age. When I was student teaching, I explained to a group of first graders that I was going to college so that I could be an elementary school teacher. One little girl said that she didn't want to go to any more school and, before I could say anything, another little girl says "Well, you have to go to college if you want to be smart."
School just isn't for some people. There's no shame in that.
Thank you so much for your comment
I know so many people who got below average grades who are among the most intelligent people I know and I feel dumb around them even with my straight A’s. College and school is not for everyone and most people probably don’t really enjoy the process, they just love learning in general not exactly the format.
Find something that actually gives you meaning. Sorry that you had to experience such a horrible time, I have friends with similar stories. Life’s just too short to not live it the way you want to.
Tara Taillon I've been through that..some teachers can seriously ruin your perspective of education while some can bring up the light. But hey life is so much more than education...what and where you find happiness is the ultimate meaning of life.
Tara Taillon I love your plan for dog grooming. That sounds like a LOVELY ambition and profession and I wish you the very best!!
I really like these kinds of videos. Especially since all the topics you choose are always SO interesting and I just love listening to you talk about all the things you are passionate about! I'm going to university in a year so learning things about masters is really cool! I'm also struggling to know what I really want to work as, since I've always wanted to be a writer, but I don't know what to study. I'm thinking about journalism, but I don't know if I will find a good job as a journalist (at least where I live it's hard). If you could do videos about finding your path and your experience, it would be a m a z i n g.
divergentgurl 14 I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed this! It definitely encourages me to do it again!
Most universities don't require that you state your major right away, and actually encourage that you state your major in your 3rd year! I just started university in September and am sort of just taking courses that I'm interested in to help me decide where I want to go. Don't worry right now about what exactly you want to study. Take multiple different kinds of english or arts/humanities courses and see what you enjoy!
The idea of you making free educational videos excite me. I have always wanted to do further education courses espically in English, but never been able to afford it. So chatty educational videos sound great!
I would love to watch your educational videos, that’d be great! I love how your channel is evolving with you and your life.
I don't what they'd be like or when they'd happen, but it's definitely something that's on my mind!
i'm in my senior year of university and i'm sad real real sad. I feel like I've learned things but have not grasped any of my subjects very well because i'm always moving from one class to another, one assignment to the next assignment to the next essay and readings. My brain is very disorganized and I just feel mad at myself for taking out loans for university and my dad keeps asking do I wanna get a Master's and i'm like no idk after 4 years idk what even really interests me. I don't even like my major. i need a mental break.
i'm only in my sophomore year but this is how i feel rn
I totally feel this, I'm in my second year and I just feel like i'm not taking anything in and my brain is super overwhelmed
i'm so glad i watched this video & i'd be so excited to hear more! i'm applying to grad school rn (hecka nervous) and it's so nice to hear someone talk about what it's actually like to be a student on this course :)
Ariel, you could talk about dirt and I'd watch it. The way you speak and present your ideas is such a pleasure to me. I feel smarter just listening to you, and inspired to DO THINGS that I love.
I LOVE this style of video. I feel like I got a lot out of it and I'm really happy you made it
I love this kind of video! Like you said perfect for doing other stuff to. I'm an architecture student so listen to a lot of stuff when drawing and have been working my through your podcast recently!
LemonSockGirl Amazing! I hope you liked the podcast episodes!!
I just finished my masters as well and I can understand how you feel (there were four people in my program), there is a feeling of exclusivity to graduate school. But I think that needs to be the be all, end all if that's not what you want. The education is what you make of it. If you are interested in a channel that does what you are talking about doing with your channel, check out The Art Assignment, Sarah Green (John Green's wife) does with art what you want to do with literature. She does great videos about art theory and specific artists (along with fun videos and answering questions about art) that are educational and fun. She gives concise information about what you would learn in art history classes. It might be a good framework for the type of channel that you want to create.
I love hearing you talk, Ariel! Any video you do is great! You're so engaging and your passion really shows through everything you say and create! Do more of these please! It's great to get to know you more through these sit down, free flowing videos!
I really agree with you, I don’t like the idea that education is only for certain people, in addition to the cost of studying, some people don’t complete their education thinking that they are not smart enough, but learning is not a race and no one lose in it because it is a growth and growing is not always mean getting A in every subject.
