Being a graduate student is not easy, but it is worth it! I admire all the students who already have successful careers and decide to return to the classroom. The shift from being a professional to being a student feels like going back in time. In my case, I worked for only two years before coming to Heller, and it’s a strange experience to go from being the person telling others how to do a job to being told how to improve. It takes a strong desire to learn and grow in order to set aside previously acquired knowledge and approaches, making space for new and improved ways to succeed. However, I will never regret taking the time to work before deciding to pursue a graduate degree. Gaining professional experience has provided me with a new perspective on how to tackle difficult situations, especially when dealing with a challenging course.
For my first semester at Heller, I took a total of 16 credits: three full-semester courses (4 credits each) and two module courses (2 credits each). My schedule looked as follows:
- Monday: Economics (Semester), 5:40 to 7:00 pm
- Tuesday: Ethics (Module 1), Well-being in the Context of Climate Change (Module 2), 9:35 to 10:55 am; Planning and Implementation (Semester), 2:20 to 3:40 pm; Ecology (Semester), 3:55 to 5:15 pm
- Wednesday: Economics (Semester), 5:40 to 7:00 pm
- Thursday: Planning and Implementation (Semester), 2:20 to 3:40 pm; Ecology (Semester), 3:55 to 5:15 pm
- Friday: Ethics (Module 1), Well-being in the Context of Climate Change (Module 2), 9:35 to 10:55 am
This meant that I spent every day of the week on campus. Additionally, I was lucky enough to land a part-time job with the Heller admissions office, which allowed me to work on Mondays from 12:00 to 5:00 pm and Wednesdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. I then had to put my time management skills to the test and organize myself to meet course deadlines while completing my shifts. One of the best tips for managing this is definitely not to leave things until the last minute. Something that helped me manage my stress levels was completing my assignments with at least a day to spare, so I wouldn't feel the pressure of missing a deadline if something unforeseen came up. I also had to sacrifice most of my weekends to work on assignments. Nonetheless, I always made time to do things I enjoy. For example, I am a big Formula 1 fan, so no matter how much work I had, I would take a break to watch the race with my family (I would FaceTime them back home to share in the excitement of the races with them).
The moral of this story is that grad school is a significant commitment because it brings you a step closer to achieving your goals. The tricky thing about grad school is that it provides more specialized knowledge than undergraduate studies, so when embarking on the journey, one must be sure they have made the right choice. Once one is confident in their decision, the motivation and drive to keep going—even through tough times—will naturally follow.