Every day a person has to make decisions. Some little and some that will effect everything you know. Choices are what shape the people we become.
About 6 months ago I made the decision to quite my job and pursue my Master's Degree in an accelerated master's program at Maine Maritime Academy. This was not a decision I took lightly. Leaving my job was difficult to say the least. I was not happy with where I was going in the company but I truly cared for the people I worked with and loved the company I was involved with. I had come to an impasse with how a manager was handling my development plan and decided the best thing for me would be to leave and pursue my Master's Degree.
Now the whole thought of going back to school after almost 7 years was terrifying and exciting. Recalling what it was like in my undergrad, the time to take naps, hang out on the weekends, go to the bar on a Thursday night, how could I go wrong?? I severely underestimated the program I was starting!! I've found it challenging, frustrating, overwhelming and rewarding all at the same time. I have some classes I'm still not sure what the point is, while others make me think about things in a way I never would have considered previously. The professors standards are high and I foolishly agreed to take on some teaching positions while I was here to fill up my time.
Free time is something I have little of. I have always been the girl who thinks I can do it all... I can't! I'm realizing this more and more. These are the everyday choices I am learning to make so that I do not fall behind in my program and can remain competitive for prospective jobs. Making decisions that take into account the limitations I have on my time is something I am trying to make the conscience effort to do over the next 6 months. I have 7 months left in the Grad Program and based on how quickly the first three have gone I'm going to blink and be done.
My next big decision is going to come in deciding whether I want to remain in the shipping industry to apply my degree or if the time has come to branch out and fine a new industry which I can develop and grow within... but that is another post to follow! (hopefully sooner than this last one)