I'm just shy of getting my BA, so no masters for me anytime soon (if ever), but I just gotta say that I'm LOVING university so much?? Like yes it can be very stressful at times, but I find that with each year it gets better and better for me. Like I'm finally feeling as if I know what I'm doing and am actually contributing rather than just listening? Gah, it's been great. Just had to say that, because it really does get better (I dropped out of uni during my first semester and took a gap year, so if someone out there is feeling troubled just know that there's no shame in retrying
I ADORE HOW FLUENT YOU COULD MAKE IT IN JUST ONE TAKE hell yeah i like this type of videos
Loving this chatty video! Your idea to share the interesting topics that pop up in your university classes is wonderful. It gives me class discussion vibes which is my favorite part of an English course. Can't wait to see what types of videos are on the horizon!
I didn’t know I needed this but thank you! I love watching you talk about other things than books.
Finally!! You are saying a lot of interesting stuff here, finally, I see a booktuber going to a bigger scale, you've got it, Ariel, you keep going that way!!!! It's important that people get to know what it's only available in the academical space of university, just because they don't have the economical sources.
I love chatty videos.. nothing like seeing a 20+ minute video from a favorite channel! So great to have on in the background when making meals or cleaning.
Whatever you put out we will watch and love. We’ll always be here, don’t worry or put yourself under stress! You inspire me so much. I a, having to take a break from my channel due to health struggles at the moment, but seeing the quality of your content just makes me want to get back in front of the camera! I love books and talk about my palliative illness. Take all the time in the world Hun, take a break - you work hard and really deserve one xx
It's so refreshing to hear someone say that while they love the learning and discussing ideas aspect of university, they despise how elitist and intimidating the system is, because I feel exactly the same way. I find these rambly videos really interesting and thought-provoking so I'll definitely be watching if you decide to do more videos like this.
When I was doing my last year of undergrad (computer-sciency stuff, not English, ahah), I was approached a couple times by professors asking me if I'd be interested in continuing to do a masters in research. I've always been a great student (finished second in my program), and I've always liked school, but I knew it wasn't for me. Every time they asked, it was always an instant "no" from me. I'm getting my bachelor, and then finding a job, thank you very much!
And now, almost 6 years later, I don't regret it a single bit.
I love your ethics about learning and sharing knowledge - thank you for sharing yours with us!
I love these long chatty video’s! Like lucy’s sunday social. Keep making these pleeeeeaaasssseeeee!
Do not worry, Ariel! Any kind of video regarding studies and education, as well as casual chatting, are totally appreciated from my side! You're style of expressing thoughts and explaining things is so awesome and I can follow you so well. (:
i really liked this video. i'm an architecture student, so hearing what someone needs to do for your degree/masters is always fascinating. also, i don't live in canada, so the differences between the educational systems are interesting to learn about. this video was kinda refreshing, since it was different from all the other book-centric videos that almost all booktubers make. i of course like all of those types of videos as well, but this is something different and cool. i hope you make more of these :)
How weird that only so many people do a master's degree at your University! In Belgium it's standard and I would almost say expected to do one. (PhD is another story of course)
Nina Same in Germany, it was so strange for me to find out that doing a master’s isn’t as common in other places. To be fair though, we don’t have tuition fees here so I guess that that also plays a big role in why so many people do a master’s
FredeReads Yeah, and in America the tuition for for grad school is usually more expensive than it is to get a standard graduates in university. The lowest tuition to get a master's I've seen in my area is $25k a semester, and that's cheap. So it's just not worth it when most companies will hire a graduate degree.
Alexei Richards my masters cost $40,000 (for two years)....my bachelors was $40,000 (four years)! Not to mention all the interest. It's fine lol everything's fine.
Lindsay Puckett Wow that’s honestly insane. Here you only pay for administrative stuff so depending on where you are a two-year master’s could be as low as 400€ and wouldn’t really get more expensive than 2000€ in total so that probably really is the reason why we’ve got such a different mentality when it comes to postgraduate degrees.
It's super expensive, a lot of people wait or get jobs that will pay for it. I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do. as I've seen, the typical price is $20k a year.
Please make more videos like this! I love watching longer videos while getting ready in the morning
I would love to learn about literature but I would never do university degree on it. Just the thought of subjective grading and esays gives me shivers. Until I had a history class in uni, I didin't even know that I was studying science. So the best thing about learning from youtube is that it doesn't give you a grade on what you cramed overnight and you get to just learn from interesting people who you really like.
