Is it time for me to go back to school?
This is the time of the year where we see caps and gowns, we are invited to open houses and we congratulate our recent graduates.
4 years ago I graduated with my undergraduate degree. And now I am employed with a Fortune 500 company. I make a decent salary and I have good vacation and insurance benefits. I truly am fortunate.
But part of me questions if I should go back to school and obtain my master’s degree. If I look around me, graduate school is just like undergrad it’s becoming the next “adulting” step. But is it really worth it?
In the first episode of The First Cup Podcast, I asked Maurice Taylor, a recruiter with over 30 years of experience for various industries, of what he recommends for overachievers like myself.
“Graduate school is great,” says Maurice, “but if it is not connected to a path toward a career, then it could be a waste of time or a waste of expensive education.”
In other words, the first thing Maurice taught me is that you have to be intentional with your why. If you want to go to b-school because you want to “Keep up with the Joneses” or to stay busy – then you are doing it for the wrong reasons!
Your degree should help move your career goals along. Think about our doctors. They have to complete medical school to become a doctor. The same thing goes for professional careers. Understand your company’s culture and how your degree will impact or move your career to the next step.
The second thing Maurice taught me is that everyone’s journey is their own journey. Let me tell you something I absolutely hate about myself.
When I see other’s accomplishments, I question my own accomplishments.
Not in a resentful way, but there’s a motivational thought that creeps in and says, “If they can, then I can too!”
Can you relate? If so, we have got to stop doing that! Our journey is ours. Everyone else does not start out the same, but most importantly everyone does not have the same goals and desires in life.
As the self-proclaimed quote queen, here’s a quote to note:
“What is meant for me will not pass me and what passes me was never really meant for me.”
Want to hear more of the conversation? Maybe you want to understand how you can get experience if you don’t have any experience. We answer this question and more in Episode 1 titled Education vs. Experience. Just search “The First Cup Podcast” wherever you listen to your podcasts and listen to episode 1. Do you have thoughts on this topic, I would love to hear from you! Comment below.
Until next time jumpstarters,
Kirsten
Kirsten is a high achieving professional Millennial who is on a mission to empowering others through powerful communication. She is also a podcast co-host for The First Cup Podcast.
The First Cup is an advice-driven podcast dedicated to empowering millennials to proactively navigate through a world where you’re pressured to be successful in your career, be actively present within each and every relationship, and live an “Instagram-worthy” lifestyle. You can listen to The First Cup Podcast by clicking here.
