Written by Michaela Smit

Thumbnail Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash

Why did I sign up to be at university for seven years now? When I'm finished with my Ph.D., I will have spent a total of nine years in tertiary education. That's almost a decade of my young adult life. Thousands of hours of studying, not to mention thousands of dollars in tuition costs. All this time, effort, and money for what? To get a job? Is it worth it? That's a question I keep asking myself more and more recently. What do I hope to gain out of all this? We all have different reasons for pursuing graduate degrees. For some people, it's the necessary route to get the job they want one day. For example, many professionals in the health sector, such as physiotherapists, doctors, specialized nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, etc., all require at least a master's degree. Then there are graduate degrees focused on research, encompassing all fields from literature, art, business, science, math, technology, computer science, engineering, and everything in between. There are so many different graduate degrees to choose from that it can feel overwhelming sometimes. How do you know if graduate school is right for you?

I chose to pursue graduate studies without an end goal in mind. When I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, I looked at the jobs out there for the qualification I had and decided I wasn't interested in any of them. So, I applied to do a master's degree in Genetics. During the master's degree, I figured I made it this far and still wasn't sure what type of job I wanted, so I applied to do my Ph.D. in Applied Science and here I am. I'm still not entirely sure where I want to end up working one day, but I'm definitely closer to having it figured out. That's what I love the most about being a graduate student - the freedom I have to figure out 'what I want to be when I grow up' while investing in my future through education. My future is undecided, and that is exhilarating. There are so many different avenues I can go down, from academics to industry to being a government employee; the future looks bright. Deciding to carry on studying wasn't a difficult decision for me because I love my chosen field. Though, sometimes I feel disheartened, not because I don't enjoy my degree but because I'm tired of living off minimum wage, juggling work and studying, and still being a broke student. That's when I start asking myself, is it worth it? Will I be able to get a job one day that makes up for all the time and money I've spent on my degrees? The truth is, I have no idea.

There are no guarantees in life. Having a degree doesn't mean you'll get the dream job. What it does offer is a competitive advantage. Graduate school not only equips you with the professional skills you'll need in the workplace, but it's a fantastic opportunity to pad your CV by giving you the opportunity to work part-time jobs. It's also a great time to make valuable connections that can help you in your career one day. Thinking about my studies as tools to help me build the life I want instead of necessary pieces of paper has made them so much more valuable to me. When I think about my university life like this, I see all the character development I've undergone, the work ethic I've developed, the fascinating things I've been privileged enough to be able to learn, and all the cherished memories made with dear friends. All this makes my time at university priceless. My advice to anyone pursuing graduate studies is to jump at every opportunity that comes your way. This is the time to learn as much as possible and put yourself in the best position for when you graduate and enter your chosen profession.

So, whether your reasons behind studying towards a graduate degree are motivated by a specific job you hope to have someday, a love of the field, or hopes of a significant monetary payoff, it doesn't really matter. The things you'll gain from graduate school go far beyond what you'll get out of the degree one day. You'll learn about yourself and grow so much as a person, and hopefully, along the way, you'll find a career that inspires you and makes all the hard work worth it.

Why We Do Anything: The Inspiration Behind Pursuing Graduate Studies

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