"Seven years ago, I was a burned-out journalist in my late 20s who considered leaving the industry. I didn’t think seriously about what I wanted except to escape, but having studied only media, I figured the solution was to pursue a master’s in a different discipline.
I spent months applying for a two-year Master in Public Policy programme, went through the whole process and got offered a spot.
Much like Sylvia Plath’s famous fig tree metaphor, I saw the paths that branched out in front of me, at least for the next two years. Accepting the offer would mean I’d diversify my skills.
But I would also be sacrificing the chance to pick up new skills in my industry — as well as predictable career progression.
In the end, familiarity — and a little fear of the unknown — won out. I realised I wanted to leave my job more than I wanted to go back to school.
Looking back today, that episode feels like a side quest I'd embarked on for fun. I have built a fulfilling career, found lifelong mentors and gained new perspectives I probably wouldn't have otherwise. The future I was so worried about mostly worked out.
Yet, I still occasionally think about the kind of career younger Grace who took the other path might have carved out, and whether our paths would have eventually converged.
And judging from my social media feed, I'm not alone in wondering what could've been - or imagining what could still be.
More at https://www.domainofexperts.com/2015/05/singapore-education-news-updates.html (scroll down to read)
I spent months applying for a two-year Master in Public Policy programme, went through the whole process and got offered a spot.
Much like Sylvia Plath’s famous fig tree metaphor, I saw the paths that branched out in front of me, at least for the next two years. Accepting the offer would mean I’d diversify my skills.
But I would also be sacrificing the chance to pick up new skills in my industry — as well as predictable career progression.
In the end, familiarity — and a little fear of the unknown — won out. I realised I wanted to leave my job more than I wanted to go back to school.
Looking back today, that episode feels like a side quest I'd embarked on for fun. I have built a fulfilling career, found lifelong mentors and gained new perspectives I probably wouldn't have otherwise. The future I was so worried about mostly worked out.
Yet, I still occasionally think about the kind of career younger Grace who took the other path might have carved out, and whether our paths would have eventually converged.
And judging from my social media feed, I'm not alone in wondering what could've been - or imagining what could still be.
More at https://www.domainofexperts.com/2015/05/singapore-education-news-updates.html (scroll down to read)
