Now that summer is well under-way, I have had time to reflect on my first year as an MPA candidate at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Administration. Two years ago, I had never considered pursuing a graduate degree. But as I entered the workforce, I quickly realized I had room to learn and grow, both in my personal and professional life.

Although this year has been nothing like I had imagined graduate school would be (hello, remote learning), here are the three main takeaways of my first year as a graduate student:

1. Whether you are fresh out of college or 10 years into your professional career, there will be an adjustment period to graduate school. From meeting to new people, to studying and doing homework again, some days are going to be a challenge. Pushing yourself too hard will lead to burn-out. Give yourself some grace.
2. Remember your “why”. On days where you are overwhelmed with schoolwork and competing personal or professional responsibilities, take a moment to think about why you have decided to go to graduate school. Maybe it is to get that promotion you have been chasing for years, or to finally land your dream job. Remember that reason and use it to push forward. Take it one day at a time and remind yourself that everything is temporary (even that project you have been working on for weeks that seems to be never end).
3. When things are hard, it is easy to overlook progress and get discouraged. Although I (still) haven’t landed my dream job, I am in a place in my life that I never thought I would be, and I am doing things I never thought I would do. Never in my life had I imagined I would have be half-way through completing my graduate degree, or know how to do a multivariate regression.

With all the challenges of the past year, I would not change a thing. I am grateful to have meet so many amazing people at the Trachtenberg School (most of which I have never met in person!) and all the opportunities that are now within reach because of my graduate degree. Cannot wait to see what my final year brings!

Bonus tip: Don’t put yourself in boxes or be afraid of change. Change is good! You might discover a new passion or path if you give yourself the space to experiment.