5 years ago I started out on a journey. I had just finished my stint as Regional Training Lead in Manila for work and the experience had taught me a number of things in life – chief among them was that I needed to further my education. Yes yes, I have written many times in the past about pursuing my academic endeavours, but due to timing, funding and availability I could just never bring myself to do it. The post-graduate academic scene back at home was weak to say the least and I had always harboured dreams of returning back to Canada or another country one day to realise my dream.
But throughout the course of my career, things changes. I got good at what I did and while my company did not require a post-graduate degree to advance to the next level, I felt compelled otherwise as I found that most of my peers and clients in Manila who held regional roles all had a Masters degree. So why shouldn’t I too also pursue one?
And so the search began. I still recall sitting down at the Intercontinental dining over breakfast with my iPad connected to the wifi researching on what other avenues were there for me to pursue. I couldn’t possibly take 2-years time off to go and just study a masters degree given all the commitments I currently had. Neither was I in a financially able to just fork out 30 grand to go and study. I needed something flexible and practical while being affordable at the same time.
And that led me to Herriot-Watt. A distance learning MBA programme that would enable me to “study-as-you-go” in a modular setup. This worked out to be perfect for me as I would embark on a long journey to work towards my Masters degree. 9 courses with one exemption for economics seemed fair but once I cracked opened by first module, I realised how difficult things would get. Not only had I been away from school for more than 8 years at the time I started on my first course, there was so much to cover and you are just graded in one final paper at the end. I recalled struggling to get the mind-engines going in my head back in 2013. From finding time to study to practicing past year papers, it took a lot of commitment and sacrifice.
And now, 5 years later, after one Long distance relationship, one marriage milestone and one baby boy, I finally completed all 8 papers and managed to get a distinction in the process! That has certainly been a proud personal achievement for me simply because I managed to achieve Distinction while balancing a full time career as a Management Consulting Manager! It is certainly a motivational boost for me as it has given me the much-needed fuel to work towards realising my dream – that is to carry on with my PhD.
It seems surreal and at the same time very real. At 35 years old, completing my Masters couldn’t have come at a more appropriate and timely fashion. I am not at a crossroad in my life, but the decision isn’t one that is too difficult to make or ponder greatly upon. For years, I spent wondering what should I do, but I allowed myself time, time to figure out what to do next as I sought answers to my next steps. Completing the the MBA I must say has given me the necessary push and momentum to continue on studying further into my PhD. Yes, it will be challenging – giving up a plushy and comfortable lifestyle that has kept me going for years – all to pursue a dream that I once started. But, pursue I must.
Come 2019 Fall, if all goes well, I should commence on my PhD journey, which most likely will start with a masters program. It’s time to finish off what I started.
