In December 2020, I had the honor and distinction of finally graduating with my master’s degree from LIM College in New York City. My program lasted a year and a half. And a lot changed in that short period because of the pandemic, along with life changes and stress. However, I am consistently asked if getting a Master’s is something that you even should consider, and if so, what are some steps you should take to achieve your goals. I want to first preface this by saying that nobody can decide for you when it comes to your education. My mother and father instilled the values of education in me as a child. I learned later on that I suffered from extreme anxiety and stress, especially when it came to tests and tight deadlines with multiple courses.
When I graduated from Howard University, I wanted to make sure that going back to school was the decision that I wanted for myself, not a decision I made for somebody else. That being said, I waited, and I’m so thankful that I did because it was ultimately the best experience for me. With my master’s in hand, I am eyeing additional educational opportunities, whether that is an MBA program or going and pursuing my Ph.D. However, if you are considering returning to school or possibly going back for your master’s or higher education during this time, there are a few things that I think you can consider.
First, it is essential to remember your why.
I wanted to take the life skills and knowledge I acquired working in different jobs and roles and apply it in an educational setting. I figured that the more educated I was, the more applicable it would be towards opportunities and employment.
While there was no immediate return on my master’s program, I can say that having work experience first allowed me to do the educational aspect of my program with a lot more ease than say if I just went after undergrad. That being said, I had a very calculative reason why I wanted to get my master’s and the education that I wanted. Any program you participate in is only going to give you what you put in. So if you just go to school, and you clock in and clock out, and you don’t use that time to network and research and create allies and explore different options. You will graduate with a piece of paper and nothing else to show for it.
However, you should take the time to sit down and ask yourself why you want to go back to school? I don’t believe in sugar-coating or lying to yourself because you don’t do anything beneficial by thinking that way. Do you want to make more money? Do you want the accolade of saying that you have this higher degree? Do you want to use it in your current job to broaden your role? Or are you looking to get a new job and use that degree to leverage more money, more responsibilities, or more power? Whatever your “why” is, stick with that and remember that while looking into programs and figuring out what exactly it is that you need.
Secondly, find a master’s degree that fits you.
Before the pandemic even happened, I knew that I wanted to do an online program because my life just could not support me going into a classroom and having to designate certain days of the week to stay in the city longer than needed. I have a business; I have a day job, I had two tiny puppies. I wanted to make sure that I could allocate the time to everything without feeling like I was burning out. Even if you have a day job supporting you going back to school or supporting you pursuing higher education, you have to establish your boundaries still, make sure that you don’t get burned out, and affect your work during the day.
I found a lot of programs that piqued my interest. But ultimately, I chose the program that I took because it allowed me the flexibility of getting into classes when I needed to and studying during the hours that I designated for myself. Many of my courses were sort of self-educational courses with minimal oversight from a professor until it was time for my capstone. That is what worked for me. But you have to evaluate what works best for you in your learning style.
Perhaps you need to be in an online program, or maybe even a hybrid program where you’re sometimes in the classroom and then also out in the field. Perhaps you want to do an entire program, where you are in the school, at which point you should evaluate if any program is open right now, given the circumstances of the world. What does that look like for you and your day job, and the time that you will need to allocate? These are all questions that you have to ask yourself and write down somewhere to refer back to them when making these decisions.
Thirdly, I want to stress that anything is achievable, even without pedigree.
Many of my peers went to undergrad at a fashion school or a fashion type school to get that education and graduate and have a better time entering the fashion job market. While I completely understand why they made that decision, I am the person who is going to tell you that you do not have to go that route to be successful. I had already achieved a certain amount of personal success in my field before deciding to go back for my master’s.
My master’s was something I wanted to do to enhance the education that I had already gained. But even if I had never gone back to school, I would be proud of the work that I have done and the education that I have picked up over the years through courses, informational, and just good old natural learning of life. At the same time, I believe that having a degree or another piece of paper that says that you are certified or an expert in something is always an excellent way for you to leverage yourself and your opportunities.
I want to stress that that is not the only way to achieve success.
It is not the only way for you to make your mark or get brand deals or get jobs. Yes, your route may look a little bit differently. But that is the beautiful thing about life. No two people have the same path, and that is entirely okay. So those are my three tips. If you are considering going back to school and pursuing your master’s, anyone out there, go back to school and have any additional information? Leave them down in the comments below.
