I feel like I've reached a bit of an impasse in my life and I'm wondering what others, especially those in the esl game but others as well, think. Here's the situation:
I'm really ready to get back to school. What I want to do in life I can not do without further education (whether I stay in Korea longer or return to Canada or go somewhere else). I have talked to several professors in Canada and all say that I have a solid thesis topic, but that my not doing an honours hurts my application. I had the gpa for an honours but didn't have the energy for another year of school back in 2007. In hindsight very dumb but there's nothing that can be done about it now. My other option is grad school in Seoul. A two year programme in Seoul would open the doors that my honours would have back in Canada and then some. It would also allow me entrance to uni jobs in Korea should I want to work again.It's also not exceptionally expensive to do, though I would only be able to work p/t if at all in my first 6 months. Here's my big debate:
another year of working lets me do some travelling and saving for that, but has me being 30 years old before I begin my MA (I had wanted to be finished it by 30). It means 3.5 years of hagwan work with all the fun that goes along with that. Going back this September allows me to do much less travelling and gives me substantially less money but does have me starting, and thus finishing, a year sooner.
Both have pro's and both have con's and neither is perfect so......... I'm hoping to get advice from people not emotionally involved, as they will have a clarity that I lack. Please feel free to comment/email with thoughts.
Rob, after reading this I know what I would do. Personally, I would go and travel. You only live once! You are only young once! You have the rest of your life to work, so enjoy yourself while you can.
ReplyDeleteI may not be the best example. I'm broke, didn't finish SFU (could still); however, despite being in a dead-end job I still do something that I absolutely love, flying.
To put it in better perspective for you it's even easier. Ten years down the road, if you were to look back at this moment, what would you regret NOT doing? I'm betting that you would regret not traveling, who wouldn't?
Whether you take my advice is completely up to you, of course. However, I believe that during the short time you and I worked together I was able to figure out that you were a guy who would give up any job just to see a far off land that you hadn't already visited. Just remember, there aren't any wrong decisions with choices like this, only regret.
In short - Whatever you feel happiest doing is the answer. Don't worry about the money. If there's something I learned in four free-but-shitty years at Alabama, it's happiness before money. Always. I vote you return to NA, just because of your MA before 30 goal. Though 30 is kind of arbitrary. So just be happy.
ReplyDelete-Bobby
thanks for input.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking MA is Seoul with transfer credits for another MA in to Ph.D programme in Canada.
I love Korea, and Asia, too much to leave just yet.