Finally I can open the video...Super excited...
I really like this video. I can't imagine the stresses on you but I really love your viewpoint of sharing your information with everyone! Like a few of the people here in the comments, I dropped out of college after about 5 years there. (changed my major about a year or two in) My mental health and physical health was deteriorating. I was getting sick, not eating well, sleeping long hours and staying up stupidly late, and my anxiety was in overdrive mode. If I was going to be late for a class my anxiety would make me just turn around and go back to my room to avoid having to walk in and have everyone stare at me. If there was a project coming up that required group work I would skip that class to avoid having to partner up/talk to others. My grades started slipping and I finally just broke down and told my parents I could not continue. They were fairly cool about it and I haven't even thought about going back since then.
Definitely enjoyed this video. Partly that's because I did a one-year humanities MA myself a number of years ago, also with no intention of going on to become an academic, so it was interesting to hear about your experience of that. But I also enjoyed it because it was great hearing your perspective as someone new to academia -- my partner, one of my sisters, and lots of other people I know are academics, so I hear lots of that older, experienced, and somewhat jaded perspective, and I really appreciated seeing it all through fresh eyes, as it were, and with fresh enthusiasm. :) (The one kind of downer note that I would add is that while your peers may all *think* that they are going to go on to do PhDs and become faculty, probably most of them aren't...it's actually really unfair that graduate schools are almost universally not honest about how hard it is, even once you've finished your PhD, to get a tenure-track faculty position, especially in the humanities and social sciences. So many people end up disillusioned and leaving the academy entirely or stuck doing incredibly underpaid precarious academic labour for years and years. I don't have any links off hand, but there is good critical writing out there that's a bit more honest than most grad programs are about how brutal the academic job market can be.)
I love this kind of video because listening to them in the background as you work, shop, or do chores is helpful? to me.
Hi Ariel! I really liked this chat. Well done you for balancing your Masters and keeping up with your youtube! I also completed a one year Masters (history) in England (I'm Canadian), and I agree it was very fast-tracked! I am still on the fence about whether to continue into academia-- it always sounds appealing when I'm not currently in school lol. I definitely see your points about allowing others to gain the information you are lucky enough to be learning. Wishing you luck with finishing your semester!
Yes to the insular culture of academia. We need to share our info with non-specialists. I relate so much to your experience in grad school. More of us need to make videos about what we learn. It’s hard for grad students to get encouragement from profs when they want to get non-academic jobs. It’s ridiculous. There are some excellent, intellectually stimulating jobs outside of academia, but academia places a stigma on those jobs. I have a Master’s from a state uni and I’m currently doing my PhD at a private uni in French. Oh, and grading papers and exams is torture. I hate how repetitive it is. I don’t mind giving a bad grade when it’s deserved but I am generous. Make more videos like this :)
As someone who is terrified about making decisions about my own future education, I LOVE hearing about your journey. I would also love to hear about juggling life along with reading, because its something I have been struggling with as well, so I hope you make more of these. Good luck with it all!
I loved this video!! It's nice to hear about a person's actual life instead of just their hobby. I FEEL LIKE WE'RE FRIENDS AW
I'm an undergrad studying biology but I can still really relate to a lot of what you're saying. Thanks for making me feel less alone :)
I am loving this video ! I feel like we get to know you better with all your rambles and coughs and just generally the whole essence of you being you without editing or planning is really nice. I enjoyed it a lot and i hope you keep making these !
I’m a Canadian who did my undergrad at Ottawa and went abroad to Holland to do a one year masters and it’s so interesting to hear about the different environment and expectations between the two types of programs despite the fact they are the same kind of thing.
I love this kind of video! I hope you keep doing them when you have time. Your comment about learning more in one semester of Masters than you did in an entire Undergrad really resonated with me. I felt the exact same way when I did my Masters, although I did mine in a completely different subject (music performance!) The learning curve is so steep. I hope you have a restful winter break!
I LOVED this video. Because of many reasons, I will never go to college, but I've always been interested in learning and how it is for people who do get to go. It was so nice to have this while I did Thanksgiving cleanup; you have such a vibrant and personable voice and are a joy to listen to 💜 Thank you for sharing with us.
