Starting My Master Degree
Tomorrow, I have my very first introduction day to my Masters. It is one of three days in total and while the introduction week won't be as extravagant as when I started my BA, it still feels quite exciting. I'm about to meet new classmates all over again, even if it is likely I've shared classes with some of them before. The summer has passed way too fast and it's still a bit surreal that I actually have a Bachelor of Arts degree and that I'm about to embark on a new university degree now.
Education milestones have shaped my life a lot over the past few years. With every change of environment, study and people I've learnt and grown in way I couldn't even foreseen. I've learnt so many things both academically and personally from higher education. And now I'm about to move to an educational level that's actually terrifying.
Granted, I thought that about university in general at first and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as scary and hard as a feared. It was both of those things but not overwhelmingly so. I didn't feel too much like a fish out of water. In fact, I really like that I have more freedom with my studies but with that freedom comes more responsibilities as well. You can't have one without the other and I've learnt to live with that.
So I'm trying to mentally prepare for tomorrow, though I doubt it will feel real until I'm standing back at my university surrounded by tutors and the people I'll share my future classes with. There will be presentations and the works, games and bonding exercises and I feel a little more prepared to tackle it than I did when I experienced it as a fresher. I think. (I hope).
Four courses at a Master level, two student jobs (one at averagely 6 hours a week and one with flexible hours), a dressage horse to keep fit and happy, a writing passion to keep satisfied and a social life of friends and family to keep up with. Ha. People ask me how I'll make time for everything and mostly they don't even know about all the things in my list. To be perfectly frank, I'm a little worried about it too. But at the same time, the list is encompassing so many things that I love. My horse, writing, friends and family are so dear to my heart. I do find my studies really interesting for the most parts and I love learning when it isn't dry and boring. The receptionist job I know inside out and the other student job I'm still struggling with but it's so good for my employability later, so I have to persevere.
But that's is life, I suppose. It's filling your time with things you love and enjoy and things you have to get done to maintain your living standard. Hopefully, the former take up most of your time and you keep the latter to a minimum.
However, in my list there's a distinctive lack of quiet, reflective time. I need to remember to pencil that in as well or I'll surely collapse under the pressure of having to do so many things. Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier if I was an extrovert and derived energy from social situations instead of them draining me. But then, I wouldn't want to give up my ability to delve into a story and just write to my heart's content, which is a very introverted activity. I like listening and observing and not always having to fill the silence with my words. I'm outspoken when I'm passionate about something but otherwise I hold my opinion unless I'm in company where I'm comfortable.
This might very well be the final two years of my life as a student. I'm not sure if I'm ready to say goodbye to it yet. The "real world" you have to face after university still scares me a whole lot. But perhaps when I finally get to that point, it won't be so intimidating and I will feel ready to tackle it. I'm not looking forward to the lack of freedom. I'm terrified I'll be stuck doing something I don't like for over 7 hours a day. But that is a topic for a different time.
Right now, the focus is starting my Master degree and learning as much as I possible can from all the smart professors and academic texts as well as my fellow students. This past spring semester, I made sure to kick myself to participate and offer responses in every single class. I formed a great relationship with both of my professors and I want that again. I want to study the subject, which I'll hopefully find interesting, and be able to have informed discussions about it with both my fellow students and the people teaching the course.
I really hope this turns out to be the right choice for me. I don't think I'll stop being scared of starting something new. But I'm getting a little less scared every time I do it and I've learnt how to channel the jittery nerves into excitement instead. It's not that different from taking an exam and I've gotten pretty good at that over the years. I'll acknowledge the nerves and then use the extra awareness to perform even better.
I'm crossing my fingers that these next two days, where we have a schedule that start at 9 AM and finish at 4 PM or later, will be fun and exciting and the start of two great years of my life.
Education milestones have shaped my life a lot over the past few years. With every change of environment, study and people I've learnt and grown in way I couldn't even foreseen. I've learnt so many things both academically and personally from higher education. And now I'm about to move to an educational level that's actually terrifying.
Granted, I thought that about university in general at first and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as scary and hard as a feared. It was both of those things but not overwhelmingly so. I didn't feel too much like a fish out of water. In fact, I really like that I have more freedom with my studies but with that freedom comes more responsibilities as well. You can't have one without the other and I've learnt to live with that.
So I'm trying to mentally prepare for tomorrow, though I doubt it will feel real until I'm standing back at my university surrounded by tutors and the people I'll share my future classes with. There will be presentations and the works, games and bonding exercises and I feel a little more prepared to tackle it than I did when I experienced it as a fresher. I think. (I hope).
I have put my finished degree behind me and I'm getting the supplies ready to tackle my new one
Four courses at a Master level, two student jobs (one at averagely 6 hours a week and one with flexible hours), a dressage horse to keep fit and happy, a writing passion to keep satisfied and a social life of friends and family to keep up with. Ha. People ask me how I'll make time for everything and mostly they don't even know about all the things in my list. To be perfectly frank, I'm a little worried about it too. But at the same time, the list is encompassing so many things that I love. My horse, writing, friends and family are so dear to my heart. I do find my studies really interesting for the most parts and I love learning when it isn't dry and boring. The receptionist job I know inside out and the other student job I'm still struggling with but it's so good for my employability later, so I have to persevere.
But that's is life, I suppose. It's filling your time with things you love and enjoy and things you have to get done to maintain your living standard. Hopefully, the former take up most of your time and you keep the latter to a minimum.
By a Girl who Loves to Write aka Me
However, in my list there's a distinctive lack of quiet, reflective time. I need to remember to pencil that in as well or I'll surely collapse under the pressure of having to do so many things. Sometimes I wonder if it would be easier if I was an extrovert and derived energy from social situations instead of them draining me. But then, I wouldn't want to give up my ability to delve into a story and just write to my heart's content, which is a very introverted activity. I like listening and observing and not always having to fill the silence with my words. I'm outspoken when I'm passionate about something but otherwise I hold my opinion unless I'm in company where I'm comfortable.
This might very well be the final two years of my life as a student. I'm not sure if I'm ready to say goodbye to it yet. The "real world" you have to face after university still scares me a whole lot. But perhaps when I finally get to that point, it won't be so intimidating and I will feel ready to tackle it. I'm not looking forward to the lack of freedom. I'm terrified I'll be stuck doing something I don't like for over 7 hours a day. But that is a topic for a different time.
Right now, the focus is starting my Master degree and learning as much as I possible can from all the smart professors and academic texts as well as my fellow students. This past spring semester, I made sure to kick myself to participate and offer responses in every single class. I formed a great relationship with both of my professors and I want that again. I want to study the subject, which I'll hopefully find interesting, and be able to have informed discussions about it with both my fellow students and the people teaching the course.
I really hope this turns out to be the right choice for me. I don't think I'll stop being scared of starting something new. But I'm getting a little less scared every time I do it and I've learnt how to channel the jittery nerves into excitement instead. It's not that different from taking an exam and I've gotten pretty good at that over the years. I'll acknowledge the nerves and then use the extra awareness to perform even better.
I'm crossing my fingers that these next two days, where we have a schedule that start at 9 AM and finish at 4 PM or later, will be fun and exciting and the start of two great years of my life.
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