After many years of yearning to get a higher education, I finally started the process. I started my Post Grad Diploma in Strategy and Innovation from Said Business School, University of Oxford in February this year.
I'm not talking much about this, mainly because I am superstitious and I am taking each module and exam one step at a time - I'd rather talk about it more once I successfully complete the course.
It is posing to be quite a challenge to manage a demanding job and a course that has 3 real exams, 1 assignment and 1 thesis project to get through before I get my hands on the PG Diploma. Hence, I'm really keeping a low profile about the whole thing.
Being in Oxford for the course modules with a class of 65 extremely diverse students is an amazing experience. Surprisingly, I am the only student with an IT industry experience and not-surprisingly, I am the only designer in this class of B-School.
One exam down, with reasonably good scores, I am feeling encouraged and anxious (about the next exam) at the same time.
Needless to say, I've been asked by almost everyone, "why are you doing this course? Do you want to become a manager?"
I honestly do not have a very convincing answer and I tell myself, I should even if it is fake :P
I wonder, 'whatever happened to learning aspect of education?' Why is that not a good enough answer for anyone anymore?
As a designer with 15 years of industry experience, I found myself yearning to learn some new things beyond what my job teaches me; beyond what I have been doing all along - things I know I am good at. I felt I need to get some additional, complimentary learning and skills to add value to myself.
Right now, I do not know if I want to be a manager bla bla...right now, I do not know how I will leverage this education.
What matters to me is, I am learning a lot of new, very interesting things; I am meeting some very nice fellow students; I am getting out of my comfort zone and challenging myself and I'm focussed on maximizing this opportunity.
Despite the struggle to balance work, home and studying, I am enjoying it. Who knows what's in store...I am as curious as anyone else around me is :)
Thanks Germany for your policies to encourage higher education by providing tax benefits. This played a huge role in my decision to go ahead and pursue this long pending desire of mine.