I love these kinds of videos and appreciate this as someone who is a student of English, creative writing, and education (I’m going to be a middle or high school English teacher). I spend a lot of time thinking about issues you address, as I also have wanted to make educational videos for a long time but have been swamped with schoolwork and other projects. Also, I’m amazed at how many masters and PhD students teach classes right off the bat because I’m going through so much experience and theory and psychology for 4 years to be a teacher! Granted, more creative lesson ideas and new might work better at the younger and the compulsory school level when you have your own classroom. I’ve been concerned about grading essays too, because grades can be so subjective, so I’m hoping to shift the culture of my classroom to more focus on improvement and learning rather than numbers.
I love this type of video! I always feel like you get to know the person a bit more with the rambly videos! I love when people who talk about a certain topic, like booktube, talk about topics or throw in videos that don’t necessarily have anything to do with their channel!
I love these kinds of videos!!!! So entertaining. I can’t wait to watch more!
I'd like to express all my admiration for your work and authenticity! Thank you a lot for such kindness and for sharing your love for books and Education! Here in Brazil I've been connecting with people like you to find some solutions. You're a inspiration to us! ❤️
I was actually just talking about this with my other English major friends about the language barrier that knowledge has and the words that we know that separate us from the people who don't know. It's all very troubling to me as well. Sidenote: I taught my first two lessons over Animal Farm and you were in the back of my mind the whole time. I loved this video!!!
I absolutely loved this style of video! I'm currently in the first year of my undergrad degree so it was fascinating to hear you talk about how your masters is even more of a step up - it sounds like a loooooot of work! It will be fab to have more sit-down chatty videos like these and also to hear how your course is going :)
I love these kind of videos!!!!!! I am currently an undergrad English Major and I do plan to attain a masters and a PhD in English as well. I think it is incredible that you want to share all the knowledge you learn in your classes at university, and I highly support and recommend that you do. Like you were saying about feminist critics, I would LOVE to watch another 25 minute video about it. I personally do not plan on becoming an English professor at the moment, but the reason I want to continue with my schooling is because of how much I love school. Personally, I am the most happiest when I am sitting in a class learning things everyday that I never knew. So, YEEESSSSSSSSS, I would totally love more videos like this!
I love these types of videos! I just reorganised my bookshelf while listening to you chat away. I love the idea of education videos that inform on topics that are interesting even if you aren’t necessarily interested in that topic, eg I love sci show for all the little informative tidbits and learning without feeling obligated to, it’s more fun than anything else!
Dear Ariel,
Your idea about sharing what you learn and know as an English literature is amazing. It's something I keep looking for. I've studied Business and IT myself, but as reading is a passion of mine I was always intrigued by the Liberal Arts programs. Never enough to consider studying it in university and that somehow leaves a bitter aftertaste. I have a lot of friends who got their degrees in Liberal Arts and it always astounded and upset me how with each year/degree they get more and more disdainful towards any reader without the degree. Any thought or idea shared is always scoffed at with the air of "I've spent N years studying this subject, what could you possible have to say that it interesting or new". And for some reason they never wanted to or agreed to share the knowledge. I quite aware that when I read a certain book I might miss or not know of a certain historic reference or pick up a theme or tone of a book. It is hard for me - and why wouldn't it be? I never studied these principles or developed certain skills. Anyway, what you are saying is like balm to my heart! I'd love to watch more of your "rambling" videos on any literature and life related topics.
I'm also currently a literature MA student! Although I'm in my second year out of a two-year program, I know you must feel very overwhelmed in a one-year program. Even now, juggling teaching as well on assistantship, I do feel a bit overstimulated for also working on my thesis, and I share the bewilderment of my small class sizes. But largely, I'm so glad I'm in my program. I feel very liberated to feel I'm contributing in some form to all of the ideas I've had about books, and just talking about books in general. But I share your feelings with academia, for me its a matter of not feeling too motivated to land publications, but instead spill my enthusiasm to my classmates and professors. No matter what you do with your degree, I wish you luck!
Also p.s. I also binge watch Mercy's videos like this haha and look forward to doing the same with yours!
I have struggled with going back to collage for a masters in English. This has helped me realize that it is not the path I am wanting to take. Thank you.
I just love listening to you talk. You make me think and explore which is delightful.
