Transition from being a full-time professional to a full-time student

“We can’t be afraid of change. You may feel very secure in the pond that you are in, but if you never venture out of it, you will never know that there is such a thing as an ocean.”

C. JoyBell C.

Not all, but most of us (humans) are scared of change.?We were always taught to look for our comfort zones and settle.?We hardly came across anybody who tells us to take that plunge, who challenges our instincts, helps us find our true calling and encourages us to leave everything behind in order to chase our new found dream. But times have changed.?People like moving out of their comfort zones, taking challenges, risking their settled lives to move into unpleasant territories?— in order to grow, rise, and fulfill their dreams. They want to face difficulties and be adaptive.

Looking back (2 years ago), I faced a similar situation. I applied to a few universities abroad across different locations in order to earn a Master’s degree. However, the constant dilemma of leaving my job haunted me. Actually, let me correct myself. The constant dilemma of leaving my job at the world’s leading advertising agency haunted me. It is not easy to just pack your bags and leave after working for 3 years. I was settled, loving my professional life and more than that, I had a supportive team that helped me grow over the course of time.

The thought of being financially dependent on my parents again, not having a stable income, studying, making friends again and importantly, shifting to a whole new continent gave me chills down my spine. However, my yearning for learning, understanding the industry trends and acquiring new skills helped me overcome this fear. Also, kudos to my family for being so supportive.

Cut to now, having successfully completed my Master’s degree at?New York University, I can finally feel relieved. The transition was not easy, but I am glad I got to experience this journey consisting of road blocks, tension, stress, happy moments and essentially, inclusivity: I met people from different countries, cultures and traditions — helping me understand the true meaning of diversity. I have made mistakes, excelled at times, goofed up, worked till late on projects and cribbed. But importantly,?the past 2 years have been full of learning and exploration: on both, personal and professional front.

If I had to reflect on my journey and share my learning, I would share them in the form of 5 key takeaways:

Networking is key

Be it your professors, classmates, course mates, administrators, recruiters, industry professionals: network with everyone.?It is important to build contacts and connections since you are fairly new in the country and industry.?You never know what may come out of these connections: a job, a learning opportunity, friendship or even help on the personal and professional front.

Be adaptive

It is important to adjust and?be open to adopting new habits?in terms of eating, dressing, meeting people, learning, working on projects etc. Being adaptive helps us be responsible and independent, thus acclimatizing in a better manner. It can help you make friends easily, accept people from different cultures and appreciate the differences.

Build meaningful relationships

It is not easy to survive in an alien country, adjust to climatic conditions, follow different rules and balance life.?It is important to find people who can become your ‘home away from home’?and support you during both; good and bad times. These are the people you can turn to, look up to and ask for help whenever you feel left out or miss your loved ones.

Focus on learning

A lot of students worry about grades which is natural to happen. Everyone wants to perform to the best of their abilities and stand out. However, it is important to learn and gain new skills.?Most graduate programs are focused on hands-on learning and practical experience.?Try to work on projects, do certifications, assist professors in their work if possible — the aim should be to grasp more. It is very important to prepare yourself for the real world and what you are going to face when you apply for jobs and work with a professional workforce.

Get involved

Universities undertake a lot of initiatives to make students feel at home. A lot of these initiatives are driven by students.?Try to get involved and work in some capacity?as this will help you gain leadership skills, be proactive, network, build meaningful relationship and learn more than what your coursework provides for.

Hoping these tips help you. Remember,?change is the only constant.?Try to do something different each day to satisfy your future self. Make your global footprint count!