Back to School (and other decisions)

I decided to go back to school this year. I would say it was because of the pandemic but it wasn't. It was because I thought about it for 10 years or more and just never had the courage to do it. It is difficult to go back to school and to go back to those feelings of doubt about how well you'll do or fear that you won't be good enough.

I finished my first course towards the Public Leadership Credential at Harvard Kennedy School. I have five more to go. The first one I took was Moral Leadership in Personal Practice and I absolutely loved it. I encourage anyone to pursue the education you have been wanting.

I took these steps to decide on what program to attend before landing with the PLC program. Maybe they will help you decide on education plans or another big decision.

1. Identified what I wanted to learn (or for other decisions, any objective)

I wanted to learn more about public policy and management. I plan to join a non-profit board and possibly serve in government. I also look for volunteer opportunities consistently and want to do more in advocacy for organizations where I'm involved.

I looked at graduate programs and graduate certificate/credential programs and assessed the curriculum. Course syllabi are available online so you can get a good idea of what classes you'll take.

2. Sought advice

As I looked at programs and thought about what going to school would mean in practical terms, I started to wonder about whether I needed more education at all. I also wondered whether I needed a graduate degree (Masters) for what I want to do next or not.

I'm always happy to talk to friends, colleagues or even strangers about decisions they are facing and to help them by providing advice or giving them my perspective. I even have a podcast about it! (Shameless plug: check out More Than Work Podcast)

So, I decided that it was time that I sought advice. I wanted to talk to people who were in positions or organizations that interested me. I have two friends who are on non-profit boards and they put me in touch with leaders at those organizations. Lesson: ask your friends for help. They will help you!

I was struck by the fact that the President of one organization (which I now proudly volunteer for) and the CEO of another organization agreed to speak with me. It was incredible. Both women are very busy and were very generous with their time.

I also spoke to my CEO who I'm really lucky was happy to act as a mentor to me, and to another friend who I have known for almost twenty years and respect the opinion of.

All of these people presented me with different perspectives and none of them gave me THE answer. They did all give me the confidence to dig deep and determine what was right for me. The most important question I ended up being asked was; if you complete a program it changes nothing for your career and only ends up being for your personal growth, are you ok with that? My answer was YES.

3. Did a comparative analysis on aspects that were important to me

I decided that I did not require a Masters degree but that I wanted to pursue graduate education. I narrowed my decision down to four programs; three Masters programs and one credential program.

For each program that met my learning criteria, I assessed the following:

• Cost: Would I have to go into debt? How would I pay?

• Time: How long was the coursework? Could I do this part-time while I worked? What was the hourly commitment per week?

• Location: Is the course online or would I have to go to a physical location. I live in the UK but will eventually return to the US.

4. Determined if "now" was the right time

Wanting to do something and actually doing it are two different things. What had kept me from learning about policy, leadership and really enhancing my ability to fulfil my purpose (which is to serve others) for the past ten years? What was different now?

I decided that now was the right time. Let's face it, like anyone reading this, I'm not getting any younger. And, I do want to do more in service of my community. That desire to fulfil my purpose to serve grew exponentially in the last 5 years. I don't think that anything stops me from serving others now, and I do a lot of volunteer work, but I know that once I finish the PLC program, I'll be even better equipped to do more.

The last six weeks have been extremely challenging and a time of great reflection. They have also been a time of great reward. Part of my has changed and that part will continue to evolve.

If you are thinking about going back to school for a certificate, a degree, or even just a one day course, I encourage you to do that. If you have something else you've been meaning to do like learning a new instrument, trying a new sport or even just reading a book, I encourage you to do that. Our ability as humans to continue to learn and gain knowledge is truly a gift. I'm going to go enjoy my two weeks off until my next course. I have a podcast to edit, comedy to write and at least one email to return.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Let me know if it helps you make a decision.