Hi Ariel :) I just found your channel in the past couple of days, and I already feel so connected to you and the community you've built. I'm currently a senior in English undergrad, but I'm actually taking a 5th year to delay "real life." It's incredibly refreshing to hear you be excited about your career instead of terrified, which is how I feel constantly. It seems like STEM grads have a monopoly on the job market and contentment sometimes. I'm so glad I found you. I feel more inspired than I have in years, and I can't wait to see where your channel goes!
That part about teaching was so interesting because I never really get inside on how teachers must feel (I'm a highschool student) and I recognized those types of teachers that don't like giving students bad marks ( one teacher at my school even once said she cried while marking; later it turned out she used the wrong table of the mark percentages and everyone was actually way better :D)
I loved this chatty style of video! I’m currently a first year English undergraduate, and I know very few people who went to university, so it is great to hear and learn from your experiences. Thanks Ariel! xx
LOVE THE CHATTING VIDEO! I’ve been waiting for you to do this all year!! Just talk about anything. Your voice and ideas are so positive, hilarious and informative. I can’t wait to buy whatever you publish!
Honestly, I will love any type of video you make. ❤️ I just love to hear your thoughts and opinions on everything.
I love these videos! I’m stuck in front of a computer all day at work, these chats keep me sane!
I LOVED this video!! I know you like making concise and short videos, and I enjoy every single one of them, but you talking for almost half an hour? Perfect. Thank you so much for uploading this, I can't wait to watch whatever you will come up with next :)
Ariel, you are so inspiring. Out of all the content creators I follow, I'm most excited to follow your career and see what grand ideas you come up with! I just finished my undergrad in digital humanities and now I'm just waffling around, trying to figure out what to do next. I share your views of academia and your desire to create awesome projects! I love this style of rambling videos. You're awesome. Thanks for being so genuine :)
I’ve just rediscovered your channel and, Ariel, I loveeee this content! I think it’s interesting, thought-provoking, original, and all around entertaining. Please keep making these chatty videos, I feel like I’m discussing a topic with a friend, and I’m learning so much. Thank you!
I’m a junior at university and I’ve been looking at master programs lately because I do love learning and I feel it should be the next step after I get my bachelors. This type of video is so so helpful because I don’t actually know what to expect if I do decide to peruse a masters and if it really is what I want to do or not. Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom!😄
Yes Girl, we do want more of this kind of videos.
God, I'm so in awe of your how articulate you are.
It's interesting how different education looks around the world. I'm also finishing my master's this year, and in my country (Poland) this focus on becoming a uni professor starts on PhD. But we have a bigger dissertation to write (I think; it has too be more than 144 000 words and include scientific research). I'm not saying it's better or worse, but since we want people to be able to go and study around the world, the same standards should be put in place.
Sometimes I wish I could go to US/Canadian uni, because of the reading thing students do. My studies are (to simplify) librarianship and information management. We did courses about theater and drama and reading... And you can do 5 years of studying without reading one book. Only one professor made us read articles and then talk about it. I wish I could do more, because it could make me be better and analyzing books and texts just for myself. Now that I'm in 5th year, all we do in practical, editing photos and scanning things and being able to manage digital objects. It's cool, but I wish for more reading.
Anyway, I hope you'll go through this. Can't wait for more videos, especially education-based.
I absolutely love these kinds of videos, you always have something interesting and thought provoking to share and long videos are so wonderful because they allow you to speak so much more in depth!
I really like this type of video! (I like podcasts and stuff so this type of format is perfect for me) Also I agree with making learning more accessible and free! Not just for people with the privilege to go to uni. Thank you for being a person! Xxx
I'm starting an English MA in January and am really excited about. I graduated in May with a BA in Journalism so it'll be a bit of a change, but not too drastic. I love hearing you talk about this stuff. Looking forward to future videos.
I LOOOOOVE these kinds of videos!!! And I love listening to your voice and hear you talk about your life and your struggles because I feel the exact same way about uni-and it's good to know that you're not alone
School was hell for me, the most boring thing that I was sadly forced to do by law 😭 I'll never forget that for five years (the worst part which was five years of high school' I was forced to go to this building everyday for five days for seven hours with people I didn't get along with and lessons that were incredibly boring. All together if you include primary, 16 years of my life were taken away from me. I have learned far more on my own time and on my own terms with things I actually want to know. I don't have letters being stamped every time I find out a fact. No boring essays. School is TORTURE to me. I will always carry that resentment.
