What is Next?

Twelve months ago, I made the bold decision to shift my career focus entirely toward literature and academic content creation. But I didn’t make this move without hesitation. Part of me clung to the familiar—the consulting work, the steady progression in engineering, and the business responsibilities that had defined my professional life for so many years. I was torn, juggling these roles while also feeling a deep-seated longing to pursue something more meaningful, more personal: writing.

That voice, the one that nudged me toward this passion, had been with me for years, whispering in moments of stillness, urging me to listen. Finally, I stopped resisting. I realized that while I had navigated my career successfully, I hadn’t allowed myself to fully embrace the path that truly spoke to my soul. The question became clear: What’s next? What do I do now that I have chosen this journey, a journey more in line with my creative spirit?

This shift wasn’t a spontaneous decision. It was the result of years of contemplation and soul-searching. Just as I explored career stages in my earlier articles like 5, 10, and 15, and 20 Plus Years: A Journey of Ever-Evolving Careers, I find myself entering a new phase. This is no longer just about making contributions to an industry. It’s about something much bigger: building a legacy through the written word. Writing has allowed me to synthesize years of professional experience, turning them into insights that can influence not just industries, but minds.

A Step Toward Deeper Knowledge

One of the most transformative aspects of this past year was my decision to join the Master of Arts in Islamic Studies program at the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. This wasn’t just a step—it was a leap into a new dimension of my life and career. The program offers the academic depth I need to explore contemporary Islamic thought and has provided me with the foundation to transition fully into this new chapter of my professional life.

With its interdisciplinary approach, I’ve been able to dive into a diverse range of topics, from Islamic history to the ethical dilemmas faced by modern Muslim societies. The program has already begun to sharpen my research skills and deepen my understanding of the intellectual challenges of today’s world. And although I come from a technical and business background, I’ve found that these studies have opened my mind in ways I hadn’t anticipated.

I know this journey will be difficult at times, but I’m depending on this program to give me the tools I need to contribute meaningfully to academic discourse, producing high-quality work that bridges the rich history of Islamic scholarship with modern-day challenges. It is laying the groundwork for what I hope will be a long-lasting contribution to both academic and literary fields.

Reflections on Today’s Tornado of Emotions

Today, in particular, has been an emotional whirlwind—a day of decision-making highs and lows, and the constant juggling that comes with a career in transition. Beyond the usual challenges, I also found myself feeling lost in the vast vocabulary of this new field as if I were drowning in unfamiliar terms and concepts. There were moments when I felt completely overwhelmed, as though I had entered a sea of knowledge so deep that I wasn’t sure if I could stay afloat.?

This simple act of writing gave me the lifeline I needed to regain control and transform the chaos into something productive. As the weight of it all became too much, I turned to ChatGPT, allowing the software to become my sounding board, helping me organize my thoughts and articulate the emotional storm I was caught in. It redefined my reflections, and suddenly, what had felt overwhelming became manageable.

What’s next for me isn’t just about completing degrees or fulfilling career milestones. It’s about evolving—continuing to learn, to write, to reflect, and to grow. Even on the most chaotic days, I’ve learned to recognize the importance of pausing, expressing, and grounding myself. Those moments of reflection are what propel me forward, even when the path feels uncertain. Each day, no matter how tumultuous, is a step closer to a fulfilling and meaningful future. Today is just one of many steps, but it’s part of a much larger journey, one that fills me with both hope and excitement.

A Thank You

Before I close, I want to take a moment to thank Dr. Alex. Without your encouragement, I might never have taken this leap. You believed in me, even when I doubted myself, and pushed me toward embracing my passion for writing and academia. Your support was instrumental in helping me realize that this path was not only possible but the right one for me. For that, I will always be deeply grateful.

And to my classmates in the program, I cannot forget the patience and kindness you’ve shown me as I navigate unfamiliar territory. Coming from a non-humanities background, there were moments I felt completely out of place, but your willingness to help me understand the nuances of this field has been invaluable. Thank you for being part of this journey with me—I couldn’t have done it without you.

Here’s to what’s next, to continuing this journey, and to finding joy in the discovery.