You knew it would be coming, it had to be coming at some
point soon, and in an effort not to finish my dissertation I have had a moment
of clarity in my blog-writer’s-blog-lack-of-things-to-write-thing that is going
on at the moment. So if all goes to plan I will have at least a few more posts
in the upcoming weeks rather than the silence like the first half of the
summer.
I thought it might be worth doing a Masters sum up post and
reflection on how my last (educational) year has been – this will also tie in
with a big announcement post that I am hoping to release a couple of weeks from
now, so stay tuned!
As all of you will know in great detail (and if you don’t
where have you been the last year and a half?) I moved to Paris at the
beginning of last September to do my masters in International Relations. If you
cast your minds back, about June time of last year I was having a proper life
crisis as I was leaving Royal Holloway, my home for the previous three years,
and I had no idea what to do with my life. Flash forward to no, so much has
changed, and I don’t regret any of it for a second, but what is the point in
doing a masters, and is it really worth it?
Well, first of all, let me write a disclaimer that this is
no way at all meant to disparage anyone’s choice to do a degree, masters or not
– just what I think about it all for me. For some people doing a master’s my
even be a necessary evil in this day and age – for example in psychology to achieve
qualification in your specialism it helps to do a masters. But for me, an
average 2:1 English and Classics graduate, what was the point?
Well, honestly, there really wasn’t one. I could have got a
job, and for a while that is what I decided I was going to do, I even managed
to get a few interviews. I could have taken a gap year once again to either
earn some money or live at home or go travelling, whatever. I am lucky that all
these options would have been open to me. For me, doing a masters was a chance
to combine education and travel by going to Paris.
Yes, it cost and arm and a
leg (but working 5 jobs in 3rd year I think qualified me to do this)
and as uncool as it sounds, I have always loved learning and becoming more and
more qualified – as much as I can be. I think it is part of my obsessive personality
that I always need to have more and more certificates and qualifications, even
in silly things like singing grading or karate belts when I was younger.
Also, for me, doing a masters was a chance to change
subjects, from English and Classical Studies to International Relations was not
a massive jump as they are both essay-based humanities subject, but there was
still a bit of a learning curve – understanding how all the theories worked and
were supposed to be used – to be able to analysis rather than just describe
certain events. It was hard work, don’t get me wrong, but personally I didn’t
think it was any harder than 3rd year, except there was more of it.
Coming to the last 5 weeks or so of dissertation writing has
made me realise how much I do really love learning, writing and asking
questions, but I am honestly not going to miss this damn essay and the nagging
feeling that there is always something else to do!
What about a PhD you say? Well, maybe one day when my rich and
famous singing career is over!
Have a good week my loves!
Lots of Love, Kate xxx