I understand your position in regards to the whole academia bureaucracy and the whole "publish or perish" culture and (at least in my country) the poor access to public universities and very little pocket the government has for those institutions. Your point on the access to knowledge being restricted to university, when videos that can reach people without the financial means to study "officially" can be revolutionary, is also something that I agree with and bothers me a lot - especially now with the loss of net neutrality. We're a generation that has seen some of the best humanity can give, and we're entering a new dark political climate and things are getting scary. We need access to knowledge for all, we need to break this system and we need equity and a sense of community. I studied Biology and it was only after I was reaching the end of my journey as an undergraduate that I realised what being a biologist would mean. Depending on scholarships and working under so much pressure and being basically at the mercy of my tenure peers is definitely not for me. Those tenure, older colleagues are part of the ones who are interested in keeping the university circles to elites, because they'll have less competition; and rich people who have the pocket to finance scientific investigation lead the way "new findings" follow; and the portion of people aware of how social and political even STEM sciences are is way too small. Those with power want us ignorant, and I'm frustrated because I don't have a solution for this, for this whole world where you're played with and read as "dumb" just because you didn't have money to have a further level of education. Sorry for the rant Ariel, but this video really touched my heart and unleashed all these disjointed thoughts.
I love these videos you post. They're so interesting and I love your passion on specific and innovative literary topics. I especially loved the way you analyzed "Catcher in the Rye" and I loved your analysis in the "Exploring Magical Realism" videos! I always end up learning something new whenever I watch any of your videos!
Omg Ariel!! You are so dedicated, so smart, and so likeable! I am so glad you are reaching for the stars! And the fact you want to share this info with us is so kind and caring!! I love your Channel and you overall.
i love these types of videos!! they're so much fun to just put on whenever i'm doing something that doesn't involve much thought, because of the way that it sounds like a podcast. i think the idea to do more educational ones would be great! as someone who is not yet in university (or even high school, to be completely honest), i find myself doing a lot of research over concepts that i've already grasped. being able to listen to someone that has learned whatever subject it is would be an absolutely fantastic idea. thank you so much ariel!
KEEP DOING YOUR THING. I'm a MA student as well (in Denmark) and I relate so much to this. But not a lot of people talk about it. People are in such awe of academia....
I do have a college degree. However, I've found that a classroom setting is not the best environment for me to learn. Too much is thrown at me at once for me to process and absorb the information. Throughout college I felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants . I did all-nighters working on term papers or cramming for tests. I'm not even sure how much information I've retained from my years in school, but the most valuable thing I gained from college was learning to think for myself. I've heard several BookTubers talking about being a mood reader. I am too, but I am also that way with learning. I get so interested in a subject that it becomes an obsession to learn as much as I can about it. I read books, watch documentaries and UA-cam videos until I'm satisfied, get burned out, or find another subject to move onto. Outside of a classroom I have the leisure to go at my own pace, focus on the things that interest me the most, and drop it and go onto something different anytime I want. I appreciate people like you, who want to make education available to the public, and your UA-cam videos often sparks ideas and thoughts that I may not have considered.
I love these kinds of videos Ariel. Your discussion type videos are my favorite! You should keep doing them💞
I really enjoy this type of video! it feels like we get to just sit down and chat with you, you're really passionate and personable! I love it!! More please :)
it's like listening to your podcasts, but watching you while talking! I love it xx
keep doing these videos!! i love it because you're talking about things you really care about and you are just so easy to listen to! it feels like hanging out with a friend and catching up :)
YES please make more videos like this. I'm a senior year English major trying to figure out my life so I can't even tell you how much I appreciate this kind of content 😅
In South Africa, pharmacists are really in demand. I'm doing my undergraduate in pharmacy now, so when people suggest I do masters, i just think about how it would feel like a waste of time and money. As a high school student, I really idolised people who studied further and felt as if I should, but now that I've seen academia and the environment, I doubt I'll study further. It won't really help job opportunities, and post graduate education is not always about learning. It's not the fun type of learning where I tackle classics in my own time, or when I learn to play instruments. Post graduate education is gruelling, and like with any other decision, I think it's important to think carefully about why you're entering it. There's absolutely no shame in being happy with just an undergraduate, if that is all you need to reach your goals.
