I wasn't that studious.  When I started out asking quesitons it was 
considerably before a degree was even on the horizon.  I toyed with  
the teachings  of  the  fellow who's  name is known in modern western 
theology.  Ironically, I would excel in the heirarchy of one if it's 
sub-sect (More to follow.)

It 'sounded' right at the time, to a kid who hadn't known any 
better.  Then I read some of the Tao.  I stumbled intially over the 
simplest  of lessons; that which is beautiful is ugly.  Until a  
breakthrough, beyond intellectual understanding.  Then "The way that
can be spoken of is not  the  constant way."

One line.  The first line of D. C. Lau's translation of Lao Tzu's Tao 
Te Ching.  The intellectual constructs of my reality slowly and 
inexoribly began to erode.  By the time my journey ended my reality 
was only taking the next breath.  The "Meanings of Words" merely so 
much intellectual smoke.

Until "These two are the same."  While we may wish to know the one 
"Way", in fact the two, named and un-named, are the same.  To know the 
un-named I free myself of desires, to know the named is to have 
desires.  Defying logic the Tao says the two are the same.

All of that to return to the degree in Philosophy. Or being a papered 
Philosopher. The study of formal attempts to express essential meaning  
of words, named philosophical structures. Conversely, Philosophy is 
also the study of a words meaning (social, regional, et al) regardless 
of its current usage.  The linguistic effects of such things as 
malapropisms, the intentional misuse of words (e.g. "Woke" along 
with a litany of "OK" others).

Philosophy becomes the way of speaking the truth, beyond 
miss-interpretation.  Wish I got a piece of paper for all this 
thinking.

peace