Celebrating My Master's

Today marks the official end of my master’s studies.  My graduation is being held today, but I cannot attend.  I am ¾ way to completing a 6-month internship in Europe.  Wonderful as this opportunity is, I cannot help but feel a twinge of sadness at not being there physically to receive my honour.  I take comfort in the knowledge that I did it, I made it all the way to the end.  Yet I will still take a moment to revel in the wonder of this moment.

I never dreamed I would have a master’s degree.  When I got my bachelor’s, I must admit that the arrogance of youth did not allow me to marvel at what a great accomplishment that was.  My parents did not hold any advanced qualifications.  Yet learning was always valued.  Reading culture was alive and well throughout my childhood.  So when I attained my bachelor’s it was just the expected thing, and I took it for granted.

But this is different for me.  This was a deliberate choice I made, a calculated move.  My primary aim in life had been to provide primary care to my children.  For a little over a decade that was the top most priority in my life.  I took short contract jobs, volunteer jobs, and created businesses that I could run from home.  A couple of years ago I was satisfied that I had given my all, and it had been worth it.  But I wanted more.  And so, I went back to school.

The classroom is probably one of the most equalizing places on the planet.  No one and nothing can stop you from learning something once you cross the threshold.  Obviously, I lacked work experience, but I needed to work harder to find relevant examples for practical applications.  Yet I understood concepts that some more experienced students could not comprehend.   Understanding has nothing to with gender or age.  If you do, you do.  And I did. 

It was also an opportunity to demonstrate studiousness to my daughters.  They watched me leave for classes every now and again.  They watched me grow anxious towards exams, or work day and night to complete projects and assignments.  I was able to show them that while learning is not easy, it is not impossible.  And of course, the underlying lesson was if I can do it, they definitely can. 

I wanted to have a big celebration on this day, so they could mark with me the end of a journey that they watched unfold before their eyes.  I wanted them to be so impressed by my robes that they would begin to visualize themselves in them.  But as memorable as that would have been, it is equally inspiring to be able to say I missed my graduation because I was on my first trip to Europe. 

It may not be the story I wanted them to have, but it is still a good story for little girls to have.  It teaches them that nothing is impossible, and they can pursue their dreams, whatever they may be.  They don’t need to forgo domesticity for careers.  They can pursue both in any manner they want.  It is not an easy thing to do, but it can be done, and they can do it.  I have done it.