I absolutely love this kind of video. I love hearing your take on Uni and sharing information. I’m so excited for the future of your channel!
These chatty videos are so inspiring!😍 You have so much interesting things to share and you're so good at making it coherent and easy to follow. Every time I watch one of your chatty videos I feel lika I get a new, deeper perspective on life/literature/university. I look forward to more "educational" videos in the future!😙
I love your videos! Your videos are honestly my favourite Booktube videos to watch - especially your videos on poetry and discussions, because I love to listen to discussions and am greatly interested in poetry. You're amazing x
All of your videos are amazing, book and non book related. I'm currently in my first year of university and although I love
everything I'm learning it is definitely a period of a lot of self-discovery, but also a lot of self-doubt.Hopefully, I can figure out what direction I want to pursue and feel fully content. Keep up the great work!
Love these kinds of videos!! So interesting and relaxing to just have someone talk about something they're interested in.
I agree I am done with college too cause it's hard and I don't really know what I want. so do what you feel is right for you
I love this kind of video. You have so many thoughts and I'm grateful you sit down and spend the time to share them. Usually I agree, but often you pose thoughts in such a way that it makes me think and I love that. I love learning in whatever form it comes and it's wonderful to see someone who clearly loves it as much as I do as you are so passionate. So yes, please make more videos just sharing your thoughts.
This is such a fascinating video, Ariel! Chatty videos are definitely the way to go if it‘s what works for you right now. I also love your way of thinking when it comes to sharing what you‘re learning. I felt very much the same at university in that I was so frustrated with learning these amazing things, but then only getting to write an essay that (at best) a couple of other people would read, give me an abstract mark that doesn’t really say anything and that would be it. But I can totally see you making amazing, creative educational videos that a much broader public could benefit from. I cannot wait what you will get up once you‘ve finished Uni!
I love this style of video! I’m studying architecture and I love having videos on in the background while I’m working on my designs, and this was perfect, it was so interesting, please make more! 💖
This is great. I love the way you talk about your studies. I'm in my first year of university in Argentina, I want to become a Spanish teacher. Your videos really pop out in booktube, you don't just do book hauls or things like that. Keep with your hard work, congratulations!!!
I’m also in my first year of an English masters with a teaching assistantship, and I completely could relate to everything you said in this video. My school doesn’t have a 1-year track, you are lucky yours does! That’s awesome!
I really love these videos. Subscribers watch people on UA-cam not only because we like the content but most importantly the person. Which is why I enjoy these chatty videos because I like your personality which these type of videos really showcase. I hope you continue to make more of these.
Ariel. I absolutely loved this video! It might be my favorite out of all your videos! I loved the different subjects you talked about and you sharing your thoughts and ideas.. It was so interesting. I had a great time. I’m currently a junior in high school studying science and I keep thinking about college and how that’s gonna be for me, especially since I don’t really know what I “want” exactly. Watching you talk about education with such passion made me so happy because there aren’t many people who are passionate about learning and the fact that you are is amazing! Keep making these type of videos, I fully support you ❤️
I'm so glad to see a chatty video! I've been excited since that poll :)
I accidentally made hype! Hahaha!
ooh documentary!!! that's so interesting!!
But also yes I completely understand the feeling of 'academia isn't for me'. I go to film school and while it's great for networking, working on sets and getting a small feel for how the film industry works, in general, I feel like a lot of the classes I'm taking are ones that I do not need and/ or could learn from working on professional sets? I canNOT WAIT to get out of school so I can really start exploring the industry. school's a great stepping stone but in no way can I see it as a destination.
I loVE THE IDEA OF EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC THING
Academia is soOOO isolated, I swear if every lecture could be a youtube video I'd be so much more interested hahaha.
I would love to see more videos on what it's like to be a TA/ what your masters is like!! definitely love this kind of video!!
I really love your incites into your Master's program, job, and plans for the future! More videos like this would be great. Keep up the good work and good luck with school!
i love this! pls continue i'm at the end of my first semeseter of my literature degree and i love hearing your journey navigating this (omgreallyreallyfreakingconfusingbutreallycool) world!
I love videos like this. They are so natural and fun to watch. I can't wait to hear more about your experience with the masters program.