Finding Your Path, Or Why I Spent 2 Years Chasing the Chance for an MA… Then Quit After One Semester

Sometimes you find yourself climbing a ladder that's leaned up against the wrong wall

Have you ever been so eager to try out a new restaurant, dish, or new experience, because literally everyone you knew thought it was amazing? Then after you tried it, you thought… “Eh”? After that, you probably wondered what was wrong with you, or with those people who said it was awesome.

That’s happened to me quite a few times, but I’d forget about it soon after. At least, I could say I tried it, right? And it’s not like I was super invested in the dish, or the restaurant.

But the thing is, when it came to post-graduate studies, I was invested. In terms of time, money, even effort.

So why’d I spend 2 years, left great employers, turned down job offers, and stayed up late… only to quit after a sem? And why am I feeling okay enough to talk about it?

The Original 2016 Game Plan

Let me backtrack a bit and introduce you to 21-year-old Regina.

Back in 2016, I had a clear vision of what I wanted to achieve. I was going to work in an advertising agency, work my way up from junior copywriter to creative director (hopefully before I turned 35), get lots of awards, and take up my MA. Master of Arts in what, I didn’t know yet. But it had to be related to writing and advertising, something that would help me with my craft.

Why the need for an MA, anyway? Well, I had always done pretty well in school. Not valedictorian levels, but enough to get into a science high school, the country’s premier university, and to graduate cum laude. So if I still had some untapped gifts, why not share them, right? Plus, my parents were both almost-MBA’s, something that impacted our family financially, since the government is quite strict with educational requirements and the lack of MBAs held my parents back from getting promoted. And while I didn’t plan to work for the government, it still couldn’t hurt to have that extra experience and knowledge, right?

Anyway, that was the plan. Become a creative director with an MA before I turned 35.

But the path leading up to all that wasn’t as straightforward as I thought. Yes, I eventually got a copywriting gig. But while I respected the craft and the perseverance of those who were willing to stay in Makati until the wee hours of the morning, I felt that that kind of life wasn’t for me, be it in a boutique agency or one of those multinational firms. I still loved writing, though, I just wanted to have a life outside of writing. I wanted to be home to pet my dog, have quality time with my family and boyfriend, meet up with my friends once in a while. And, I wanted to find a job that would give me enough time to apply for - and take up - my MA.

Some of my colleagues were supportive. Some were… less impressed by my plans, and thought an MA was unnecessary for success in the industry. Still, we parted on good terms. And until today, I owe a lot of my skills and work ethic to the people I met during my time in Makati.

Detours and the “New” Plan

So, I got an ad agency job closer to home. By this time, I had around 2 years of experience under my belt - not bad for someone who wanted to make the most out of post-graduate studies. After all, a lot of them required some real-world experience, not to mention a number of recommendation letters.

My new game plan was to get into the swing of things at the new job, then bring up my MA plans after I’d proven my worth. My new employers were big believers in further education, and we came from the same university, which I saw as excellent signs. I got into the rhythm of my new office really quickly, but life happened (as is often the case).

Suddenly, I was the only copywriter at the office, and I had to manage this new responsibility best as I could. It was also around this time that I started learning more and talking more about my advocacy. Then, I realized that my future MA thesis, whenever I would write it, would be about communicating ideas related to the environment and sustainable development. Not only would this help me become a better communicator - it would also help me become a better advocate!

Things seemed to be falling right into place!

But that also meant I had been in my comfort zone for too long. I was still in touch with my first-ever boss, himself a student of the MA program I was planning to apply for. Plus, my parents were starting to ask about my plans - I had a bit of money saved up for tuition, I was earning an okay amount, I was in an office that was close to the university, what was I waiting for? Eventually, I think what drove me to start my MA in the second semester of AY 2019-2020 was 1) my sister starting med school 2) my grandmother getting sick and 3) my advocacy.

I wanted to show people that the arts have their value (shoutout to the relatives who kept saying I should be a lawyer since my sister was going to be a doctor, LOL). I wanted Mama (my maternal grandmother) to be proud of me. And I wanted to see how I could apply the stuff I learned in advertising to communicating my advocacy.

That Short-Lived First Semester

So, I started the application process - and got in! I started looking for a new job… and experienced the “face of rejection” the moment I mentioned I was doing my MA. I began an arrangement at work where I would leave early twice a week to go to classes, an arrangement that would last until my last day of work. I met my classmates, struggled with papers, then BAM, the pandemic happened.

No one was expecting the global pandemic, of course. No one imagined work from home happening for months, or more than a year! Eventually, my first semester came to an end and I got a grade of “Pass” instead of the usual numerical grade. I ended my stint at my job, floated along as freelance for a bit, before landing my current gig (writing client-side).

Alternate Routes?

I took a semester off to find myself and help out at home (health issues). I found opportunities to act as an advocate, thanks to the Buhay Zero-Waste Facebook group. I got together with a group of other like-minded individuals, trying to come up with a project, but I don’t think it was that project’s time yet. I felt that if I tried this different path, and compared it to taking my MA, maybe I could better determine if further studies were really meant for me. And while those two projects (a collab with our local government, and a project that would match cities with social enterprises related to the environment) didn’t pan out, I found the mere effort to be challenging, yet quite fulfilling!

And eventually, after two semesters of “taking a break” from MA, I decided it was time to quit for good.

Why, after only a sem? I asked myself, and I’m sure anyone would ask me if we were talking in person and not stuck at home. Well, I didn’t know for sure how capable I was, given the Pass/Fail grades of that fateful first semester that ended with online classes. I asked my classmates - those who didn’t take a break - how they felt. Those who stayed on felt that their career path really led to the academe. And they said that the program might not match up with my vision and goals. And if those things didn’t line up, I’d have an incredibly tough time handling the course load alongside work and other responsibilities.

So, the answer was pretty clear: an MA - or at least, this MA program - wasn’t meant to be for me.

And I felt okay about that. Strangely enough.

I felt fine. No regrets.

And maybe it was okay that I felt that way about all of it. Even after all the time, money, and effort. And at least I’d gotten to see that world for myself, made new friends, and only spent my own money on tuition, right? And even if I didn’t go on to learn about communication theory, I at least learned some new things about myself.

Where to Next?

But would I still consider further studies in the future? Perhaps. I’m not closing my doors to that. But they’d have to fit my goals and needs to a T.

Do I think further studies can help someone in my field? If you’re willing to do the work, go out and learn… about the world, about people, and even about yourself. :)